Julius Peppers always wanted to play in a 3-4 defense. He thought it maximized his talent, putting him in positions to make plays all over the field unlike a pure defensive end spot. Rushing the passer, blitzing the passer, intercepting the passer … He wanted to do it all.

He did a little bit of it in the Chicago Bears’ base 4-3 defense during the last four years, primarily playing right defensive end and sometimes shifting down to defensive tackle at the three-technique or dropping into coverage.

Although he had similar assignments in the Bears defense, it wasn’t the 3-4 defense. Doing it all from a two-point stance is different than a three-point. There’s an element of unpredictability because the quarterback doesn’t know whether the supposed rusher is coming downhill or going downfield. It causes confusion, which is what Peppers will do when he lines up in the Green Bay Packers’ 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker.

They call it the “Elephant” position. It’s highbrow for “Leo,” which is highbrow for “Joker,” which is highbrow for hybrid. It entails everything Peppers did with the Bears, except with more awareness of the football and the receiver because of the exotic blitz packages used. He’s capable of doing the job because he still possesses otherworldly athleticism and length (6’7”) to cover in zone or man.

On one play this past season against the Steelers he lined up in a three-point stance at the right defensive end position. He was wider than usual because of the tight end to his side. The tight end would be running a route on this third-and-9 play.



Peppers stood up from his crouched stance when the play began; he was dropping into man coverage, covering the tight end running an over route through the middle of the field. He looked like a natural running with the tight end and keeping his eyes on the quarterback, both keys to playing disciplined coverage. Once he saw safety help, Peppers let the tight end run to the safety, effortlessly flipping his hips to change direction.

This was what drew Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to Peppers. When OTAs rolled around in May, he saw Peppers covering seamlessly again, in person.

“He looks awesome in (jersey No.) 56,” McCarthy said, via the Chicago Tribune. “I was worried we were not going to be able to find a shirt that would fit him. He looks very natural at outside linebacker.”

The question: did McCarthy see Peppers turn the corner? Peppers is 34 in a 3-4. His production significantly fell off last season. He managed seven sacks and 27 hurries, down from 11.5 sacks and 37 hurries the season before. He didn’t always look like he was playing despite starting every game, leading to everyone questioning his passion for the sport.

The questions have always been there, but it’s not hard to see why he gets tired when he’s playing 800 snaps or more every year. He’s still the focus of offensive blocking schemes. He’s still the focus of quarterbacks before the snap because he can still turn the corner, even if he’s not doing it as smoothly as he once did.

Here’s another example when Peppers was at the five-technique, tighter to the left tackle then at the nine-technique but still at the right defensive end position.



He burst straight forward at the snap, head over feet and arms swinging like a track star’s. Then he slightly sunk his shoulder, enough to wrap around the left tackle and rely on his strong left arm to hold off the blocker as he powered through, eventually strip-sacking the quarterback.

Peppers will be more productive in the 3-4 than in the 4-3. He'll be used in similar ways to how he was last season but less obviously as a stand-up rusher. He'll have more room to work, which at this stage of his career is better for him because he's not as explosive as he once was.