Peppers a Packer

[pbmax]

Spoon thinks Neal like role as well:

Tom Silverstein @TomSilverstein 5h
Peppers represents tall, athletic end the #Packers are now looking for in Capers' defense. He can play inside in nickel or outside at DE.

[Willard]

Here's how I would address the front seven -

Base?? We almost can't even go to a 3-4 base with the personnel we have. We could play 3-4 with Raji and Boyd rotating at NT, and Peppers/Boyd/D. Jones/Jolly rotating at DE, but that would be a waste of Peppers and Jones. We need another CJ Wilson and Johnny Jolly type to be able to play base 3-4.

We could also play some 4-3 base with any one of Peppers/Perry at RDE, Raji/Daniels/Worthy/Jolly at DT, and D. Jones/Perry at LDE. The OLB's would be Matthews and Neal, and the MLB would be Hawk/Jones.

Nickel -

As I said, absolutely not a sniff of the 2-4.

My first nickel package would be a 3-3 subpackage with Peppers, Daniels, and D. Jones across the line; Matthews at ROLB; Neal at LOLB; and Hawk/Jones at ILB depending on the game plan and offensive personnel.

Out of that I would find ways to get Mulumba on the field, and Hawk/Jones off the field.

I would rotate Perry with Peppers and D.Jones to keep everyone fresh and interested, and occassionly offer up a 4 downlineman look with all of my pass rushers, i.e. go to a 4-2 with Matthews and Neal defending the 2nd level, along with Hyde or whichever DB is inserted as the nickelback.

I would shift the 3 down linemen to address any possibility of the run, and attack the weakest links on the OL. I would constantly be running stunts up front, and if I'm planning a zone blitz I would bring Mulumba up the middle.

Dime -

My first dime look would be a 3-2, with the same DL rotated as noted above, with Matthews and Neal at LB. Depending on the opponent, I would have either a coverage dime (more man) or a zone dime, and the personnel for that look would have to be worked out in camp.

That's how I would approach it with what we have now...

As it is, we all know we're going to get another shit ton of 2-4.

I like your 4-3 base and 3-3 nickel, especially with CJ Mosley at ILB. Still need a safety. Hoping it is Hyde, an improved Richardson/Banjo, or rookie phenom.

[denverYooper]

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Julius-Peppers-joins-Packers-predicts-something-different/dc33fe44-95eb-4cc3-af0b-246322f9bc33?campaign=free_agency_20140315_20141274

Win a championship with the Packers?

“That’s the most important thing. I haven’t won a championship. That’s where my focus is. I feel like the team is set up to make a run and I feel I can help get it there,” Peppers said.

[pbmax]

Pete Dougherty @PeteDougherty 3h
Just talked to another NFL scout about Peppers. Ranked him as the best player among him, DeMarcus Ware n Jared Allen even though ...

Pete Dougherty @PeteDougherty 3h
Peppers is oldest at of 3 at 34. Is more explosive n flexible than other two. All 3 are year-to-year players at this point.

[pbmax]

Neither Hawk not Jones are 4-3 MLBs. They have trouble holding up to the run in 3-4 with two of them back there. To have to thump with a Guard and/or FB regularly, squeezing holes and allowing the WILL to make tackles is not either's strong suit.

Cannot say it isn't part of the plan because Peppers could change the calculus. But that would be the weak point of the D and it might move MLB to the top of the draft need board.

Still convinced McCarthy has revealed the intention already. Talked about how injuries (Jones, Matthews, Neal) took them out of what they wanted to run. Neal and Peppers means an injury doesn't sideline your hybrid guy (esp. if DJones improves). Perry and Matthews can backstop each other plus Mulumba or short term with one of the hybrids.

The sacrifice is the pass rush specialist Thompson tried to draft in the Worthy/Daniels draft. Daniels has played well enough he stays even if odd fit. Worthy will need to find his niche inside or outside.

[Brandon494]

Pete Dougherty @PeteDougherty 3h
Just talked to another NFL scout about Peppers. Ranked him as the best player among him, DeMarcus Ware n Jared Allen even though ...

Pete Dougherty @PeteDougherty 3h
Peppers is oldest at of 3 at 34. Is more explosive n flexible than other two. All 3 are year-to-year players at this point.

Pepper is just as good as pass rusher as those two but hes much better in coverage.

[run pMc]

I think they platoon him with Neal and watch his snap count. CHI's d-line was miserable because of injuries to the point where they were starting their 3rd stringers. Plus they lost their starting QB, and we've seen what that will do to some player's motivation first hand. I think if he's healthy enough and he's playing half the snaps he'll bring a lot of pressure and help Matthews et al. get to the QB.

Smuggler mentioned him being the Leo/Devil/Elephant role -- I agree he'll play ths role some/most of the time. I think he'll be all over the place and Capers is crazy enough to come up with ways to do that.

I hope it works.

