8A — Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
ALLISON FARRAND/Daily
Redshirt freshman Jabrill Peppers is finally earning consistent playing time after missing most of 2014 with an injury.
year away from game action,
that was a desirable starting
point. Peppers did not know
how to name his particular
role on defense, saying that it
was a combination of safety,
nickelback
and
cornerback.
Each week’s game plan will
dictate exactly where he plays.
On special teams, Peppers
fielded punts and kicks for
Michigan. Michigan coach Jim
Harbaugh called his work on
the punt team “outstanding”
and “spectacular,” particularly
with respect to a diving first-
quarter fair catch of a punt
that could have prevented the
ball from bouncing deep into
Wolverine territory. When he
was given the chance to display
some moves in the return game
— instead of the necessary fair
catches on the punt return —
Peppers knifed through Utah’s
coverage for 36 yards in the
fourth quarter.
Though the workload on
defense and special teams did
require Peppers to make some
adjustments in terms of how
he exerted energy, he was not
overly concerned.
“It’s all of the things that I
myself wanted to do and that
the coaches allow me to do,
because they know I’m able to
do it,” Peppers said.
Peppers did not see any
action on the offensive side of
the ball in the opener, despite
Harbaugh’s admission in the
preseason that Peppers could
very well play offense this
season.
Peppers was coy when asked
if that is still the plan.
“It just depends on how things
go,” he said. “The offense, like I
said, they were a couple of plays
away from changing the game.
“If they need me to help
in some way, I’d be more
than happy to do it, whether
it’s
receiver,
running
back,
quarterback, doesn’t matter. As
far as that goes, I’m just playing
it by ear. When they call my
number, I’m going to be ready.”
PEPPERS
From Page 7A
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