Does Edmunds = Jabrill Peppers?

Let's see....

TE

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/terrell-edmunds?id=32462018-0002-5601-25af-a59d7c8988a5

6-1, 217, 4.47 forty time.

JP

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/jabrill-peppers?id=2557980

5-11, 213, 4.46 forty.

TE is 2"s taller and 4 lbs heavier, forty times nearly identical. What's that you say? There is A LOT more to a player than size, weight and 40 time? Agreed. So let's see what the scouts and personnel man had to say,

WEAKNESSES
Scouts question his instincts and lack of ball production. Has just one interception and 10 passes defensed at Michigan. Slow to recognize construct of play and can be found playing through a straw at times. Needs better recognition and anticipation to become an improvising play-maker. Doesn't always trust his feet in coverage and will maul at the top of the route. Just a guy when asked to play deep safety. Slow to read and range until ball is in the air. Can be overzealous against play-action and drawn below his deep ball responsibilities. Too small for take-on duties at linebacker. Leads into tackles with ducked head. Opts to hit rather than wrap-up.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 1-2
SOURCES TELL US
"These comparisons to Charles Woodson are nuts. Both are really good return men, but Woody is one of the greatest playmakers of all-time. Peppers has one interception and I don't think he's ever forced a fumble. Michigan might move him around too much. He will really improve when he can lock in and learn a position." -- AFC Director of Scouting
NFL COMPARISON
Eric Weddle
BOTTOM LINE
The ultimate Swiss Army Knife on the collegiate level, and will likely play a hybrid role on the next level that allows him to blitz, cover and chase, Peppers' draft value will be helped by his return ability and that is a role he should maintain throughout the earlier stages of his career. While Peppers doesn't have the production teams expect from first-round defenders, he should benefit from a role that is more clearly defined on the next level.

Other guy

• Will do the work as tackler but can take the worst of the collision
• Missed open field tackles have dogged him
• Takes inconsistent angles to the ball
• Lunges rather than sliding his feet to close distance on cutting runners
• Too aggressive in response to route fakes
• Bites and gets forced into recovery mode
• Lacks desired instincts and feel for deep coverage
• Doesn’t get enough depth to help on deep throws
• Slow to read quarterback and get the jump to range over top
• Fails to find football when his back is to the ball
• Missed the end of the season with a shoulder injury that will have to clear medicals

So, to boil it down, both seem to be very gifted physically, however, both seem to do a lot "OK" but not master any one position. In the NFL, you can't be just "OK" at your position. We saw what JP brought his 1st year in the NFL: They put him at S but played him so far deep, it looked like a mistake. Now word is the Browns are going to play him at some kind of LB hybrid. Sound familiar? Good luck in there with your 213 lbs. He's gonna get erased in there.

Both are known for blazing athletic skill, but both are said to lack coverage instincts. And, I got to tell you, if you don't instinctively know where to run when, no amount of speed will make up for that - not at the NFL level. In college, to a degree.

Does any of this "prove" TE was taken too high in the draft and won't excel in the NFL? No, it does not. But it is food for thought. Being big and fast is NOT enough to succeed in the NFL. If he doesn't have the football instincts, he will leave gaping holes out there.

 

How many times are me and you going to debate this again?


I could understand your concern shortly after the draft but now it seems you are reaching for reasons as to why he might not be successful.



How about this; let him play for a full season before we draw any conclusions. Sound good?

 

Nope means nothing.

 

This guy can't resist posting the silliest stuff yet can't understand how Bell could possibly look past an opponent.

 

I’m thinking until camp starts?

 

Sometimes he posts the same thing 3 times. But, at least it gives us something at a very slow time of year. Take out his 12 posts from the front page and we would be looking at posts that haven’t been responded to in 3 weeks.

 

I'd rather have nothing to talk about. LOL

 

We can tell from 3/4 of the board you ignore lmao

 

Talk about being repetitive, the above is 90% of what you ever offer. That is far less substantial content then my stuff.

 

I can back off until we see evidence either way, but just so you realize: making predictions is half of what all posts on Internet message boards are about. Don't hate on that element, that's what boards (and talk radio) are all about.

 

Hating the element? Me? Unlikely.


A point that which is consistently brought back without key evidence? Likely.

 

But you regularly bring up, "You can't know because he hasn't played yet." Well, that's because I am expressing an OPINION. I fear he is a tweener who is weak in football instincts, thus feel he was drafted too high. I am fully aware we don't know for certain how he will pan out; will he be the next Polamalu or Scott Shields? Will he be the safety of the Jarvis Jones OLB world? It appears to me that he is similar to Peppers, who the Browns are having a tough time finding a position for.

 

Peppers was a safety for two seasons at Michigan before being converted to linebacker in addition to becoming an offensive chess piece. Realistically, his position was already in flux before his NFL Career began because of his versatility. He needs to be a box safety and only such.



Edmunds was initially a corner in his freshman year; linebacker and then safety (Rover really) in his succeeding seasons soon thereafter. For him, playing in essentially the "Rover" as a Strong Safety while being a multi-layered chess piece on the defense is his best position.




To determine his future based simply on mere analytics is beyond short sighted and therefore inconclusive. There is so much more to both Peppers and Edmunds that is either being missed or not accounted for.



As I said in the beginning, waiting for Training Camp is the best initial indicator. What will be reported then will determine how fast and well Edmunds can adapt and succeed. So again;



How about we lower the proverbial shovel in the ground before digging Terrell's proverbial grave?

 

The odds on this are going up.

 

I know, I know............

He may have played CB at one point, but he's too big for that now, he'd get scorched by NFL WRs.

My guess is, NFL teams will look to make him cover faster TEs on deep seams and he will get toasted. Let's see how this unfolds.

 

well according to you, I may not make it till camp time cause of my age RME

 

You use the word “instinct” a lot which I find odd. That’s what tells birds how to fly. I’m not picking on you, lots of people use that phrase. Maybe I’m old school, we called it football smarts. Your word works. Not that you should care about this.

To the point, your reference of the Browns not finding a position for Peppers,
that just may be a function of a guy not having instinct and athletic ability. If a player has those, you find a spot for him.

 

I hear a 70 year old count down clock winding down.....

 

Haha Thanks sunshine LOL

 

Trying to determine how players will perform without seeing them play 1 game second is pretty useless. However it is that time of the year I suppose. Hopefully by mid season he can be contributing in some sub packages for us.

 

So no team should scout players before the draft?

 

He obviously has athletic ability. What he seems to be lacking is football instincts - which is another way of saying knowing when to move/throw where, whether that be as a defender, RB or QB.

 

I know a lot of people here wanted peppers. I absolutely did not. I do however think Edmund's can pull off the role we want him to. The instinct thing is valuable. It's why I also think dirty red will have an impact too. Play recognition early is key and is the instinct that makes our guys better to such roles over peppers. It's why Washington can go deep without being a blazer. It's why Hines was so effective with an average build and speed. I love those types over hyped up height weight speed guys.

 

I’ll wait and see

 

Are you basing this on your personal observation, or just regurgitating what some pundit told you?