One New York Giants defender who has blossomed under Patrick Graham’s scheme

New York Giants, Jabrill Peppers
Nov 8, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; New York Giants safety Jabrill Peppers (21) reacts after intercepting a pass Washington Football Team during the fourth quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

When the New York Giants hired defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, most didn’t believe he would have the influence we’ve enjoyed during the 2020 season. His unit has willed the Giants to victory on numerous occasions, establishing a sense of toughness and grit the team hasn’t had in years.

While defensive lineman Leonard Williams and cornerback James Bradberry might get all of the hype, we can’t forget about safety Jabrill Peppers and the stellar job he has done, improving his game in nearly every category.

Peppers has been phenomenal the past few weeks but had his best game of the season and possibly his career against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 12. He allowed just one reception for 1 yard, dominating in coverage but also stopping the run at a high-level. He’s been one of the best tacklers on the team this season with 74 combined and eight tackles for a loss.

Making the transition to strong safety in 2019 had its ups and downs, especially after a tumultuous two-year sample size in Cleveland. He was a major piece in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, a trade that the Giants seemingly won based on the production they’ve received from Dexter Lawrence and Jabrill.

The New York Giants have committed to Peppers:

Jabrill has already had his fifth-year option picked up by the Giants and will spend one more season in blue before hitting free agency. However, his development this season under Graham has been inspiring and motivating for his future.

The hope is that Big Blue can afford to retain him after his rookie contract expires, as he continues to build his skill-set and become a versatile player in every phase. This season, he’s spent a lot of time in the box, covering tight ends and running backs in the flat. He has a career-high 10 passes defended, double his previous amount of five in 2019. He also has 2.5 sacks, another career-high.

To round out how well he’s played this season, Peppers has already set career-highs in 11 starts — passes defended, sacks, tackles for loss, and missed tackle percentage.

Over the course of the season, he will set new records in tackles and quarterback hits. At this rate, he is becoming a staple for the Giants on defense and deserves the respect he has commanded.

Thankfully, Graham has found ways to maximize his strengths and utilize them in creative ways. Not only is he a high-energy player, but he finds personal reasons throughout the game to dominate, similar to NBA-Legend Michael Jordan. On one notable play in week 14, he busted through Seattle’s offensive line for a huge sack against Russell Wilson. His aggression on the specific place stemmed from an earlier battle he lost to RB Chris Carson, putting him on his behind a few plays later to record the sack.

Peppers is a special player who just needed time and the right coaching to find his groove, and the Giants are lucky to have his skill-set available on Sundays.