Peppers has bust written all over him

I'm just hoping he doesn't develop a drinking problem and quit, conspire to murder anyone, hold out and then get hurt constantly, or just suck.

Basically, If Peppers is as good as Mike Rucker, he'll be our best ever 1st round pick *excluding morgan, of course*.

 

yep. Ten sacks a year from him, as long as we got that every year, is enough. At that point you put a good DT inside and hope for the best...if you're getting roughly 20 sacks from your ends you're not really in a position to expect more.

 

This is what I don't understand about the McKinney vs Peppers debate....everyone talks down McKinney because he supposabley isn't a good run blocker...but what to you expect coming from Florida where they don't run the ball? They don't run the ball at Florida so there is little tape to evaluate that comment on. The question is, does he have the skill to be a good run blocker? Obviously the answer is yes. Run blocking is easier than pass blocking for a tackle.

Everyone agrees that Peppers isn't good against the run...so they both have weaknesses in their games. Peppers supposabley "takes downs off" as do most players...however, players who had no business controlling him shut him down...I can't remember the names of the players but on a few occasions sub-standard offensive lineman shut Peppers down...what is he going to do against a 5 year NFL vet? Can he develop into a good run player? Having a DL who isn't good against the run puts a lot of pressure on the linebacker playing in back of him.

This "players sliding/rising" crap is only on media person's boards. Coaches and GM's don't rely on the Mel Kiper's of the world ...most consider him an egotystical idiot.

There is an ex-NFL scout that will answer all of your questions...he monitors the www.mlive.com/lions board...he goes by Blackhat24...this guy knows his shit. He still attends the combines and senior bowl type games. He subscribes to the professional scouting publications...the scouts for the scouts. He has past ratings too, so you could compare Peppers to Justin Smith or Andre Wadsworth when they were being evaluated....which is kinda cool. He loves answering questions...beware though, there are a lot of knuckleheads on the board.

 

>>but what to you expect coming from Florida where they don't run the ball?

Miami, not Florida. Ever here of Clinton Portis? They ran the ball plenty. He's not a great run blocker, and probably never will be.

>>The question is, does he have the skill to be a good run blocker? Obviously the answer is yes.

Obviously? He isn't particuarly strong. He has long arms, but still, you've got to be able to do 18 reps. Pearson did that much.

>>Everyone agrees that Peppers isn't good against the run

He can stand improvement, but Dwight Freeney he ain't.

>>what is he going to do against a 5 year NFL vet?

He'll probably struggle at first. Kearse was similarly shut down in college. Pepper's isn't a perfect, can't miss player. But he has more upside than McKinnie. McKinnie is safer, in that he'll be a fine pass protector on the left side. But he isn't an Ogden.

>>Can he develop into a good run player?

He has the size and strength to be dominant. He is already average, not a liability, he doesn't get pancaked.

>>Coaches and GM's don't rely on the Mel Kiper's of the world ...most consider him an egotystical idiot.

Agreed Kiper is an idiot. That's not what I'm referencing. I would never cite Kiper as a source.

 

you aren't by chance a tar heel fan are you?


Who is the "safe" pick at number 2 and why? Harrington, Jammer, Peppers, McKinnie, etc? By safe I mean won't be a bust but will be a solid starter...

It would be intersting to see Jammer's numbers (talent ratings not stats) vs Woodson, Shawn Springs, and Bryant Westbrook ( a few top 10 CB picks).

Unfortuneatly, it could boil down to who is easier to sign and not who the best player is...a lot of agents and GM's?presidents have burned bridges over the years...a number 2 pick is a gold mine to an agent...the panthers are probably talking to the agents of all those players to see what their demands are not that the Texans have announced Carr as their pick.

 

>>you aren't by chance a tar heel fan are you?

Nope. Vol fan, through and through. ACC football sucks.

>> By safe I mean won't be a bust but will be a solid starter...

That's fairly universal for what "safe" means. As I said, McKinnie. He has the least bust potential IMO.

Just not the upside.

 

No, the only blatant Tar Heel fan here is Iam4
Anyone has the potential to bust. Peppers possibly more than Jammer, but the upside is higher and the need is greater. McKinnie's need is a very small one comparatively - basically you're getting a right tackle, whichever between he and Steussie that moves over - and then you're paying a RT on the order of $30 mil which is outrageous. Compare that to the right tackles you can get at the top of 3 that are good run blockers and the idea of RT being a need at all for this draft, and McKinnie just doesn't make sense.

Don't worry, I'm not the most sold on Peppers right now. But McKinnie as a pick is just unfathomable IMO.

Piper:
>>As I said, McKinnie. He has the least bust potential IMO.

Disagree. I think Jammer's jsut as solid as McK without the weakness in one area. With both IMO you know what you're getting, you're just getting a more solid two phase player in Jammer.

 

Agreed. I'll consider any trade down, though I'm still not sure what kind of deals we will end up getting. If I'm going to pay big money for any 2nd overall, I'd rather it be a DE, but Jammer is tempting.

 

Jammer has some questions, hips and all, and not being top flight tested. I'd rate his upside much, much higher, but he still has a few more questions.

McKinnie, you know what you are getting. A safe pick. A very good pass blocker, good athlete for a lineman, average run blocker.

 

yeah, if these two were there in the second and we were parametrically studying just that pick at that moment in time IMO you pick Jammer. But the odds of consistently getting a high pick are small, and the chances of getting a franchise level end are small, as the history of this team shows.