MintBaconDrivel
9 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
9 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
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wpr (18-Mar) : I say that he is technically HER BIL as he married her sister. I checked it out, he's considered my BIL as well. Sad.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : wpr, I assume its your BIL via marriage to your wife? If so, I can figure out where the smarts in the family went ;)
wpr (18-Mar) : Mucky my B-I-L is Bare Stupid. I could write a book.
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : As a teenager in Rockford IL I would get heckled by adults in public for wearing GB gear
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : if you think the online ones are bad, try *living amongst* them
Mucky Tundra (18-Mar) : Never doubt wprs loyalty. Poor guy is surrounded by Bears fans in Northern IL
wpr (17-Mar) : pass Martha. Thanks for the invite though.
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : blog * as the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Baer
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : WPR, perhaps you should be joining the Bears fans blog has the same ugly Illinois colors were adopted by the Bears
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : Ah a fellow U of Illinois hater. I can respect that though I imagine it's for different reasons
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : BTW. I didn't catch the game. I just hate Illinois.
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : They're your Big Ten Chumps and you will like it!
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not for the record. Referee's handled that BS. Orange team was trash ass
Mucky Tundra (17-Mar) : *Your* Big Ten Chumps for the record
Zero2Cool (17-Mar) : No, not Big Ten Champs. IL is big ten CHUMPS
wpr (17-Mar) : Big Ten Champs
wpr (17-Mar) : !!!
wpr (17-Mar) : INI
wpr (17-Mar) : ILL
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : Wisconsin with an outstanding on in the men’s Big Ten basketball tournament. Let’s hope it continues in the NCAAs
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Mucky Tundra (16-Mar) : 2021 QB Draft class looking like a real clunker
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dfosterf (16-Mar) : So I got the no extension part right and the have to wait on the CW physical wrong
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dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are not doing a deal with Washington, they also cannot trade Fields until Williams physical with them. All hail Caleb Williams!
dfosterf (16-Mar) : The talent is undeniable, but the (advertised) haul is obscene.
dfosterf (16-Mar) : If the Bears are cutting a deal with the Commanders, in either scenario, cannot happen until williams passes a Commanders physical
dfosterf (16-Mar) : My guess is no to the Fields extension, but yes to the trade back with the Commanders.
dhazer (15-Mar) : I think the Bears do a Love extension and they will trade out of the 1st pick and take the haul
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : that might make sense
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Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : Aaron Donald retiring
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Mucky Tundra (15-Mar) : That's a not a bad deal for the Bears
Zero2Cool (15-Mar) : Bears have traded for WR Keenan Allen sending Chargers a fourth rounder.
Martha Careful (15-Mar) : *signs
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dhazer (14-Mar) : I would like to see the Packers target 2 more FA still available Kamren Curl Safety and Chase Young edge
Martha Careful (14-Mar) : wow...didn't see that coming
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