MintBaconDrivel
11 years ago

GREEN BAY — For most of last year and much of the offseason, they were grouped together. In fact, one opposing general manager, when asked about the Green Bay Packers being their typical uninvolved selves in unrestricted free agency this spring, replied simply, "They've got to sign 'The Big Three.'"

As it turned out, there were really only two priorities: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose five-year, $110 million extension made him the NFL's highest-paid player in late April, and outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who received a five-year, $66 million extension about 10 days before Rodgers' payday.

The third amigo, of course, was supposed to be defensive lineman B.J. Raji. Not only does Raji have the same agent as Rodgers and Matthews — David Dunn of Athletes First — but like Matthews, he had one year left on his rookie contract. Unlike Matthews, Raji was reportedly told by the team that he wouldn't be getting an extension. Rather, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport , the Packers told Dunn that after some "early talks," they will let him play out the season.

Raji, the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, had expressed confidence just the week before at one of the team's open organized team activity practices, saying, "I'm not really going to talk contracts. Obviously, the Packers are a great organization and I'm sure they'll do right by me. I'll just leave it at that."Instead, despite having $16.3 million in salary-cap room after Rodgers' and Matthews' deals, the Packers instead signed safety Morgan Burnett to a four-year, $24.75 million extension that included an $8.25 million signing bonus and ties Burnett to the Packers through the 2017 season. Raji, meanwhile, will have to prove he's worth a big contract; he'd also be a candidate for the franchise tag, which for 2013 was $11.175 million for defensive ends and $8.45 million for defensive tackles.

Whatever the case, the Packers need Raji to tilt the field for them. The defense has been criticized for not being physical enough, and that starts up front. The question is whether the Packers will get a disgruntled Raji, who's upset at Burnett skipping him in the contract line, or a motivated Raji, intent on cashing in — with the Packers or elsewhere.

The way he sounded last month, Raji could be the latter.

"I'm just raring to go," he said during OTAs. "Anytime a season you win your division for the second straight year and you end up losing in the divisional round, especially with the expectations we have here, it's never a good feeling. I had some time to get off and come back with the mentality that I want to dominate like I have in the past. I'm going to help this defense play great defense every game."

Raji said defensive line coach Mike Trgovac and head coach Mike McCarthy both told him he played better in 2012 than he did in 2011, even though he was chosen for his first Pro Bowl team in 2011 and his statistics didn't indicate it (zero sacks, 45 tackles). He led the linemen in snaps (768) despite missing two games with an ankle injury. He did have 25 quarterback hurries, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

"I did not have a sack last year but according to Trgo and Coach McCarthy, they felt last year was probably one of my best pass-rushing years. So go figure," Raji said. "Obviously, I'd love to have the numbers to support that. But ultimately, I'm just about winning. Hopefully, I can help us win next year by having some more sacks."

Part of the Packers' plan to make Raji more productive, as has been the case in previous seasons, is to actually cut back on his snaps. That's been a talking point for three years running, though, and it hasn't happened with any consistency.

Now, though, the coaches feel that the addition of first-round pick Datone Jones and the emergence of Mike Neal will give them more options in their sub packages, and Raji could also get a breather on base downs, even with Jerel Worthy unlikely to be back until midseason after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the regular-season finale. Veterans C.J. Wilson and Ryan Pickett are early-down mainstays, with second-year man Mike Daniels, fourth-round pick Josh Boyd and a reinstated Johnny Jolly also factoring in.

"It's a little early to talk about depth charts, but those are guys that are going to fighting for those positions," Trgovac said.

At the same time, Raji isn't one to ask out of a game, and he'll have to balance his desire to play a lot to prove himself worthy of a big deal with the idea that he might be more productive on the downs he does play if he rests more. Either way, Trgovac made it clear to Raji the most glaring need for improvement.

"I actually sat down with Trgo at the end of the season and went down the list of things he felt we needed to improve on and one of the things he emphasized is I have to do a lot better job of shedding blocks, particularly in this league of guys who latch onto you," Raji said. "Obviously, as the season goes down for whatever reason, he thought I wasn't getting off blocks like I have in the past and that's one of the things I've emphasized this offseason is shedding blocks and making more plays."

If he does, the Packers will benefit, and so will Raji's wallet.

