The 3/4

[Piper]

With Peppers as a stand up OLB.

We ran this at least a half dozen times, if not more. Usually on passing downs.

That was a new wrinkle. We've done it, but I've not seen us do it this much before.

It was pretty successful. Confused them a bit, and they didn't get much out of those plays but completions short of first downs, at best.

 

[Collin]

My only gripe is how often Peppers backed out of that to drop into coverage. We get that he's athletic as hell, but he's also our best pass rusher.

 

[Clay]

My only gripe is how often Peppers backed out of that to drop into coverage. We get that he's athletic as hell, but he's also our best pass rusher.

Agreed. We need more "Pep, go get a sack" calls.

 

[DJ_Tet]

My only gripe is how often Peppers backed out of that to drop into coverage. We get that he's athletic as hell, but he's also our best pass rusher.

Yeah, there was one specifically I remember on a third and about five. Peppers dropped back (I think there was only 3 rushing but there might have been a fourth.) The RB rolled out of the backfield and Pep was kind of caught in no-man's zone. He was underneath the curl route (which had three other players defending) and was too slow/indecisive to get the RB. Bulger had all day, and eventually hit the RB out of the backfield. He would have had plenty of space to get the first down but dropped the pass.

In my estimation Peppers was wasted on that play. I have no problem with using him in pass defense occasionally, but as you said, he's our best pass rusher. We need to use him in that capacity. I'd much rather see him move around on the four man line and rush from different angles than see him dropping into pass coverage on third down. When Pace went out was a perfect time to switch Pep and Ruck for a few plays, but I never noticed Pep on the right side.

Frustrating.

 

[T_Schroll]

I'd feel better about the 3-4 if they were moving Peppers around to blitz him from different angles along the line

 

[Thelt]

The old 3/4 we used to run under Capers would be a good fit for Peppers if he were in the Kevin Green slot. Greene mostly just rushed the passer. I am not a fan of dropping Peppers into coverage very often. Sure he can do it but he is better used getting after the QB.

 

[Cattrax]

Where is Peppers? He'll play everywhere

John Fox was asked at his Monday press conference about how the Panthers used defensive end Julius Peppers in Sunday’s victory in St. Louis. Peppers moved around a lot, often standing up and dropping into coverage.
From a strategic standpoint, Fox tried not to make a big deal of it and said the Panthers may or may not move Peppers around as they go forward. But let’s be real about it. This is what Fox and the Panthers have DREAMED about doing with Peppers since the moment they drafted him. The guy’s an athletic freak and moving him around causes all sorts of headaches for the offense.
The Panthers just didn’t want to do it early in Peppers’ career as he became comfortable with the end spot. Then, in recent years, there were so many issues and so much shuffling on defense that the Panthers couldn’t move Peppers around as much as they wanted.
Now, with Dan Morgan healthy and Kris Jenkins in shape, we’re going to see Peppers all over the field.
PAT YASINSKAS

 

[Village Idiot]

it really works when you know the opponents defensive signals, just sayin'

 

[chipshotx]

I disagree that he is best when rushing the passer. He is a great all around end IMO and not the best pure pass rusher.

 

[Collin]

That's not what anyone said. We're saying he's our best pass rusher, which he is, and right now we're not getting anything resembling a consistent pass rush.