Film Study: The Trouble With Charlie Peprah

by Brandon on Sep 27, 2011 7:01 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

There were two players that were going to help the Green Bay Packers hold on while dealing with the loss of S Nick Collins for the season. S Morgan Burnett is emerging as the player they thought he could become. He's tied for the NFL lead with 3 INTs, and tied for the team lead with 27 tackles.

The other player was S Charlie Peprah, who'd be ready to step back into the starting role he played so well in 2010. I'm not sure what happened to Peprah v.2010, but he didn't show up on Sunday. Here are three videos from NFL.com featuring three completions by QB Jay Cutler for a total of 106 yards. The Bears had a total of 291 yards in the game. And Peprah is the one getting beat in coverage.

Knox goes deep - NFL.com. This one looks like the coverage was given up by "hole in the zone" but someone had responsibility for this area. Maybe the cornerback didn't get back fast enough, but Peprah was the deep safety who didn't run up in time to challenge the pass.

Davis' 32-yard TD - NFL.com. Peprah was where he was supposed to be in coverage, but he didn't come up to make the tackle. Yes, a couple other defenders also missed tackles, but the pass was completed in Peprah's zone.

Knox 24-yard catch - NFL.com. He almost got over in time, but Knox still made the leaping grab.

How bad is it for Peprah? On the two receptions to Knox, Cutler made a great throw for 40 yards and Knox made a great catch for 24 yards, and they forced Peprah to run all the way to the sidelines to make the play. On the touchdown to Davis, Mike McCarthy isn't going to be happy with anyone's tackling.

What are the alternatives? Either M.D. Jennings or Jarrett Bush. We don't know exactly what we'd get from Jennings, but based on the preseason, he's about as good as Peprah. We all know what to expect from Jarrett Bush.

My preference is to stick with Peprah for now. It was his first week with the first team defense in practice, he played well last season, and the Bears completed two low percentage passes to Knox that could have easily sailed high and incomplete. He can play better.

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I thought that on two of those plays...

Peprah was right there…and just failed to make the play on the ball. He could have easily broken up or picked those passes. So its not as though he was entirely out of the picture, he was just a day late and a dollar short. I think with more time to fine tune himself back into the starting role he’ll get a little more solid.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Sep 27, 2011 7:29 AM CDT reply actions

I thought he slipped on that crappy turf on a couple of the big plays

The one that sticks out is the “Knox 24 yard catch” video above. Looks like he slips as he’s about to make the play, and all he can do is go after Knox’s legs instead of trying to break it up

Angelo: Right….so anyways Jay, I’m sure you understand that we needed to make this move and I wanna wish you the best of luck.

Cutler: (Swoops bangs out of eyes by throwing his head back) Whatever, I don’t need this team or you.
/Leaves in a huff
//Writes bad poetry on his blog

Grossman: What the fuck is Wilford Brimley’s problem?

by Packers3485 on Sep 27, 2011 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Good thing he didn't slip

where the metal spikes were!

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

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Skol is a four-letter word.

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by NorthStarr on Sep 28, 2011 1:36 AM CDT up reply actions

He had a poor game. It happens

by Big10freak on Sep 27, 2011 7:45 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

not pressing the panic button yet

he didn’t even get to practice with C-Wood and Tramon that much…he’ll be OK

by tmoneyttime1 on Sep 27, 2011 8:34 AM CDT reply actions

No big deal...

It was his first full game. He’ll be alright as the season goes on.

by RaY210 on Sep 27, 2011 8:42 AM CDT reply actions

He started slow last year too...

Don’t see any reason to think its different this year. He had a bad game or 2 last year immediately after becoming the starter. He just had a bad game in his 1st start this year. He’ll be fine and settle in and do the very respectible job he did last year.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 27, 2011 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

A little concerned because he was awful in preseason too

If he doesn’t step up by the end of the ATL game, I wouldn’t mind giving MD a shot. It just seemed he was late on everything last game and was being picked on.

I hope he turns it around, but we can’t just assume he will.

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS

by Chief Oshkosh on Sep 27, 2011 10:16 AM CDT reply actions

Who is running the secondary?

