Jabrill Peppers

New York Giants: Things to Watch This Preseason

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With the New York Giants training camp in full swing, it’s time to bring on the preseason games. Instead of the usual preseason schedule with the Giants taking on their cross rivals in their third game, this year the proclaimed “snoopy bowl” will be the opener. Here are some Giant things to watch for.

Daniel Jones First Real Test

Daniel Jones has been one of the most polarizing draft picks to put on a New York Giants jersey in quite some time. So far throughout spring OTA’s and training camp, he’s checked all the boxes and combated draft night criticism with strong throws. However, this is the first real test. Live football action is a whole different animal than sporting a red pinny with a clean pocket every play.

In a preseason opener, the Giants would like to see if the rookie can stay composed and command the huddle. Last year the Giants expected Davis Webb to make a big leap heading into his second year but failed to stay calm and threw inaccurate fastballs. The new regime was quick to dismiss Webb and move on. This won’t be the case for Jones being a #6 overall pick. An efficient game would be another great step for the promising rookie.

Who will step up at WR?

When the Giants traded OBJ they resigned productive wideout Sterling Shepard to a 4-year extension and brought in elusive receiver Golden Tate to make up for Odell’s loss. However, everything that could have gone wrong so far has for Giant’s wide receivers. Corey Coleman tore his ACL day one of camp, Sterling Shepard had fractured his thumb, and Golden Tate is facing a 4 game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

With three down the Giants are praying for a Victor Cruz type of emergence in the preseason. Returning receivers Russell Shepard (10), Cody Latimer (11), and Bennie Fowler (16) all had less than 20 receptions last season.

One player who has stood out in training camp is Daniel Jones favorite target, Alonzo Russell. Something to keep an eye on.

Where will QB Pressure come from?

The Giants have high expectations for second-year man Lorenzo Carter to fill the big shoes of Olivier Vernon. Carter only had 4 sacks in his rookie season and will likely make a jump. Coaches around camp have noticed a bulked up Carter who added 10-12 pounds of muscles this offseason (Giants.com). Alongside Carter is veteran Markus Golden and 3rd round draft pick, Oshane Ximines.

The Giants signed former Cardinal Markus Golden to a one-year prove-it deal. Back in 2016, Golden racked up 12.5 sacks on a Bettcher led defense (Sports Reference). Coming off knee surgery can he resemble anything of his former self?

Ximines was a division 3 standout from Old Dominion College. He has smooth moves to get to the QB. However, can he adjust to the faster speed of play in the NFL?

17th overall pick Dexter Lawrence has told the media he is more than just a run stopper. Can he be a dominant 3 down player in the NFL?

A lot of questions surround this defensive front as the season approaches.

A Young Secondary will be Tested

The Giants moved back into the first round to grab who they believed was the best corner in the draft, DeAndre Baker. Baker has not let up a touchdown in his last two years at Georgia (Pro Football Focus) and Pat Shurmur has been impressed with the rookie in training camp.

Other new faces in this secondary are Julian Love, Jabrill Peppers, Antione Bethea, and Corey Ballentine. Jenkins and Bethea have provided the veteran presence needed for this young secondary.

It will be interesting to see what type of role Peppers has not only on defense but other areas. He is a versatile player that was underutilized in Cleveland.

A player to watch here is 6th round pick Corey Ballentine who has the athletic ability to make some impressive plays. He has had to overcome extreme adversity so far in the NFL and everyone is rooting for him.

‘Hog Mollies’ are Rebuilt

Finally! An offensive line that the New York Giants can feel good about. The addition of top guard Kevin Zeitler and filling in Mike Remmers at right tackle will pay off big for Eli Manning. Joining Will Hernandez, Nate Soldier, and Jon Halapio, can this renovated line give Eli the time he hasn’t had in years?

New York Giants: Who Are The Pro Bowl Talents?

