nerdmann
10 years ago
Kind of an oddly illuminating article by Tom Oates:

Oates: Packers should re-sign B.J. Raji 

There are plenty of mixed signals coming from the Packers on this topic and their true approach to fixing their defense is hard to decipher. However, from my vantage point, it sounds like McCarthy wants Capers to stop being so dogmatic about his 3-4 scheme and start building the defense around the talents of his players.

If that’s the case, then the Packers’ first order of business on defense is clear: They should re-sign Raji, one of four Green Bay linemen who will hit unrestricted free agency March 11.

OK, you can stop laughing now. While it is true Raji in 2013 had quite possibly the worst contract year in the history of professional sports, the Packers should try to keep him around because, if used differently, he could still become the explosive, disruptive player they thought he was when they made him the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft.



I thought the below was odd myself. They have Raji, a penetrating pass rushing interior DL playing END. Because they want him to "take up blockers." So then why do they put Daniels in the middle to rush the passer?

Second, Raji’s declining performance is not entirely his fault. Capers wants his linemen to be two-gapping run-stuffers whose primary job is to occupy blockers and give the linebackers room to make tackles. That’s not Raji, and it never has been. If the Packers are indeed going to emphasize playing to their players’ strengths, they should devise ways to let him shoot through gaps and be disruptive. Raji was a good soldier who bit his tongue last season even though it was clear he wasn’t happy about the way he was being used, so a change in approach likely would spur a change in his attitude and in his productivity.



Now here we hear that Raji was unhappy about how he was being used.

Finally, we get some evidence that this "smaller quicker DL" theme is bullshit:

Finally, comments made by Arizona State nose tackle Will Sutton confirmed the Packers aren’t looking to get smaller up front. The athletic Sutton, a potential first-round draft pick, played at 320 pounds last season before dropping to 303 for the combine. The Packers told him they would want him back at 320 if they drafted him, which indicates they don’t want smaller linemen as much as they want more active linemen.


“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
DakotaT
10 years ago
Why don't they just come out and say they don't want 350lb lazy sacks of shit lacking a heartbeat or the enthusiasm to get paid to play a kids game. The lack of professionalism Raji displayed in the 2013-14 season is alarming, and I hope nobody signs him.
UserPostedImage
steveishere
10 years ago
The problem with re-signing Raji is why the hell would you want a 330+ lb lineman when the only thing he will do is shoot gaps and pass rush? He's not better at it than Daniels. If we're going to drop that money on a big ass lineman he needs to be able to do more. Raji is a 340lber but only wants to play like a 290lber that's fine, do it somewhere else.

Being a "good soldier" is not just about biting your tongue about being upset it's about still doing your job to the best of your abilities AND keeping your mouth shut even if you are upset. So no, Raji was not a "good soldier" at all.

What bothers me is Raji could be a dominant player in any phase of the game if he had actually wanted to. If Raji was a dominant lineman last year we could have even found ourselves facing Seattle in the NFC Championship then who knows what happens.
musccy
10 years ago

There are plenty of mixed signals coming from the Packers on this topic and their true approach to fixing their defense is hard to decipher. However, from my vantage point, it sounds like McCarthy wants Capers to stop being so dogmatic about his 3-4 scheme and start building the defense around the talents of his players.



Not that Oates' perception of a situation is fact, but this coupled with the strong comments this week that McCarthy controls the defense are interesting to me. I sense that he is a little frustrated with the defense, and is willing to grab the bull by the horns to make sure there are changes made this offseason.
texaspackerbacker
10 years ago
I've been as definite as anybody with the possible exception of Dakota about getting rid of that big fat piece of crap. That alone more than any other single factor will help D-Line play, and defense in general.

Where I disagree with some people is that it is just his attitude. Oh, I'm not saying he doesn't have a rotten attitude too, but I don't think his ABILITY is as great as advertized when we drafted him either.

He does not seem to have the raw strength and toughness that a lot of D-Linemen - both smaller and big like him seem to have.

