By Mike Spofford
Posted Dec 21, 2010
Earlier this season, when nose tackle B.J. Raji was playing an unexpectedly large number of snaps due to injuries along the defensive front, there was some concern he might get worn down late in the season.
But Raji looked no worse for wear in Week 15 against New England last Sunday, putting together perhaps the best performance of his young career, considering his competition across the line.
Matched up for a good portion of the evening against Patriots guard Logan Mankins, a two-time Pro Bowler, Raji more than held his own and penetrated New Englands backfield on multiple occasions. He recorded the first two-sack game of his career, stuffed running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis twice for no gain, and had a 3-yard tackle for loss on Green-Ellis wiped out when the Packers accepted a holding penalty on the Patriots.
They had a good battle, defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said. B.J. won his share, and (Mankins) won his. On a couple of those (big plays), he was on the move, so hes not waiting for where the block goes. When he gets that chance to go, hes disruptive like that.
By on the move, Trgovac means defensive coordinator Dom Capers calls had Raji slanting at the snap to one side or the other into gaps, rather than sitting and anchoring in the middle. Capers will do that with his down linemen to change things up, or as a game-plan decision depending on the opponents offensive line scheme, and it can allow Raji to use more of his short-area quickness to get off blocks.
On both of his sacks, Raji exploded through openings to get to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. On one of them, the Patriots made a protection adjustment against a blitz and mistakenly left running back Danny Woodhead alone to block Raji. The 195-pound Woodhead didnt stand a chance against the 340-pound Raji.
I was just trying to play hard and trust the guys around me, Raji said. Those guys were getting pressure, making Brady step up and stuff like that. I just kept working and executing some moves Ive been working on.
Rajis workload continues to be high, but its hard to get him off the field. Right before his second sack against the Patriots, Trgovac tried to send Jarius Wynn in to give Raji a breather, but Trgovac said Raji waved him off.
Trgovac has given Raji the latitude to do that if hes feeling OK. In that instance, the Packers had possessed the ball for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter the Patriots had returned an interception for a touchdown earlier in the quarter, so their offense hadnt gotten the ball yet and it was just the third play of New Englands ensuing series. Including the halftime break, Raji had gotten at least a half-hour rest, so he was fine.
But Trgovac has remained conscious of Rajis snap count as it has climbed this season. In the first six games, he nearly matched his snap total from all of his rookie 2009 season, and he continues to be the workhorse of the defensive line this year. He leads the unit in tackles and is the only lineman to start every game. His career-high 5 sacks rank third on the team and second among the linemen behind Cullen Jenkins seven.
Evaluating myself as his position coach, I look at it and say, Where are the opportunities I can take him out of the game? Trgovac said. (Sunday) was one of those games he wasnt overly tired. Obviously Id love to have him out there, but I dont want to wear him down as well. When we get back on Sunday night or Monday morning and I look at the plays he played, Im always looking for opportunities to give him a rest. But hes always such a comfort zone for me because hes playing at such a high level.
Capers used a similar word, saying its comforting to have a player with the size and agility of Raji as the all-important nose tackle in his 3-4 defense. Capers said hes not as concerned about Raji wearing down from his workload because hes just a second-year guy as opposed to a 10-year veteran, and he believes its the amount of work Raji has put in work he didnt get as a rookie when he missed part of training camp due to his contract situation, injured his ankle in the last preseason game, and then played more end than nose tackle upon returning that has helped make him such an impact player.
B.J. has played consistent for us all year, Capers said. Im just pleased that hes been able to stay on the field and stay healthy, and hes improved because of that. I think some of the plays you saw him make (Sunday) night was a result of that.
That Rajis big game came at New England was interesting in several respects. First, a Boston College alum, he was playing for the first time as a pro in front of some of the same fans who cheered him on in college.
Second, the game was a prime-time broadcast on national television less than a week before all of the NFLs players and coaches, who count as two-thirds of the process, will cast their Pro Bowl votes (the rosters will be announced next Tuesday). And third, he performed like that against Patriots players whose own teammate, nose tackle Vince Wilfork, is a two-time Pro Bowler considered the gold standard at the position.
Whether or not Raji, a first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall) last year, has earned enough respect around the league to pile up Pro Bowl votes is difficult to say. But Trgovac believes its only a matter of time.
B.J. will be there at some point in his career, Trgovac said. Sometimes it takes a couple years.
If B.J. keeps working and doing what he does and has games like that on national TV, hell get his due process, because hes a big physical guy. I think the players when they vote, they know who they have a rough time blocking and who they dont have a rough time blocking.
Working against Raji is the fact that theres no specific nose tackle spot on the Pro Bowl roster, so hes judged against all defensive tackles and some 3-4 ends who are viewed as tackles. Also, Wilfork (a first-round draft pick in 2004) didnt make his first Pro Bowl until his fourth season, a reflection of Trgovacs point that the recognition doesnt come overnight.
Vince has been in the league for a long time, so obviously hes seen a lot more snaps than B.J., Capers said. I do think this from Year 1 to Year 2, B.J. has made great strides. Hes certainly a big part of our defense now, and I think hes going to be a big part of our defense moving ahead.