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The New York Giants have been one of the league’s worst teams over the past two seasons. In 2017, they finished with a 3-13 record awarding them with the second overall pick in the Draft. Then, they showed minimal improvement in 2018 with a 5-11 record and the sixth overall pick.

The Giants need to turn things around as soon as possible. The team needs more elite talent in order to be a playoff-contending team. But that’s not to say that New York has no talent whatsoever. There are a few players that could earn a trip to the Pro Bowl if they live up to their potential in 2019. But who exactly on the Giants actually has a chance of making the Pro Bowl in 2019?

Saquon Barkley (Obviously)

Saquon Barkley is not only a Pro Bowl talent, but he is also arguably the best player in the NFL at his position. As a rookie, Saquon lead the league in yards from scrimmage with 2,028 total.

His record-breaking season earned him a few prestigious awards, too. Including Pepsi Rookie of the Year and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. A decorated rookie season for a generational talent.

But that was year one for Saquon Barkley. Year two looks to have plenty more in store for the Penn State alum. Barkley is a shoo-in for the Pro Bowl this year. That is unless he manages to carry Big Blue all the way to the Super Bowl…

Kevin Zeitler

It is surprising that right guard Kevin Zeitler has not been to a Pro Bowl yet. The former Cleveland Brown has had a very successful career thus far and made a name for himself based on his elite-level pass-protection.

The New York Giants have not had an offensive lineman selected for the Pro Bowl in seven years. 2019 very well could be the year that this drought ends. Zeitler allowed all of 11 pressures all season long, and he owned the highest pass-blocking grade of any offensive lineman in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.

If Eli Manning is able to put together a solid season behind his new rebuilt offensive line, Zeitler could receive his first-career Pro Bowl selection. But, what if the Giants saw two offensive linemen make the Pro Bowl?

Will Hernandez

Will Hernandez is another gem from the Giants’ 2018 draft class. Hernandez was a first-round talent that slipped into round two. Luckily for the Giants, they had the second pick in the second round and were able to steal Will Hernandez.

Hernandez was excellent in his rookie season. According to PFF, Will allowed only 5 sacks in his rookie campaign. This was tied for the ninth fewest of all guards in the NFL. But, almost more impressively, Hernandez committed only two penalties on 1,027 snaps. This is an incredible accomplishment for a rookie and it truly demonstrates Will’s advanced technique and discipline.

So, of course, there are a couple of other players on the Giants’ offense who could earn the nod to Orlando if they break out this season. Evan Engram has all the potential in the world if he stays healthy and Sterling Shepard is a solid receiver poised to break out in an expanded role. And even Eli Manning, if the veteran quarterback can revert to his old form then, of course, he could be selected, too.

But what about the defense? Is there any real talent on the other side of the ball?

Jabrill Peppers

Giants Nation loves rooting for an exciting defensive presence. Prior to his departure, Landon Collins was one of the most popular athletes in New York. Despite being placed on injured reserve and having the worst season of his career in 2018, Giants Nation still voted Landon Collins to the Pro Bowl.

Peppers has already begun to see that same love from Giants fans. If he puts together the season that he is capable of he could break out and make it to Orlando.

Jabrill Peppers is capable of a lot more than he gets credit for. He is not just a box safety who defends the run. Jabrill is one of the most versatile young safeties in the league.

The Browns used Peppers as a jack-of-all-trades defensive back in 2018, like he was used in college at Michigan. Most of his snaps were played at safety (281 snaps), but he played a lot of snaps at linebacker (172 snaps), edge (133 snaps), and slot cornerback (108 snaps), too, according to Pro Football Focus.

This lead to a better statistical season from Jabrill Peppers. He played all 16 games and finished with 79 combined tackles, 1 interception, 5 passes defended, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.

The Giants have a lot more talent than people want to give them credit for. Granted, much of their talent is unproven and based on potential, but that is something that the Giants have a lot of.

