Keep a bit of perspective when piling on Peppers

[section543]

Frank and Buck always say "great players make those around them better".

Unfortunately Pep does that with the opposing blockers.

[francois.nc]

Again, if Pep blew up against a team like GB.....he would be bashed for only "coming to play" against the weakest possible teams. Allen is being praised as some sort of half man, half god, half possible centaur b/c of that game..... Allen has a motor and is one of the best DE in the league.....but like a lot of DEs he shines brightest when against scrubs. As Gantt did point out, he had more games last year posting a goose egg than Pep.

Pep is not and has never been a elite pass rushing DE. He has been an elite DE. Big difference and effects your expectations of him.

I watch alot of football, not just Allen the other night. I can tell you this there are alot, and I mean alot of guys that appear to be trying harder then Peppers. Watch any game, and you will see guys twisting, turning, diving or doing just about anything they can to get back to the QB. Peppers for the most part just seems to stand there engaged with whomever. I am not saying he doesn't get his sacks because he does, or have good stats (even better then Allen for ex.) but I think what we all want to see is Maximum effort all the time. If we saw that he would be so much more fun to watch.

[X-Clown]

Gantt's opinion columns lately are following a formula.

1. Read a new thread on the huddle with a lot of replies.

2. Write a column that suggests that said ideas from fans are irrelevant with a slant towards the organization.

3. Support the ideas by regurgitating stats from several years ago that have nothing to do with today's state of affairs.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

[unicar15]

Peppers is more talented but Allen has a motor that is amongst the best in the league. I can't tell with Pep if it is just effortless for him or if he just chooses to act that way and take plays off. But when you watch Jared Allen it looks like he is busting his ass every single play...not so much with Pep.

[bigdog10]

Peppers is lazy and unmotivated.

I'm counting down the days till he is in a different uniform.

[Nu Guns]

It really doesnt matter what Peppers does he is not worth 1 million per game.

I dont hate on Peppers, its Hurney's fault.

Peppers is a good player , nothing more.

[frash.exe]

The notion that Allen is incredibly better than Peppers simply isn't based in reality, at least if you agree that production can be measured.

Even with his outburst, Allen has 64 sacks in six seasons.

Peppers, with this year's sleepwalking and his 2007 disappearance, has 71.5 in year eight.

Peppers' sacks since Allen came into the league: 52.5. But sacks aren't even a tell all stat for DEs.

all Gantt tries to do, is justify present failure with past success. it's his only salvation and it's as concrete as a house made out of straw.

[Miaoww]

I would just like to point out that this article is flat out terrible, and really drops Gantt down a few notches in my book.

Yep, I've no idea what happened to Mr Gantt, he used to be a good reporter.

[raleigh-panther]

I've said this before; but, I remember Deacon Jones' critique on Peppers:

Paraphrased as best I remember from 2 years ago" lot of skill, lot of athleticism, no drive, no desire, with his talent he should be ashamed that he is not going to go into the HOF.'

I think Deacon knows what he sees.

Perhaps he should have stayed with basketball...but, if I recall he was OK, not great, but, then again, being a Terps fan, I don't have a lot of love for over-rated Duke/UNC players lol.

[KillerKat]

Yep, I've no idea what happened to Mr Gantt, he used to be a good reporter.

The more the team sucks, the harder Gantt has to blow to stay on the good side of the organization.

[Wither]

Gannt actually makes the case against Peppers. Peppers is much more talented than Allen and yet Allen stays with him in stats based on heart. Also, Allen IMHO is more dangerous than Peppers he is a DE that teams actually do double; unlike the usual excuse for Peppers. Also even when Allen doesn't get sacks he makes his presence felt, he has to be accounted for. Peppers just disappears.

Allen is not always doubled and he was not doubled a good portion of the game. In fact, that seems to be the only time he got sacks. Is that true for a lot of DE's? Quite possibly, but that suggests that he is the same as every other DE then, no?

I wonder how much pep loves the game too. monday night you could see that Allen truly does. The same can not be said about the last game for pep.

I would debate that. He seems to like the attention he gets from playing. He might be a great guy, and yes, it does appear that he loves the game, but the truth of the matter is we don't necessarily know. Sure, you can go with your instincts, but you could be wrong, just like you could be wrong about Peppers.

For what it's worth, I'd agree with you. It's just not as concrete as people are making it out to be.

I can tell you this there are alot, and I mean alot of guys that appear to be trying harder then Peppers. Watch any game, and you will see guys twisting, turning, diving or doing just about anything they can to get back to the QB. Peppers for the most part just seems to stand there engaged with whomever.

While I agree with you for the most part, that merely suggests technique and ability to do those moves, not necessarily effort. It doesn't inherently suggest effort is my point.

[stankowalski]

My opinion on Peppers hasn't changed. I think he plays harder than some of you people think. He is by far the most complete player we have on the defensive line. Personally I think his problem is that he is out of position to make a lot of plays. Whether that be because of better playcalling by the other teams not, remains to be seen. We don't know what plays are called. The team does. Peppers is called on to rush the passer, play a gap or drop into coverage...he does it all. Maybe the team needs to make better play calls.

[monstercat]

My opinion on Peppers hasn't changed. I think he plays harder than some of you people think. He is by far the most complete player we have on the defensive line. Personally I think his problem is that he is out of position to make a lot of plays. Whether that be because of better playcalling by the other teams not, remains to be seen. We don't know what plays are called. The team does. Peppers is called on to rush the passer, play a gap or drop into coverage...he does it all. Maybe the team needs to make better play calls.

Peppers has an opportunity to beat the man in front of him on every single play. How does the play calling prevent him from doing that? How did the play calling keep him from beating Jason Witten's block when Dallas ran the ball? They're not even dropping him into coverage on zone blitzes anymore, so all he has to do is win his individual battles. He's not doing that, period. You can blame the coaches all you want, but Michael Strahan did just fine when John Fox was his DC.

[stankowalski]

Peppers has an opportunity to beat the man in front of him on every single play. How does the play calling prevent him from doing that? How did the play calling keep him from beating Jason Witten's block when Dallas ran the ball? They're not even dropping him into coverage on zone blitzes anymore, so all he has to do is win his individual battles. He's not doing that, period. You can blame the coaches all you want, but Michael Strahan did just fine when John Fox was his DC.

I've seen him drop into zone coverage, so you're wrong there. And how the hell am I (or you) supposed to know what the play call is? If a play call had him slanting right and Witten blocks him left, then Peppers is already at a disadvantage. Witten is 6'5 265-270 lbs....he's a big dude. Peppers is only around 285 (if that) so it's not like Steve Smith is blocking Peppers off the run.