What happened to Marcus Peters?

[T-post Tom]

Just a season ago, then-Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters was thriving. He graded as the 14th best corner in the regular season at 80.7 and stymied opposing quarterbacks who dared to throw at him — allowing a 66.0 passer rating (15th). He continued to rack up interceptions — it was his third straight year with five or more. But after being traded to the Los Angeles Rams this past offseason, Peters has struggled amid his team’s formidable defense (and offense). In the team’s first loss to the New Orleans Saints, Peters’ deficiencies were exacerbated.

Aside from the Rams’ game against the San Francisco 49ers, where he wasn’t targeted all game, Peters has allowed a passer rating of 100.0 or more in six of eight games when he’s the primary defender in coverage. He only had five such instances last year, and the situation appears even more concerning: He has already allowed six touchdowns, two more than he gave up in 2017, and has only one interception to show for it.

Peters was unable to control Saints wide receiver, Michael Thomas. After allowing six catches on eight targets to Thomas ranging anywhere from seven to 19 yards, Peters was beaten big when it mattered most late in the fourth quarter. Thomas simply ran past Peters in press coverage, and quarterback Drew Brees threw over Peters’ head into Thomas’ waiting arms for a 72-yard score that was the final dagger to the previously undefeated Rams.

The Rams don’t have much to worry about at 8-1, but Peters’ uncharacteristic poor play could become a decisive factor come playoff time. He’s matched up against big-name receivers thus far: Thomas (90.7 grade), Davante Adams (82.5 grade) and Adam Thielen (90.8 grade). It’s a likely possibility that he’ll have to go another round against at least one of them when January rolls around. In the past two weeks, Peters has been targeted 20 times — tied for the most among cornerbacks in that span. Opposing quarterbacks have clearly taken notice his downfall.

That raises the obvious question: What changed for Marcus Peters? Or rather, what changed around Marcus Peters? For one, the big-play receivers he’s followed this year are seeing more targets (and more accurate targets) than the ones he stuck with a year ago. For example, in 2017, Antonio Brown was targeted just three times in Peters’ coverage for a measly two receptions for 14 yards. Brown finished with eight catches for 155 yards and a touchdown in that game, so clearly, Peters was at his best. DeVante Parker was targeted seven times against Peters in 2017, but only four were deemed catchable, and just two were caught.

This year, he’s seen nine targets (seven catchable) against Thomas, six (five catchable) against Adams and four (three catchable) against Thielen. In other words, NFC quarterbacks are testing Peters more than ever before with accurate throws, and he’s not coming away with interceptions, or success in general, at the rate he’s been used to.

In his rookie year, Peters was targeted a league-high 137 times (and he was the most targeted cornerback from 2015-2017). Peters had nine picks that year despite allowing eight touchdowns, compared to just one interception this season. Also, he only allowed opposing signal-callers to complete 50.4% of those throws in his coverage. This season, that number has ballooned to 72.3%. As for why the discrepancy between that year and this year exists is hard to say. But it appears that Peters’ move to the NFC may have something to do with it.

Through nine weeks, Peters has a 45.6 grade which ranks 106th of 111 cornerbacks, and his near-perfect passer rating allowed of 145.6 is 107th. He’s also already allowed more yards in coverage this year than in all of 2017. It’s been a staggering tumble from stardom for him — but it’s truly the best-case scenario as he attempts to make the climb back to glory. His team is considered a title contender and his offense and defensive line are playing lights out. Now, it’s a matter of whether Peters can get right in the next seven weeks before his team has to prove itself in a playoff run.


Giving up another touchdown.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-what-happened-to-marcus-peters

[bsroyals54]

Marcus Peters is a fiery, angry, competitive, and emotional guy. Maybe he doesn't play with any hatred like he did here in KC. Didn't he get all uptight about black people dying to police gunfire or some shit? And didn't stand for the anthem during all that dumb bullshit. In LA, you can guarantee it is different there. Whatever reason it is, I'm glad he sucks for another team instead of the Chiefs.

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by R Clark

Clay is right he was in man coverage most of the time , iowanians post is spot on .mecca is way wrong on this one and I agree with a lot of his post . But to be honest I have taken a substantial amount of bourbon tonight,hell it bout done me in to agree with clay.Bottom line as bad as we suck in are secondary still better off with this shit stain gone. And don't forget how many threw a fit when we dumped this ass hole. Ok Iam done with my drunken rant I most likely won't post for another 5-6 years ,it's better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt .ive successfully removed it , but what the hell 8and1 Go Chiefs !!!!!!!

Excellent post, couldn't agree more

[CoMoChief]

Surprisingly the Chiefs are winning that trade.

He's playing like ass this season.

Still wish Veach did a better job in replacing him though.

Tyreek Hill is going to make him look like a fool. Actually Peters may not even line up against him, will probably cover Watkins instead, Rams aren't that ****in dumb.

[KCTitus]

KC got the best Peters could offer and sold high...

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by KCTitus

KC got the best Peters could offer and sold high...

Absolutely, been saying that since the moment they traded him.

**** Marcus Peters.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Surprisingly the Chiefs are winning that trade.

He's playing like ass this season.

Still wish Veach did a better job in replacing him though.

Tyreek Hill is going to make him look like a fool. Actually Peters may not even line up against him, will probably cover Watkins instead, Rams aren't that ****in dumb.

Rams have to be wondering WTF.