Hopefully, not a single player from the Giants plays in the Pro Bowl because they are too busy prepping for the Super Bowl. But if New York is unable to make it back to the promised land, fans should expect to see a couple of Blue helmets playing in Orlando in January.

New York Giants: Jabrill Peppers knows Daniel Jones can be great

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New York Giants, Eli Manning, Daniel Jones

While New York Giants rookie passer Daniel Jones has had some success during training camp, the jury is still out on his potential, but there are signs of early returns.

Newly acquired safety Jabrill Peppers has had a first-hand look at the Giants’ new passer and Eli Manning’s eventual replacement.

Peppers stated, according to the NY Post:

“When we drafted him, he was the butt of a lot of jokes, people really didn’t like the pick,” Peppers said. “Even when I was at the [MetLife Stadium] draft party, it was like some boos. I didn’t really know him like that, but I knew of his coach, [David] Cutcliffe. I know the guys he produced and I met Coach Cutcliffe, and he’s a Coach Cutcliffe product. I’m automatically gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. But in practice he showed me some things, some throws he fit in some super-tight windows, and I just had to look at him like, ‘That was a good throw.’ ”

If there’s any trustworthy opinion to adopt as your own, it will come from the players defending him. Peppers has seen what Jones is capable of and the type of throws he can make at the professional level.

While it will undoubtedly take some time to find his rhythm and adapt to the speed and physicality of the NFL, Jones has tangible and intangible skills to succeed at the professional level. However, he will have to overcome Eli Manning, who is having an impressive offseason throwing the ball.

With a refined offensive line and a newfound arm-strength, Manning seems to be the starter for the foreseeable future. It will take a mountain for Jones to earn the role, but that’s not a bad thing. The rookie needs the 2019 season to develop and find his strengths against top-level talent.

New York Giants: Daniel Jones will need to overcome challenges

Playing at Duke didn’t allow him to operate under an NFL offense or play with players of that talent. It will take time for him to learn the offense and understand protection schemes. Manning will be a tool during that process.

“Eli is so smart, he gets on my nerves in practice because he’s seen it all already,” Peppers said. “It’s like I try to disguise something, but he can look somewhere else, and if they’re not on the same accord that I am, he knows … checks the play. People forget he’s a two-time Super Bowl-winning MVP. I don’t know how you could go against that, a guy who’s won at the highest level twice, that’s just not smart to me.

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While the veteran passer knows his time on the Giants is quickly dwindling to a finish, he has not wavered in his approach. His assistance in developing Jones has been fantastic, according to the younger of the two.

“I think Eli’s been extremely helpful for me and just being able to watch him prepare, but any questions I’ve had or any question I’ve asked, he’s been more than helpful with me in answering that,” Jones said. “I think whenever anything comes up, it’s easy to ask him and get a full explanation. For me, it’s been a great way to learn so far.”

 

New York Giants: Jabrill Peppers Open To Being Two Way Player

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New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers

It doesn’t seem like the New York Giants are quite desperate enough to start playing defensive players on offense just yet, but if the team does want to head in that direction, it looks like they have one player that already has experience doing such and would be perfectly willing to jump into the offense. That’s, of course, one of the newest additions to the team, Jabrill Peppers.

Peppers was acquired from the Browns in the trade sending Odell Beckham Jr. there, and was a multi position player in high school as well as one that the Michigan Wolverines experimented with moving around. Peppers had much hype coming into college related to his ability to play on both sides of the ball but it was largely something that was downplayed over time as Peppers ended up settling into the safety spot, where he carved out a starting spot with the Browns and where it looks like he’ll play with the Giants.

Still, that doesn’t mean Peppers has forgotten his former skillset. “I think I could do whatever I put my mind to,” he said to NJ Advance Media about the subject of playing on offense as a two way player. “Guys might not have gotten chance, and guys might not want to because now it’s about making your career last as long as possible so you reap the fruits of your labor.”

