If Peppers played like Smith

So in a nice way I think it can be said Peppers plays with a lot of drive and passion. Late in the game yesterday he probably covered about 40 yards to catch a breakaway run. There so many I cannot remember the exact one, but there is no doubt in my mind Peppers gives it his all.

To your point Steve plays well beyond his abilities. His mind is that of a 6"7 350 pound superhuman with lighting speed and quickness that trancends his rather small stature. In that light, if Julius with all his pure physical skills he already has played with that kind of chip on his shoulder, it would be amazing. But it is unreasonable to ask of anyone. I think next year could be the time Peppers really lives up to his popularity. He has done some great things, but give him another year with the system and hopefully someone new in the middle (as of course was said) it could really be special.

 

The point of this thread was not to knock Peppers but rather to imagine what he could be if he played with the chip on his shoulder like Smith does. I am sure he gives a good effort but his ability for the position he plays is head and shoulders above any other player in the league. If he played with the passion that Smith does he would be the most dominant player to ever play DE.

 

No, the point was that passion isn't what Peppers lacks. Give him even more passion and you gain nothing, because what he needs is better technique and better judgment. He showed it later in the season, so if Jenkins can come back as anything resembling his former self, next year could be the one where Julius explodes.

 

So you think Peppers plays with as much passion as Smith does?

 

Yes. Peppers was chasing down plays all over the field, and if you noticed, he was hyped up and barking most of the time as well, apparently trying to fire the other guys up. But I also noticed that Peppers controls his passion better than Smith does, because Smitty was a distraction and disturbance on the sidelines yesterday.

 

I think Julius needs to practice year 'round. Seriously.

Because, although he has a few early games, it always seems he doesn't pick up what he needs to re-remember until later in the year.


Peppers just isn't that "I'm going to rip your fucking head off" guy. He doesn't require being enraged to play well. If he played that way, I'm guessing we'd simply get tons of mistakes, overpursuit, late hit penalties, and probably dismembering a guy if he did what Smitty's done to other football players.

 

Two factors make this an unsafe assumption:

1. None of Smith's teammates or coaches made any comment about this being a distraction.

2. You weren't on the sideline.

Sidebar comment:

When I disagree with you, and make that public, it's not stalking. We disagreed on Thomas Davis in the Atlanta game. We also disagreed on several other issues. I was not proven wrong, and you were not proven wrong.

You have a good deal of football knowledge. Probably played in college or something. Had to, right?

Point is this: When I, or anyone else calls you out for your strong convictions, it makes us nothing more than a part of the conversation, and not your personal stalker.

Relax, if you can.

 

Peppers has all the physical ability in the world but he is missing something when you compare him to other great defensive players like Ray Lewis or Lawrence Taylor.

 

Did anyone else hear one of the analysts say that Peppers was overcoming the shoulder injury and the flu or did I just imagine that?

 

The media has made several references to it in the 24 hours since the game, and moreover, you could see it happening just by watching it on television. Do you even remember Smith yelling at one of his coaches who was trying his best to ignore him while teammates were trying to calm him down?

No, disagreeing with me is not stalking. Where you have been stalking me is with the constant personal comments in multiple threads, and going out of your way to follow me around. And yes, you have been engaging in that behavior. I'm glad you apparently don't want to act that way, so do us both a favor and put an end to it.


Thelt:
Dude, you're just wrong. Give up already.