Making adjustments, getting everyone in their right spots, etc. That responsibility fell on Collins and this may be part of the problem here.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Sep 27, 2011 10:50 AM CDT reply actions

Burnett can run the defensive calls

In his first preseason, Burnett was challenged to make all the defensive secondary adjustments and calls. He stepped up and handled that challenge before going out with a season ending injury. Burnett is capable of handling these responsibilities.

It’s not just one person’s responsibility to call the secondary calls, it’s a team effot. Communication is the key. Commuinication will get more effective after Peprah gets back into the swing of things.

by StephanL on Sep 27, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Good thought.

Hopefully communication improves this week, and maybe we’ll see fewer breakdowns.

He played well last year, so I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he has to improve going forward. The pass defense might be in for a long year if teams are able to pick on him, especially with front seven generating less pressure this year.

by Some Guy Named Gabbo on Sep 27, 2011 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Communication can be a problem!

Anytime someone new slips in and hasn’t had the current reps there can be problems and we have all seen that through the injury forced changes last year. It takes a game or two for everyone to get in sync.

I think the mention of the front pressure is important to figure in. Cutler was given more time to set up and actually pick on the weak link down field. From all I seen, I think that is going to improve dramatically as well. I still miss Cullen Jenkins but I think with the coaching we have, that by season end, Jenkins will be a pleasant memory.

Incidentally, Kudos to Nick Barnett and his new team. 3 & 0, they are for real!

BJK

by Crotext on Sep 27, 2011 12:59 PM CDT reply actions

he played a totally different position last year!

ugh, where to begin – but comparing his performance at SS last year to his fill-in for Collins at FS this year is just silly. Look Collins was a pro-bowler and took on more responsibilities back there than the average starting safety. When Peprah came on to replace Burnett last season at SS, he was playing alongside three Pro Bowlers and Sam Shields. The SS spot isn’t quite as involved with coverage, etc. as the FS in the current system, largely because we’ve had a great talent at FS and leaned on that position more than SS. So yes it was easier for Peprah to come into that role and play alongside a great secondary. He was replacing a rookie – so his responsibilities were limited.\

This season, he comes on and tries to replace a Pro Bowler (actually, Collins was named the #2 FS in the league in the offseason) on the other side of the field, with a completely different set of responsibilities in coverage. He’s still acclimating to that.

I don’t have any specific love for Peprah, I just think that putting blame on him and expecting him to instantly be ready for the position is a little ridiculous, not to mention trying to compare his performance this year with what he did last year. If Burnett’s so amazing (and he has been so far), move HIM to FS and let Peprah play SS where he’s clearly more comfortable.

by rip_city_swagger on Sep 27, 2011 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

Don't think it's that different

The Packers play a lot of deep safety. In some ways Charles Woodson is the defacto strong safety when the Packers play with 3 cornerbacks (which is approximately 3/4th of the time) since he’s in the slot, playing on the line of scrimmage, and a constant threat to blitz.

Burnett and Collins, Burnett and Peprah, they don’t play that close to the line of scrimmage. Both safeties play a lot of deep zone. It showed on the TD pass where Davis caught the ball in Peprah’s zone, he missed the tackle, then Davis ran across the field into Burnett’s zone (he missed the tackle too) before he ran down the hash mark to the end zone.

by Brandon on Sep 27, 2011 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

It is different

Thanks, rip_city_swagger, I was thinking the same thing, but I wasn’t positive that he and and Burnett hadn’t switched.

And, Brandon, I guess I’ll have to take your word for the fact that FS and SS aren’t all that different, since I don’t know enough about it to argue intelligently. I will say that it seems dubious to say that there aren’t at least some differences. I mean, they’re different positions. So, it seems reasonable to look at differences in the way the positions are played as a contributing factor in why Peprah might be performing differently than he did last year.

But, that aside… There’s still the difference — and this was rip’s main point — that he’s replacing a different player. Last year he only had to fill the void left by a rookie, whereas this year he’s trying to fill the void left by a perenial Pro-Bowler. That’s gotta’ make a difference.

by Curly Lambeau on Sep 27, 2011 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I think what he is trying to say is that our system is different from others

In our system, both S spots are basically resposible for the same things. At least thats how i’ve always understood it…

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS

by Chief Oshkosh on Sep 27, 2011 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Same. I believe Brandon is correct. I remember reading before last season and before this season that our safety spots are essentially interchangable — of course that was when Collins and Burnett were the starters though too.