“I definitely think there are guys that can do it. But will they do it? Will they want to do it? Will the team make them do it? Especially if they are key guys. It’s all up in the air. It depends on a lot — the type of system and type of franchise,” Peppers added.

The Giants would have to be rather desperate to play a safety on offense but that doesn’t seem like an option that’s completely out of the question still, mainly because of the team’s numerous problems so far at the wide receiver position. With Sterling Shepard potentially coming into week one close off a fractured thumb, Corey Coleman out with a torn ACL, and Golden Tate staring down a four game suspension for a substance violation, the team could use some more options.

Will Peppers be one of those options? We’ll see. The Giants are, after all, almost to the point where making desperate moves like that may be the reasonable option.

New York Giants: Will The Secondary Or Defensive Line Be Better In 2019?

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The New York Giants‘ defense has undergone numerous changes this offseason. They have seen two star defenders leave, Landon Collins and Olivier Vernon, opening big holes in both the secondary and the front seven.

But the Giants have also made plenty of acquisitions to try to patch these holes. They revamped their secondary in the 2019 NFL Draft and also added a stud rookie defensive lineman to their already solid young core.

This raises an interesting question for the 2019 NFL season. Which unit will perform better? The secondary or the defensive line?

Why The Secondary Might Perform Better

The New York Giants‘ secondary has been one of the league’s worst over the past two years. In 2017, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.4 passing yards per game (ranked 31st in the NFL). In 2018, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.8 passing yards (ranked 23rd in the NFL), showing minimal to no improvement.

Fortunately, Big Blue has made some major changes to help improve the backend of the defense. New York drafted three defensive backs in the 2019 NFL Draft (four if counting Sam Beal). These young cornerbacks wi

The Giants should have a solid new cornerback duo in Janoris Jenkins and DeAndre Baker. Jenkins has been a solid player with the Giants the past three seasons and Baker is a talented young rookie that New York drafted in the first-round.

But the Giants are not just set on the outside. At slot cornerback, the Giants have bounds of talent. Grant Haley is heading into his second season after a promising rookie season that saw him break up 2 passes and total 33 tackles in only 10 games.

But the Giants now have options at slot cornerback. Julian Love was the Giants’ steal of the draft in the fourth round. He could see playing time at both slot cornerback and free safety.

The Giants’ best new defensive addition this offseason was Jabrill Peppers. The Giants acquired Peppers in a trade with Cleveland, and Jabrill should instantly be the Giants’ best defender. Peppers is a playmaker all over a defense, as he has experience playing just about everywhere.

In 2018, most of Jabrill’s snaps were played at safety (281 snaps), but he played a lot of snaps at linebacker (172 snaps), edge (133 snaps), and slot cornerback (108 snaps), too, according to Pro Football Focus. The Swiss-Army Knife Julius Peppers was able to snag an interception, a sack, and record 79 combined tackles.

The Giants’ new secondary has a lot of young potential. But this unit is not the only piece of the defense with a lot of potential.

Why The Defensive Line Might Peform Better

The New York Giants’ defensive line is vastly underrated as of right now. They have an immensly talented young core that should serve them well for the next decade (if Gettleman manages to keep everyone tigether).

First up on Big Blue’s feroucious defensive line is Dalvin Tomlinson. Tomlinson has been described by Pro Football Focus as one of the NFL’s secret defensive superstars. This is because of Dalvin’s incredibly efficient play throughout his first two professional seasons.

Dalvin Tomlinson had the longest active streak of tackles without a miss with 60. Dalvin has only missed one tackle in his two-year NFL career. Tomlinson has also racked up 24 defensive stops against the run in two years in the NFL. His continued development will make him one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.

Next up is one of New York’s brightest young stars on defense, B.J. Hill. Hill was a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and he played much better than his draft stock in his rookie season.

Hill proved that he is an excellent interior penetrator in 2018. B.J. set a New York Giants franchise record in 2018. His 5.5 sacks were the most ever by a rookie in Giants history since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. The 5.5 sacks were also the fourth most by a rookie this season.