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[Mecca]

Originally Posted by R Clark

Clay is right he was in man coverage most of the time , iowanians post is spot on .mecca is way wrong on this one and I agree with a lot of his post . But to be honest I have taken a substantial amount of bourbon tonight,hell it bout done me in to agree with clay.Bottom line as bad as we suck in are secondary still better off with this shit stain gone. And don't forget how many threw a fit when we dumped this ass hole. Ok Iam done with my drunken rant I most likely won't post for another 5-6 years ,it's better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt .ive successfully removed it , but what the hell 8and1 Go Chiefs !!!!!!!

I said what Chris Simms said on a podcast, go check it out before you tell me I'm wrong for giving someone who reviews tape and gives his opinion as a job.

Sound like a good idea, I dunno considering you seemed to miss what my whole post was about.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

So what I'm seeing here is...Marcus Peters was never a top 5 CB, but Bob Sutton put him in a position to take full advantage of his talents??

I'm saying he's a top 5 corner IF you use him right.

Richard Sherman never did that shit, and for good reason. Yet he was incredibly effective in his role.

He, also, wasn't revis.

I'm sorry, but proper utilization of Peters is like a guaranteed 6-8 picks a year. It's not trash. He's not a SHUTDOWN corner, which is an over-rated and rarely live-up-to label from press man corners. HE's a READ and REACT PLAYMAKING corner.

My biggest problem with him was his half assed tackling (something he was actually good at as a rookie AND in college, so the ability is and was there) and his rather shitty attitude and penchant for quitting when things got tough. His mental toughness did not impress. His ability to diagnose route combinations and make plays on the ball (even when the ball wasn't thrown to his man) was incredible.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

I'm saying he's a top 5 corner IF you use him right.

Richard Sherman never did that shit, and for good reason. Yet he was incredibly effective in his role.

He, also, wasn't revis.

I'm sorry, but proper utilization of Peters is like a guaranteed 6-8 picks a year. It's not trash. He's not a SHUTDOWN corner, which is an over-rated and rarely live-up-to label from press man corners. HE's a READ and REACT PLAYMAKING corner.

My biggest problem with him was his half assed tackling (something he was actually good at as a rookie AND in college, so the ability is and was there) and his rather shitty attitude and penchant for quitting when things got tough. His mental toughness did not impress. His ability to diagnose route combinations and make plays on the ball (even when the ball wasn't thrown to his man) was incredible.

you forgot shitty tackler and shitty teammate...

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Mecca

I said what Chris Simms said on a podcast, go check it out before you tell me I'm wrong for giving someone who reviews tape and gives his opinion as a job.

Sound like a good idea, I dunno considering you seemed to miss what my whole post was about.

Everything I've ever said about Peters is correct.

And Chris Simms essentially just sat there and agreed with me. Deangelo Hall said the same ****ing thing. He's being misused.

Go watch all of Peters INT's in KC, and look for yourself how he did it. Anyone can. I'm not wrong. At all.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

you forgot shitty tackler and shitty teammate...

I don't think I forgot either of those things. HIs shit attitude and shit tackling are mentioned.

I also mentioned his penchant for quitting on the team when HE is having a bad game.

Berry had to retrieve that bitch after he tantrumed off to the locker room AT LEAST three times. ****ing embarrassing. Be an adult. "Oh Peters lost his shit again, Hey Eric, can you go handle that?"

Ridiculous. I've never seen a player do that.

The Jets game wasn't the first time he quit on the team. Berry just used to go back and talk him into coming back onto the field and often it wasn't noticed. If you were at the game, you noticed. Even George blowfish mentioned it more than once in his weekly '10 things' posts.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I haven’t read through much of this thread at all, but here’s what we know.

The Chiefs played a TON of man when MP was here. He played off a lot while others pressed more. He read the QB a lot in man coverage, which is a major no-no. Eyes are supposed to be on the WR in man. This is why he got burned on double moves plenty, but also picked off many passes.

The more that time passes by and the more that we see him play poorly in this Rams scheme, the more I believe that his freelancing style of play may have had a huge hand in him being shipped out of KC.

I don’t think we’ll see the old version of Marcus Peters unless a team is willing to let him play his own style of off coverage on a down to down basis.

[New World Order]

He's gotta be hurt

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19

I haven’t read through much of this thread at all, but here’s what we know.

The Chiefs played a TON of man when MP was here. He played off a lot while others pressed more. He read the QB a lot in man coverage, which is a major no-no. Eyes are supposed to be on the WR in man. This is why he got burned on double moves plenty, but also picked off many passes.

The more that time passes by and the more that we see him play poorly in this Rams scheme, the more I believe that his freelancing style of play may have had a huge hand in him being shipped out of KC.

I don’t think we’ll see the old version of Marcus Peters unless a team is willing to let him play his own style of off coverage on a down to down basis.

Rod Woodson spent years as an all pro corner playing off and reading the QB. It's why he was so natural converting to Safety after his knees were shot (thanks Barry Sanders).

It's not a big 'no no' to read the QB in off coverage regardless of the man/zone assignment. It's the entire point.

However, it's not really ideal for man coverage. KC did run a lot of cover 1 with peters playing off and the opposite CB in press. Let's not pretend this was a disaster for KC. The problems Peters presented were in his shit tackling and trash attitude.

It's a problem that Peters is so one dimensional, but the funny thing is that when KC drafted him all the 'draft gurus' said KC was MISUSING him by playing him in off coverage rather than press... and he was a pretty good press/physical corner in college... but in the NFL.. he's athletically outmatched. I mean Peters is what? A 4.56 guy? He basically ran the same time as Brandon Flowers.

Edit: Sorry. Peters ran a 4.53.

[Katie]

He's a punk. Sooner or later it catches up to you.