Peppers' value? Ask Bears' opponents

**dabears54** · 10-15-2010, 04:37 AM

Peppers' value? Ask Bears' opponents

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears constantly rave about the contributions Julius Peppers makes that don't show up on the stat sheet.

But believe it or not, there's tangible evidence to justify the Bears signing Peppers to a six-year, $91 million contract.

"This week, going up against Julius Peppers -- it's very similar to what we had to deal with in the preseason going up against Jared Allen -- one of those things that can disrupt your whole game plans," said Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. "You have to slide your line away from [him], put all the backs and tight ends on [him], just one of those things you have to do when you play against a very special player."

Although he's registered just two sacks on the season, Peppers is the only player in the league with two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. It goes deeper, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

Peppers leads the league in pass breakups among defensive linemen (4), and his four pass defenses match Chicago's entire total on the defensive front from 2009, when Anthony Adams, Gaines Adams, Alex Brown and Tommie Harris contributed one apiece.

"He's a great athlete," linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "We've all seen what he can do. He keeps doing it every Sunday, and every day in practice, too."

So Peppers deserves plenty of credit for the club's defensive improvement thus far, as does Urlacher, who missed pretty much all of last season, yet now ranks second on the team with 44 tackles.

The Bears gave up 23.4 points per game last year, and are allowing just 14.8 so far this season, which ranks as fifth-best in the league. The Chiefs are the only team experiencing a larger decrease in points per game from 2009 to 2010, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

"They're good as always. When you talk about the great defenses in the NFL, you always talk about the Tampa style defenses, which ironically mean Chicago these days," Hasselbeck said. "They're tough to run against. They're tough to throw against. It's a traditional Chicago defense; very, very good."

**sph34** · 10-15-2010, 04:58 AM

Peppers is earning his paycheck and more as far as I'm concerned.

**dabears54** · 10-15-2010, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by sph34

Peppers is earning his paycheck and more as far as I'm concerned.

yep, while not putting the 'eye popping " sack numbers so far, his all around game MUCH better thn expected and has really risen the whole "D" line play, agree 100% been worth every penny so far. Though think DE is all we shall see, not WR..lol

Cutler pass complete to Peppers?”

Julius Peppers makes impressions on quarterbacks usually by seeking and achieving their annihilation. But the Bears’ defensive end impressed Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for an entirely different reason.

“Julius Peppers is a great, great player,” Hasselbeck said. “When he was in Carolina they were playing him at wide receiver. It’s not often that a guy’s playing defensive end and wide receiver who’s not like in the sixth grade. It’s amazing that he’s doing it in the NFL.”

Peppers has done minimal damage to Hasselbeck in his three games against Seattle, one in the 2005 playoffs. He has a total of 11 tackles but zero sacks.

But the Seahawks had Walter Jones as their left tackle and as one of Hasselbeck’s prime protectors. Jones, a likely Hall of Famer, has retired and Hasselbeck misses him.

“I don’t think I really understood how good he was,” Hasselbeck said. “I’d get on [media] conference calls and people would ask me about the defensive end on that [left] side. I would fake it like I knew who he was but we never talked about it, never had to.

“That’s certainly not been the case for us since he’s been gone. This week, going up against Julius Peppers, it’s like in the preseason going up against [Minnesota Viking] Jared Allen, one of those things that can disrupt your whole game plan a little bit and you have to slide your line away from it, put all the backs and tight ends on it, just one of things you have to do when you play against a very special player.”

**The Benjamin** · 10-15-2010, 05:02 AM

He isn't getting the sacks that we thought we would see, but you see him forcing QBs and RBs into other peoples hands, like last week with Izzy! Best FA pickup Bears may have ever made.

Definitely the best pick up any team made this past off season.

**dabears54** · 10-15-2010, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

He isn't getting the sacks that we thought we would see, but you see him forcing QBs and RBs into other peoples hands, like last week with Izzy! Best FA pickup Bears may have ever made.

Definitely the best pick up any team made this past off season.

Like almost all teams, free agency has not been kind to bears, so the bar isn't very high. if had to list the top Free Agents and worst( just figure a good topic on a slow friday):

Top 5 F/A:

1. Peppers- while early.. looks to be class of field

2. John Tait- Solid for 7 years a warrior and well worth the money

3. Thomas Jones- Solid player at a good value $12 mill for 4 years

4. Reuben Brown- 2 probowls at only $1.2 mill, best "value" free agent

5A. Blake brockenmeyer- 3 good years before broke down.

5B brad maynard- Top Punter for last decade a great pick up

honorable mention- Ogunleye, Fred Miller for 2 years, jeff graham, erik krammer/jim miller and Robbie Gould( picked up off street so not sure if technically a F/a pick)

Worst Five:

1. Brian Cox- all blowhard, no heart

2. Tom Carter- $25 mill for what??

3. Moose- Too big a contract, never a big game performer, too many drops for $30 mill

4. Craig "iron head" heywood- came with big rep, left with no rep

5. kordell Stewart- 'slash" just made me want to slash my wrists

honorable mention to players who didn't last long enough for hatred or just had minimum deals- Adam archuetta, darwin walker, kevin jones,

5. johnathan Quinn- 'nuff said

**motownbear** · 10-15-2010, 01:34 PM

said it from the beginning Peppers or bust. The guy is a freak. Worth every penny. Our defense would not be this dominating if we would have settled for a guy coming off acl injury or vander bosch cause they were cheaper. Certain guys should never hit FA and Carolina letting someone like Peppers go is so dumb. How can that gm keep his job.

**anderson35** · 10-15-2010, 02:13 PM

Best pickup of the off-season, without a doubt. And up there as best pickup of the off-season for any team.

What a fantastic player. Wish he'd been with the Bears the moment he came in to the league!

**dabears54** · 10-16-2010, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by motownbear

said it from the beginning Peppers or bust. The guy is a freak. Worth every penny. Our defense would not be this dominating if we would have settled for a guy coming off acl injury or vander bosch cause they were cheaper. Certain guys should never hit FA and Carolina letting someone like Peppers go is so dumb. How can that gm keep his job.

he and Fox probably gone after this year in carolina- the Dad fired his Son's last year, so the Management side been in dissaray for awhile in carolina- Still doesn't excuse letting Peppers go- but their loss, sure the Bears Gain. And really glad we made that first day push, to make sure Peppers went nowehre else, Got to give Angelo, lovie and Bears credit for that

**dabears54** · 10-17-2010, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by anderson35

Best pickup of the off-season, without a doubt. And up there as best pickup of the off-season for any team.

What a fantastic player. Wish he'd been with the Bears the moment he came in to the league!

Ans you know he's glad to be out of the media backwoods of carolina- and if he continues to have a great year/career, will be intersting to see his HOF status in a few years

**dabears54** · 10-17-2010, 06:53 AM

just doing some Number checking.. peppers is now 6thof the active players in sacks and 44th over-all with a top 10 easily of plays another 4+ years

RankPlayer (age), + - HOFer, Bold -
ActiveSkYearsTeams
1.Jason Taylor (35)130.5 1997-2010 3TM

2.John Abraham (31)93.5 2000-2010 2TM

3.Joey Porter (32)93.0 1999-2010 3TM

4.Trevor Pryce (34)90.0 1997-2010 3TM

5.Dwight Freeney (29)87.0 2002-2010 clt

6.Julius Peppers (29)83.0 2002-2010 2TM

7.Jared Allen (27)73.0 2004-2010 2TM

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...cks_active.htm

44.Julius Peppers (29)83.0 2002-2010 2TM

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...cks_career.htm

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