If Peppers played like Smith

I think Pep plays with a lot of Passion and to say he doesn't is wrong. Sure he doesn't talk like Smith does or have some of the tantrums that Smith has at times. To assume that it's what makes a/all players perform is crazy.

It may work for Smith, but doesn't mean it will work for Peppers. Peppers has never been that way. But I did see him get in the face of a few players on the other team yesterday, he was one of the few players that I thought was actually giving effort in the game for us.

I recall on play where he was lined up on the opposite side that the play was ran to, and he came all the way across field and chased the guy down to save a touchdown.

Sure he started out a little bad at the start of the year, but he came on and has played good the rest of the way.

 

I believe what Thelt is getting at is that Peppers doesn't have the screaming intensity, like Ray Lewis. But that has nothing to do with desire. A lot of guys are intense, and they end up covering kickoffs for an entire career.

 

Missing something? Are you referring to a knife? Or some coke?

 

a really big stick

 

pep is a quiet guy by nature. but i would never critsize his ability or passion. the dude is always all over the field making plays. just because he dont scream alot and get in peoples faces and make an idot of himself dont mean he dosnt have passion or desire. pep was one of only a few to show up sunday and i am sure glad he plays for the panthers.

 

from seattle paper....http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/256664_hbar23.html

"With 11 yards separating him and the end zone, Matt Hasselbeck rolled right and looked and looked. Finally, the Seahawks quarterback tucked the ball in and scampered up the sideline.

Julius Peppers caught up with him at the Carolina 6. Play over. However, Peppers wasn't done. As Hasselbeck headed to his huddle, the overly confident, overly athletic Panthers defensive end practically tried to climb inside his helmet. For 10 yards, Peppers prattled on and on, twice pulling around in front of the Seattle player, always making a point."...

blah blah

...."As for Peppers, Hasselbeck heard him. He knew the Panthers player was there. Every step.

Hasselbeck just felt it was important to keep his cool, to keep moving, to stay in control of the situation.

"Usually you try and outrun a guy like that, you're not going to do it," he said. "It was maybe, 'Don't try it.' I don't know. Whatever he said, he was probably right."

 

The difference is anger, not passion. Smith plays somewhat angry, that's just not Peppers and will never be. Pep has as much passion as anyone out there and I don't think he's ever NOT trying, nor does he take plays off. He's just not a "I'm going to kick your f'ing ass" type guy. He had some anger with the stupid Tampa guy whose name escapes me at the moment for a little while, but now I think he's more amused by him because he knows he's inside his head and drawing those false start/face mask calls. That's Pep - he might get angry briefly now and then, but he's not going to come in game after game pissed off.

 

I still think Peppers is younger than his years, and maybe two sports in college held back his development a bit, but defenses are just now discovering Smith needs double & triple teams...they've been doing that to Peppers since his rookie year.

 

I just think that Smith would not be half as good if he lost that chip he caries around on his shoulder. He is not a prototype receiver because he is too small and I think that motivates him. I am not saying I want to see Peppers start getting in fights or ejected from games but if he had a little bit more of that attitude I think he would be a better player.

I guess using the word "passion" was a poor choice. Prehaps what I should say is that I wish that Peppers had the same agression on the field as Smith does. Smith wants to beat the guy he is facing and embarass him if he can. I think Peppers just wants to do his job and make a play if he can. He does not go into every game thinking that he is going to be the difference maker where as I think Smith does.

 

Kenyatta Walker. He's Pep's bitch.