It’s early, but the Panthers aren’t getting much return from the $16.683 million investment they made in defensive end Julius Peppers this season.
Peppers has been quiet in the box score (one sack and 10 tackles), so Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer went back through every play of the season to see if Peppers was disrupting the game in other ways.
Judging by Fowler’s results, Peppers’ level of play is no better than the lack of stats indicate.
Peppers has been single blocked on 75% of opponent’s pass plays, but has been unable to win his matchups. He’s disappeared the last two weeks after a strong opening game performance in Carolina’s blowout loss to Philadelphia.
The media isn’t the only one noticing Peppers’ lack of plays. Linebacker Jon Beason said he planned to speak to his teammate this week.
“The pressure is what you want to see -- the intensity,” Beason said about Peppers. Beason wants to tell Peppers: “I need everything you’ve got.”
The start of this season is reminscent of 2007, when Peppers only recorded 2.5 sacks on the season. He’s been a consistent producer otherwise, but the highlight reel plays from early in his career haven’t happened in a while.
Those plays need to come back soon for the Panthers to climb out of their 0-3 hole.
And for Peppers to maximize his contract as a potential free agent next offseason.