Last but not least, the Giants’ latest addition to the offensive line, Dexter Lawrence. The Giants drafted Dexter Lawrence with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Lawrence is a young stud with tons of potential who could make an impact instantly.

Dexter Lawrence is known for his incredible work in run-defense, but he is also a criminally underrated interior pass-rusher. In three years at Clemson, Dexter totaled 131 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. But Dexter Lawrence also racked up 33 total pressures in 2018 (T12th in draft class) and he also had the third-highest pass rush productivity percentage in the draft class, applying pressure on 13.8% of his snaps.

The Giants’ defensive line has the potential to be one of the best young defensive lines in the NFL in 2019. The secondary has a lot of potential, but the talent is not as proven as the defensive line. Personally, I think the defensive line will perform better out of the two units because the secondary has too many young and unproven players. However, both units should surprise and be a lot better than most expect them to be this season.

New York Giants: Antoine Bethea is becoming everything the Giants need him to be

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The New York Giants need to extract value from Antoine Bethea.

A veteran, a leader, a teacher, a producer…all of these things ultimately make up New York Giants safety Antoine Bethea, or at least we hope they do.

General manager Dave Gettleman brought in another veteran with experience in defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s defense this offseason. The installment of these players will help the younger options adapt to the scheme and the play-style in the NFL. Rookies like DeAndre Baker, Julian Love, Corey Ballentine and more will all benefit from having guys like Bethea on the field and in the locker room.

The one player that I think will seriously gain is Jabrill Peppers, who was acquired in the trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. With the level of athleticism and skill Peppers contains, there’s no question he should be a Pro Bowl-level player, and Bethea might be able to help him get there.

Aside from Bethea and Peppers, the Giants also have Special Teams phenom Michael Thomas, a productive player that makes his money on the punt team. Coming off a Pro Bowl appearance in 2018, Thomas knows what it takes to be the best at a specific position.

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With so many new faces in the secondary, Thomas surely can’t help teach them all, which is why he’s excited to have Bethea join the group (Giants.com):

“With us bringing in Bethea, that brings a whole lot of leadership in the room,” Thomas said. “I’m going into Year 8, but I’m still learning from him. I have a long way to catch him going into Year 14. He’s a general out there. He’s vocal. When he speaks, everybody listens.”

The second-year Giant also praised Peppers for his diversity:

“He played linebacker in college, but he’s probably one of the fastest guys in the room with a track background,” Thomas said. “He played at a big-time school (Michigan) and was a first-round pick. That’s a guy right there who can step in from Day 1 and knows he can play any position on the field, regardless of the secondary or the front seven.

In Jabrill’s rookie season, the Browns played him at free safety, well out of his natural spot. He struggled but gained essential skills that will now transfer over the Giants and the way they plan to utilize him. Seeing a jump of 22 combines tackles from year 1-to-2 is a significant difference (Sports Reference). Hopefully, Bethea, who racked up 121 combined tackles last season, will help elevate his game.

The influence of veteran experience can’t be overblown.

New York Giants: Jabrill Peppers Is A True Swiss-Army Knife On Defense

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New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers

The New York Giants‘ secondary underwent major changes in the 2019 NFL offseason. These changes were very much necessary as New York’s secondary has been one of the league’s worst the past two seasons.

In 2017, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.4 passing yards per game (ranked 31st in the NFL). In 2018, the Giants’ secondary allowed 252.8 passing yards (ranked 23rd in the NFL), showing minimal to no improvement.

The Giants’ secondary should be improved in 2019. New York drafted three defensive backs in the 2019 NFL Draft (four if counting Sam Beal). The secondary has been completely rebuilt.

One key addition in the Giants’ secondary is Jabrill Peppers. Peppers is listed as a strong safety, but he is much more than that. Peppers has the ability to line up and make plays all over the defense.