As for the contract...I wouldn't say it's cheap -- $8M or whatever is a lot of money IMO, but I think that given the cap space they have and the low cap hit if it doesn't work out it's a good risk.
He'll be quite a change from the squatty guys they used to trot out there...maybe he'll block a FG or two.

[Joemailman]

A great pass rush will also make our sefeties look better

True, but our Safeties will look better just because M.d. Jennings isn't one of them.

[red]

As for the contract...I wouldn't say it's cheap -- $8M or whatever is a lot of money IMO, but I think that given the cap space they have and the low cap hit if it doesn't work out it's a good risk.
He'll be quite a change from the squatty guys they used to trot out there...maybe he'll block a FG or two.

the cap space won't be 8 million. depending on how the "guarantee" is worded, the cap hit can be anywhere from 3.5 million, to 8 million

smart money says that the whole 7.5 million is a signing bonus. that spread over 3 years gives you a 2.5 million dollar hit per year, plus the million dollar salary for 2014 that we know for sure he's getting.

my guess is that the whole 7.5 million isn't a signing bonus, but also includes a first year roster bonus. my guess is his cap number for this year is between 5 and 6 million

at worst, the whole bonus is a first year roster bonus and his cap hit is 8.5 million. still not bad for the talent we got imo

[3irty1]

I'm digging his attitude.

“I’m going to let Coach (Mike) McCarthy deal with questions about the position and the scheme," Peppers said. "I’m not really sure. We haven’t talked in detail about what the plan is going to be for me, but I can say it’s going to be something different."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...#ixzz2w4lzblRO

Most guys his age would not be looking for a new role or a way to reinvent themselves. You've gotta love his confidence.

[pbmax]

I'm digging his attitude.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...#ixzz2w4lzblRO

Most guys his age would not be looking for a new role or a way to reinvent themselves. You've gotta love his confidence.

First thing they should do is reform that Packers traveling basketball team.

[wist43]

I'm digging his attitude.

“I’m going to let Coach (Mike) McCarthy deal with questions about the position and the scheme," Peppers said. "I’m not really sure. We haven’t talked in detail about what the plan is going to be for me, but I can say it’s going to be something different."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...#ixzz2w4lzblRO

Most guys his age would not be looking for a new role or a way to reinvent themselves. You've gotta love his confidence.

If he had given it any thought, and looked at what Capers has been doing for the past 3+ years, he probably wouldn't have signed with us.

And if he thinks McCarthy is going to have any say over the defense - he really hasn't been paying attn to anything the Packers have done the past few years. The defense is Dom Capers, and Dom Capers alone - MM has nothing to say about the defense whatsoever.

[wist43]

I think they platoon him with Neal and watch his snap count. CHI's d-line was miserable because of injuries to the point where they were starting their 3rd stringers. Plus they lost their starting QB, and we've seen what that will do to some player's motivation first hand. I think if he's healthy enough and he's playing half the snaps he'll bring a lot of pressure and help Matthews et al. get to the QB.

Smuggler mentioned him being the Leo/Devil/Elephant role -- I agree he'll play ths role some/most of the time. I think he'll be all over the place and Capers is crazy enough to come up with ways to do that.

I hope it works.

As for the contract...I wouldn't say it's cheap -- $8M or whatever is a lot of money IMO, but I think that given the cap space they have and the low cap hit if it doesn't work out it's a good risk.
He'll be quite a change from the squatty guys they used to trot out there...maybe he'll block a FG or two.

I wouldn't platoon him with Neal, I'd platoon him with Perry and D. Jones in a base 3-4 and a nickel 3-3. I'd even draw up some 4-2 alignments for him, but absolutely wouldn't consider him at LB.

Neal proved he could play LOLB last year, I'd pencil him in full-time.

Of the front 6/7 personnel, the only full-time players I'd have would be Matthews and Neal. Everyone else should be part of a package and/or rotation. Unfortunately, Capers thinks Hawk is a full-time player. Brad Jones should only be a very limited subpackage guy.

[Bretsky]

Daniels - Raji - Jones
Clay - Hawk - ? - Peppers
Shields - Burnett -?- Tramon

Starting to look decent, fill one or both of those question marks in the draft and we might have a defense next season.


Hopefully one of these 3 players fall to us at 21 or I would like to see us trade down.

HaHa Clinton-Dix
C.J. Mosley
Calvin Pryor

I know I'll get fleeced for thinking this, but I'd add Ebron to that group and might draft him over all three. To me, those four are the list we'll be picking from, and one will fall IMO....odds are it's Prior...who I pointed out months ago would be an ideal fit

[Bretsky]

True, but our Safeties will look better just because M.d. Jennings isn't one of them.

I shit in my pants this morning when the NFL Network referenced us signing Packers.
A pass rush will hide secondary play pretty well; that being said, I'd still love for them to sign a smart Veteran Safety AND draft one.