Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Jabrill Peppers not only saved the day with his sack on fourth-and-10 from the 50 Saturday night in Denver, but it was a milestone moment for him – at least in the NFL.
It was Peppers’ first sack of his pro career.
Talk about perfect timing.
“It was dope. It was dope. But I should have had one earlier,” Peppers said. “So I was mad about that one. I didn’t realize then when I hit him how slippery he was. So that’s why I tackled him like that the last time. To make sure I didn’t’ miss him.”
But the story behind the sack is what is most impressive. It came as a result of Peppers’ growing attention to detail that saw him make an in the moment adjustment that caught the Broncos by surprise.
“I was supposed to wrap around to the opposite A [gap>, or over the ball,” Peppers said. “But they were using that protection a lot that night. And offenses say certain things so they said something and I kind of acted like I was going over there and then shot back out to where there was no one there. Came through, just had to wrap up because I had missed him early on in the game.
“Just listening to the offense playing the game and then just finding little nuances that help you win.”
Peppers, who has had an outstanding sophomore season after the Browns selected him 25th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, also thwarted a drive late in the first half when he intercepted Broncos quarterback Case Keenum in the end zone.
“It’s just about reading the quarterback, reading that front shoulder,” Peppers said. “I saw him communicating with the receivers pre-snap. I had an idea the ball was going over there, but I didn’t want to guess and leave our backside corner exposed. But once he didn’t come off it, I just trusted my gut, sped up and tried to hop on the ball.”
Interim head coach Gregg Williams has made it a point to empower his players on the field and Saturday night it paid off in a victory.
“I am not afraid to give players that type of power on the field as long as they do what I tell them to do,” Williams said. “Jabrill Peppers made a tremendous adjustment to the play call because of what he knew they were going to do.”
4th down do over – Williams did not back down from his decision not to kick a field goal and go for it on fourth-and-1 at the Denver 10 Saturday night.
“We were going to go for it no matter what,” Williams said. “That is the only way that you have total control of getting the first down, take a knee and it is over with. I explained that to our team.”
Luckily for Williams, who is using the play as a teachable moment for his locker room, the gamble paid off.
“We needed to impose our will with a young team,” Williams said. “It was a great way for a confidence booster for our team. Now, we have to get better in that situation, and we will continue to get better in those situations on how you win.
“In that situation for a young team – and it is my call – with a young team is impose your will, have total control of the win, take a knee and after the first down the game is over.”
Santa Bob? – The Browns released their Christmas greeting on social media Monday afternoon and it is nothing short of spectacular.
Offensive line coach Bob Wylie went from “set, hut” to “Ho ho ho” as he starred as Santa Claus, and his linemen his reindeer. Watch this.
Set Ho Ho Ho! -- pic.twitter.com/yiH4MI4UOX
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 17, 2018Ward update – Cornerback Denzel Ward remains in concussion protocol according to Williams, “but is moving in a positive fashion.”
Ward has missed the last 2 games after suffering the concussion during the first half of a 239-13 loss Dec. 2 at Houston.