Jabrill Peppers Stats And Highlights

Jabrill Peppers’s most valuable attribute is his ability to play multiple positions. The Cleveland Browns lined him up all over their defense in 2018 and saw him make plays everywhere he lined up.

In 2018, most of Peppers’s snaps were played at safety (281 snaps), but he played a lot of snaps at linebacker (172 snaps), edge (133 snaps), and slot cornerback (108 snaps), too, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jabrill was a serious playmaker last season. He played all 16 games and finished with 79 combined tackles, 1 interception, 5 passes defended, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.

Jabrill’s ability to play in multiple positions on defense make him a Swiss-Army Knife, a true weapon, on the Giants’ young defense.

But Peppers is not limited to playing just defense. The true jack-of-all-trades can be a solid contributor on special teams, too.

Peppers was an excellent return man in college. He averaged 26.8 yards per return on 18 returns for 483 yards on kickoffs but 0 touchdowns in two seasons as Michigan’s kick returner. As a punt returner, Peppers averaged 13.1 yards per return on 39 returns for 510 yards and 1 touchdown.

Jabrill Peppers did also return kicks during his two seasons with Cleveland. He was not spectacular, but he was decent. He averaged 22 yards per return on 33 returns for 726 yards. Peppers has big-play ability and will be a great addition to the Giants’ special teams unit.

The Giants’ secondary lacked a versatile safety in 2018. Landon Collins was an excellent run-defending safety, however, his shortcomings in coverage became an obvious issue. Jabrill Peppers is an improvement in coverage and is just as good in run defense.

According to Pro Football Focus, Landon Collins posted a coverage grade of only 68.2 in 2018, ranked 45th out of all safeties in the NFL. Peppers recorded a coverage grade of 77.3.

Jabrill Peppers is a truly versatile safety with tons of talent in many different aspects of the game. He will make an instant impact on the Giants’ defense, and maybe even their special teams.

How the New York Giants can make the playoffs in 2019

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New York Giants, Eli Manning

The New York Giants making the playoffs in 2019 after a 5-11 campaign last season seems like a tall task, but the reality is, it’s not impossible, and it’s actually more probable than one might think.

The Giants continued on their youth agenda this year, choosing to trade Odell Beckham Jr. in favor of draft picks to help secure multiple positions of need. Drafting interior defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to hold down the trenches and acquiring safety Jabrill Peppers to play a diverse role in the secondary will help improve the team.

The bolstering of the offensive line will also prove to pay dividends for Eli Manning in the pocket and Saquon Barkley in the run game. In fact, this might be the most impactful factor of all in the season ahead. More time for Manning to operate in the pocket and move through his progressions could be exactly what the doctor ordered, as we’ve seen him falter at the hands of opposing pass-rushers in recent years.

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Let’s rank the 5 most impactful improvements this offseason for the New York Giants:

1.) Offensive line

2.) Cornerbacks

3.) Safeties

4.) Added experience for youth

5.) Special teams improvement

More time, better coverage in the secondary, less of a deep ball threat from opposing offenses, NFL experience for 2018 draft picks, and a further improvement of the special teams.

These are all of the factors that must play a part in the growth of the team — determining the outcome of the 2019 season and if the playoffs are really a possibility. The deficiencies are still present, however, in some aspects.

CHECK OUT THE ESM STORE FOR AWESOME DESIGNS! 

The pass-rushers and defensive line are unproven and still young. They will need this upcoming season to progress and develop a sense of chemistry with one another. Lawrence will be a primary cog in the defense this year — they’re expecting him to be a force as a pass rusher as well as a run stopper, but his low sack totals last season don’t indicate his proficiency in this area.

I expect it will take him a bit of time to elevate his effectiveness when it comes to rushing the passer, but his influence will be beneficial and improve the defensive front. As a whole, I do believe this team is better than the one from last season, but I don’t think they’re a playoff-caliber team just yet.