Jason Wilde  wrote:


OlHoss1884
11 years ago
This makes it sounds like he is aware of his inconsistency and I hope he picks it up a notch. With a deeper rotation on the line keeping everyone fresh I expect Raji, like the rest of the line, to play better.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits" --Albert Einstein
DarkaneRules
11 years ago
"Veterans C.J. Wilson and Ryan Pickett are early-down mainstays"

Why is CJ Wilson spoken of in this light in this article. I don't assume this for the upcoming season do yall? I assume open competition at CJs spot and for him to lose it.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
beast
11 years ago

"Veterans C.J. Wilson and Ryan Pickett are early-down mainstays"

Why is CJ Wilson spoken of in this light in this article. I don't assume this for the upcoming season do yall? I assume open competition at CJs spot and for him to lose it.

Originally Posted by: DarkaneRules 



I say it depends on scheme and play calls (and players).

Last year the Packers DL often opened up with all 3 DL playing two gap which is run clogging defense. Pickett, Raji and Wilson were clearly the best 3 at playing two gap of the DL last year. If Capers opens up like again then I think Wilson could potentially start like that again.

Personally I'm kind of hoping Capers goes away from that some because it seems to be a weakness for linemen not named Pickett and Wilson (yes that include Raji IMO)

Of course (young) Jolly was better at it than Wilson... and Capers might change it up and do something different. Also while I don't think Jones strength is two gap, if he's able to get through the gaps well that might make Capers want to change as well.

Long story short, I think it depends on scheme, and who's the best at that scheme. If it's two gap scheme then I think Wilson is in the running.
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Zero2Cool (14-Feb) : Packers are hiring Luke Getsy as senior offensive assistant.
Martha Careful (12-Feb) : I would love to have them both, esp. Crosby, but either might be too expensive.
Zero2Cool (12-Feb) : Keisean Nixon is trying to get Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams lol
Mucky Tundra (11-Feb) : Yeah where did it go?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : or did you resctrict access to that topic?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : why did you remove the Playoff topic?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Tua’s old DC won a Super Bowl Year 1 with Tua’s former backup
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : *winning MVP
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Funny observation I've heard: Carson Wentz was on the sideline for both Eagles Super Bowl wins w/guys supposed to be his back up winning
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : NFL thought it would get more attention week preceding Super Bowl.
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Yes, the Pro Bowl. It was played Sunday before Super Bowl from 2010-2022
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : pro bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : From 2010 to 2022, it was played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : They moved it to the BYE week before Super Bowl several years ago.
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : it was always after the SB.....
beast (10-Feb) : Though I stop following pro bowl years ago
beast (10-Feb) : I thought the pro game was before the Super Bowl?
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : ok now for the Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : If I was Philly I would try to end it instead of punting it
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : VICTORY! We have (moral) victory!
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Hey they mentioned that we 3-peted
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : seems to me the 49ers should have traded Aiyuk when they had the chance
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : if the Eagles get it down to the 1, do they Tush Push or give it to Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : 49ers have a money problem if they want to sign their QB
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Wait for real? Didn't he just get an extension two years ago?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : 49ers gonna trade Deebo. Interesting
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Replays always never seem to show the holdings
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Great throw by Hurts
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Where Carter falls prey to bad off the field influences (to be clear, not saying he'd clip someone though)
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Had Carter not gone to Philly were they already had a lot of old college friends, he ends up in a similar spot to Aaron Hernandez
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : I think some of his coaches told scouts to stay away
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : the street racing incident+conditioning and motivation problems
beast (10-Feb) : Then Carter was street racing, where the other car crashed and people died... and other teams were scared to pick Carter for some reason
beast (10-Feb) : I think the Saints traded up, giving their next year 1st to the Eagles, and then they sucked and Eagles got the 10th overall pick
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : wtf Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Getting Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round in 2023 was pretty darn good
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : for some reason i'm thinking of a draft where the Eagles where in the mid 20s and a top player fell all the way to them
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think so. I would need to look it up. Think it may have been Carolina's pick.
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : i'm not sure who i'm thinking of now
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh fuck me i messed that up
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Jordan Davis was 13th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Carter was 9th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles had 15th and 10th selections, moved to 13 and 9 to get Davis and Carter back to back
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles traded up for Carter, didn't they?
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Obviously he was a huge risk but getting a top 5 talent on the dline in the mid 20s is fortuitous
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Jalen Carter falling into their lap certainly helps
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : And we could only wish to have this type of D
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : It's not like Philly has had low draft picks, but has managed to get themselves a top notch pass rush. We spend so much draft capital of D
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : another crap halftime show
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think it is over, but then I think of Atlanta and want Philly to go in with the same intensity in the second half
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