MintBaconDrivel
10 years ago
Use Julius Peppers sparingly and he'll contribute greatly.

GREEN BAY — No one is comparing Julius Peppers' signing with the Green Bay Packers to the 1993 Titletown arrival of Reggie White.

Not coach Mike McCarthy, who was in his first year as a lowly offensive quality control coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, his first NFL job; not Ted Thompson, who'd just joined the Packers' scouting staff a year before White's arrival; not even the few players in the Packers locker room who can be considered semi-football historians and know what White's arrival meant to the franchise. (Five players on the roster hadn't even celebrated their first birthday when White signed on April 6, 1993.)

White was 31 years old, not 34, when the Packers signed him. He was in his prime, not nearing the end of the line. He was the most sought-after free agent in the NFL's brief history of unfettered player movement, not cast adrift by his team in a cost-cutting move.

But it was in 1996 — when White was 34 years old to start the season — that the Packers broke through and won Super Bowl XXXI. White had 8.5 sacks that season — and then had a Super Bowl record-tying three sacks in the Packers' victory over New England in New Orleans — his impact was much greater than the number itself. Two seasons later, his last in Green Bay, he registered 16 sacks and was named NFL defensive player of the year, even though he turned 37 before season's end.

According to terrific research by the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Pete Dougherty , since the NFL began keeping sacks as an official statistic in 1982, only 14 pass rushers who'd reached their 34th birthday have ever registered double-digit sacks. They've done it a combined 26 times.

While Peppers didn't have double-digit sacks last year for Chicago — he finished with 7.5 — he has had at least 10 sacks in eight of his 12 NFL seasons. He had 11 sacks in 2011 and 11.5 in 2012, If he can have something resembling that kind of production — while also helping fellow elite pass rusher Clay Matthews and others on defense be more productive — then McCarthy should be able to deliver on his "big letters" promise of defensive improvement.

"Julius is such an impressive person from all angles. Very professional in his approach, takes great care of himself, you can see that in [the initial offseason] workouts," McCarthy said. "Then we hit the field [for organized team activity practices] for the first time, and just the way he moves. He looks awesome in (No.) 56. I was a little worried about finding a shirt to fit him, but we worked that out. He looks very natural at the outside linebacker position."

The Packers intend to use Peppers in a hybrid position they've dubbed "elephant," which is a defensive end/outside linebacker. After playing 855 snaps last year for the Bears, the Packers don't plan on asking him to play that much.

What they do plan on seeing is how he and Matthews can work in tandem, and how two big-name, big-time pass rushers not only work in concert, but how they help others (Mike Neal, Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Nick Perry, and the inside linebacker group).

"I was a little shocked [by Peppers' signing]," said Matthews, who had 7.5 sacks last season despite missing six games with the right thumb he broke twice. "I know we don't make too many offseason acquisitions especially, you know, such a big name. But obviously I'm happy to have him on this side of the ball. I know he's a tremendous threat. Tackles know what he possesses, as well as offensive coordinators, so I think it's just going to present new elements to this defense that we've been looking for. I'm excited, I know he is. Looking to make some plays this year."

For his part, Peppers has never been paired with a player of Matthews' caliber. Now that he is, he's got as good a chance as anyone to join those other 14 players who had 10-plus sacks at age 34 or older.

"I haven't really played with a guy like Clay, really my whole career," Peppers said. "A really dominant player on the outside, I really haven't had that ever. I'm excited to get out there with him and see what we can do."

Jason Wilde  wrote:


Dulak
10 years ago
Question will be is whom will be more effective on the field - clay or peppers ...

If clay is healthy Id say him if not obv. peppers

Clays hammy and thumb bleh ... Be cool to see em both on the field thou
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (2h) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (2h) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (12h) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (13h) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (13h) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (13h) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (14h) : Check
Zero2Cool (16h) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (18h) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (23h) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (23h) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : Sorry to bitch, but the headline writers in that section absolutely mislead, or don't know how to read. It is maddening
Martha Careful (25-Apr) : No thanks. Not a dependable guy to be in the right place and run the right route. Dumb as a box of rocks.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Losing 2nd round pick for a one year rental, not ideal. Especially a headcase.
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Pickens for Jaire may be interesting. Definitely not sure we want Pickens long term.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : No.Absolutely not
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : NO NO NO NO NO NO!!1 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
dhazer (25-Apr) : scenario: Our main prospects are off the board when our pick comes around, do we just throw a 2nd round pick at Pittsburgh for Pickens
TheKanataThrilla (25-Apr) : Hopefully she had some comfort that her son will be live his dream when she passed away. Sad news.
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Damn that sucks
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : News about Derrick Harmon mom, saddening.
Zero2Cool (25-Apr) : Mark Murphy: "I predict we will trade up once and down twice."
beast (25-Apr) : Rip the Packers and getting the fans yelling and booing him
beast (25-Apr) : Super competitive Bears fan and WWE "superstar" wrestler, Seth Rollins is supposed to announce a Bears pick and absolutely rip Packers
packerfanoutwest (25-Apr) : Golden
beast (25-Apr) : I want DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : And I can't be looking at my phone
Mucky Tundra (25-Apr) : Hey I'm at work lol
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : btw, new site chat won't delete auto like
Zero2Cool (24-Apr) : because everyone left like wimps
TheKanataThrilla (24-Apr) : I am wondering if there is some type of autoclear when there isn't activity after a certain amount of time.
Mucky Tundra (24-Apr) : What happened in the chat? Me and Zero posted a few things earlier and they're all gone
dfosterf (24-Apr) : 10-15 min bs plus flyover
dfosterf (24-Apr) : Yes
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