My prediction is a 7-9 or 8-8 record, missing the playoffs but showing heart and resilience against tougher competition.

The secondary will be flawed at times as DeAndre Baker learns his role and adapts to NFL-level competition. The wide receivers are still in flux and the No. 3 option hasn’t shaken out yet. Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard will both be interchangeable as the top pass-catcher, but losing Beckham hurts the offense as a whole.

It will be interesting to see how the team compensates for the loss of their best player (arguably) and how they respond to his loss of production.

 

New York Giants: New Safety Could Be An Impact Player On Special Teams Too

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New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers

The New York Giants rebuilt their defense in 2019 offseason. However, they did not touch the special teams unit. This is because the Giants’ special teams was the best its been in years in the 2018 season.

But that is not to say it was perfect. New York struggled to find a consistent return man during the first half of the season. Now, in 2019, they have an array of return specialist options to choose from.

One intriguing option happens to be the Giants’ best player on defense. The Giants traded for safety Jabrill Peppers this offseason and he looks to be the Giants’ best defender already. But he also has a chance to be their best return man.

Jabrill Peppers Stats And Highlights As A Return Specialist

Jabrill Peppers is a true Swiss Army Knife on the football field. He will be a versatile safety with the ability to play in the box and deep. But he will also have the opportunity to return kicks and punts for Big Blue.

Peppers was an excellent return man in college. He averaged 26.8 yards per return on 18 returns for 483 yards on kickoffs but 0 touchdowns in two seasons as Michigan’s kick returner. As a punt returner, Peppers averaged 13.1 yards per return on 39 returns for 510 yards and 1 touchdown.

Check out the moves that Jabrill Peppers is taking to New York:

Jabrill Peppers did also return kicks during his two seasons with Cleveland. He was not spectacular, but he was decent. He averaged 22 yards per return on 33 returns for 726 yards. Peppers has big play ability and will be a great addition to the Giants’ special teams unit.

The Giants might not use Peppers as their primary return man in order to keep him from getting injured. Jabrill will be the Giants’ best defender so they must keep him healthy. But if other players suffer injuries, or if the Giants are in need a or a big play, Jabrill Peppers will be a viable option.

New York Giants News, 7/3 – Jabrill Peppers the new Landon Collins

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New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

While comparing Jabrill Peppers to Landon Collis might be a stretch at this point, I’m actually quite confident that the Giants’ new acquisition can be even better than the Redskin.

Peppers, who was heavily misused with the Cleveland Browns, will act as a dynamic and “Swiss Army Knife” style of player. Utilizing him in coverage and at the line of scrimmage will be just two ways defensive coordinator James Bettcher puts his new toy to work.

The college standout started his NFL career playing free safety for the Browns, an unnatural position for him that saw him rank near the bottom of the league at the position. This, however, is good for the Giants, because it only added to his skillset and gives him more diversity on defense.

I anticipate Bettcher baiting the offense with him sneaking up to the line of scrimmage and then backing off into coverage. I’m mostly excited about Peppers because not only can he play in the box and free safety, but he can also cover in the slot and lock down opposing tight ends.

Tight ends have been the bane of the Giants existence with Collins in coverage, something that’s bound to change with Jabrill taking over.

Nonetheless–

Your Giants top news of the day!

John Fennelly (GMEN HQ) – When did you first realize you were a New York Giants fan?

Alexander Wilson (Empire Sports Media) – 3 reasons why the New York Giants will be far better in 2019

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – PFF: Sterling Shepard is Giants’ biggest x-factor in 2019

Field Level Media (New York Post) – Ex-Giants QB Jared Lorenzen ‘fighting with everything he has’ in scary health battle

Dan Benton (Giants Wire) – Giants’ Darius Slayton already considered a Draft-day steal?

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Check out the best news for yesterday!

New York Giants News, 7/2 – The offensive line finally has a leader