But regardless, Burnett’s style of play is similar to Collins style. My thinking is that Burnett will basically replace Collins — which he should be able to do since he and Collins have nearly interchangable roles when they’re both in there. That should allow Peprah to come in and play a role similar to last season.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Sep 27, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

My thoughts as well.

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by Omaha Sun on Sep 28, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I have to disagree with you

The post was about blown coverage, and we’re talking about coverage aspects. They may both play safety, and the safeties might play deep, but a lot changes between the two positions: the side of the field you play on (and the reads and angles that change because of it), what WRs line up on your side consistently, if you’re on the QBs strong side or weak side with throwing/vision, what CB is playing coverage in front of you, etc. There are a lot of changes.

Woodson might take on safety responsibilities at times (playing the line, blitzing, etc.), but he doesn’t play safety in coverage – he plays the #1WR. They mix it up sometimes, but I haven’t seen Woodson drop and play safety. Also, as my original post stated, he’s replacing a Pro-Bowler that had a lot of responsibilities back there which is never an easy task. I’d argue that it was much easier for him to play SS alongside that great secondary, than try to take on Collins’ responsibilities at FS.

by rip_city_swagger on Sep 27, 2011 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions

agree with several posts above

Last year he got beat by Santana moss for the game tying long TD in his first game in for Burnett. He was great thereafter.

He’s still replacing burnett this year. Burnett is replacing collins. Ideally, he would still play the same position he did last year. I didn’t watch closely enough to see if that was the case, but that’s the way it should be. Burnett and Collins are both centerfielders. Peprah should play SS no matter which one gets injures.

After Further Review.........

The Bears Still Suck

by smackwaterjack on Sep 27, 2011 2:06 PM CDT via iPhone app reply actions

Just give him some time..

if he doesn’t produce he will get replaced. I would guess by either bush or woodson. Still, I’m optimistic he will get it together like last year.

by Articulation on Sep 27, 2011 3:47 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

let's not hope Bush is the answer to any of our problems

by rip_city_swagger on Sep 27, 2011 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hopefully not either of those.

As much as Bush is improving, the only thing I feel comfortable with him doing defensively is blitzing. And C-Wood is too valuable to waste as a full time safety

"I'm tired of pretending I'm not a rock star from Mars."

by Kuhl on Sep 27, 2011 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Just give him some time..

if he doesn’t produce he will get replaced. I would guess by either bush or woodson. Still, I’m optimistic he will get it together like last year.

by Articulation on Sep 27, 2011 3:47 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Mix it up

A thought. Why not put Woodson back and Bush in Woodson’s position up in the box. Rushing the passer is about all Bush offers that is positive. If anything mix it up so the safety opposite Burnbett is not exposed on a consistent basis.

by glblank on Sep 27, 2011 6:54 PM CDT reply actions

We don't want to telegraph a blitz...

The only Bush does consistently well on D is blitzing. If he is playing instead of Woodson or Peprah, the O will know he is more than likely blitzing.

"I'm tired of pretending I'm not a rock star from Mars."

by Kuhl on Sep 27, 2011 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah but in the GB defense...

at least prior to this year….they could basically guarantee that anyway. But I see what you mean.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Sep 28, 2011 1:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Bush

Bush does blitz well and he plays the run and tackles well. He’s got good speed and can actually cover at times, unfortunately a DB needs to be able to cover more than occasionally.

by MikeDB on Sep 29, 2011 11:31 AM CDT reply actions

Bush is a Special Team Ace

Just Mix It up with Shields,Williams on the outside, Bush as a hybrid S/LB in the box and Woodson opposite of Bush, now they wouldnt know who is coming because Bush can blitz and they’ll move protection his way while Woodson can come on the other end

by Touhue Cha on Oct 11, 2011 2:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Is TT waiting to see what happens?

Not having put Nick Collins on IR yet, I wonder if TT is thinking of making a trade for a bona fide safety. If Peprah can’t hack it without Collins’ help – and we can be sure that playing with the best safety in the NFC is different than playing with a very good 2nd-year player in Burnett – will TT go out and get someone to step in? It may seem out of character for TT, but having a major hole in the secondary could really prevent any chance of a repeat.

by MikeDB on Sep 29, 2011 11:35 AM CDT reply actions