He reminds me of Prince Fielder in baseball - never as good as he was expected to be, and SHORT and fat. He also reminds me - for those old enough to remember and Badger fans - of Rashard Griffith - supposed to be an all out superstar, and just not; also supposed to be over 7 feet tall, and actually under 6'10".
Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
yooperfan
10 years ago

Not that Oates' perception of a situation is fact, but this coupled with the strong comments this week that McCarthy controls the defense are interesting to me. I sense that he is a little frustrated with the defense, and is willing to grab the bull by the horns to make sure there are changes made this offseason.

Originally Posted by: musccy 


Mike McCarthy may be willing, let's hope it happens.
I have been hoping he would get more involved with the defense for a long time.
I would like to see him turn over the play calling to someone else so he can concentrate his attention on the entire team.
musccy
10 years ago



He reminds me of Prince Fielder in baseball - never as good as he was expected to be, and SHORT and fat. He also reminds me - for those old enough to remember and Badger fans - of Rashard Griffith - supposed to be an all out superstar, and just not; also supposed to be over 7 feet tall, and actually under 6'10".

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 




I like the reference. Wasn't he there the same time as Finley? They should have been more dominant than they were, but like you said he was a bit of a paper tiger.

I think Oates' points about him being misused are interesting and something I hadn't thought of, but to me talent and or effort still shines through. CM3 goes 1:1 against tackles in this defense and although he is WAY undersized for that, you still see the basic pass rushing skills/speed at times even though he is generally over matched.
DakotaT
10 years ago

I've been as definite as anybody with the possible exception of Dakota about getting rid of that big fat piece of crap. That alone more than any other single factor will help D-Line play, and defense in general.

Where I disagree with some people is that it is just his attitude. Oh, I'm not saying he doesn't have a rotten attitude too, but I don't think his ABILITY is as great as advertized when we drafted him either.

He does not seem to have the raw strength and toughness that a lot of D-Linemen - both smaller and big like him seem to have.

He reminds me of Prince Fielder in baseball - never as good as he was expected to be, and SHORT and fat. He also reminds me - for those old enough to remember and Badger fans - of Rashard Griffith - supposed to be an all out superstar, and just not; also supposed to be over 7 feet tall, and actually under 6'10".

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 



If you made sense like this when we argue about politics, I wouldn't have to call you a Dumbass all the time. I remember Rashard Griffith - what a waste!
UserPostedImage
texaspackerbacker
10 years ago

If you made sense like this when we argue about politics, I wouldn't have to call you a Dumbass all the time. I remember Rashard Griffith - what a waste!

Originally Posted by: DakotaT 



back at you hahahaha


Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
DarkaneRules
10 years ago
Welp I have absolutely no idea about this Raji business. I felt like out of Pickett and Raji, one of them would stay, so... I just don't know.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (4h) : Jets released K Riley Patterson and signed K Anders Carlson to the practice squad.
wpr (4h) : Thanks guys
Mucky Tundra (23h) : Happy Birthday wpr!
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Anders Carlson ... released by 49ers
dfosterf (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday!😊😊😊
wpr (7-Nov) : Thanks Kevin.
Zero2Cool (7-Nov) : Happy Birthday, Wayne! 🎉🎂🥳
beast (7-Nov) : Edge Rushers is the same... it's not the 4-3 vs 3-4 change, it's the Hafley's version of the 4-3... as all 32 teams are actually 4-2
Zero2Cool (6-Nov) : OLB to DE and player requests trade. Yet folks say they are same.
beast (5-Nov) : In other news, the Green Bay Packers have signed Zero2Cool to update their website 😋 jk
beast (5-Nov) : Might just re-sign the kicker we got
beast (5-Nov) : Are there any kickers worth drafting next year?
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Preston Smith for Malik Willis
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Getting a 7th rounder from the Stillers
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : At least we get 7th round pick now!! HELLO NEW KICKER
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Steelers getting a premier lockdown corner!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Packers are trading edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per sources.
Mucky Tundra (5-Nov) : Preston Smith traded to the Steelers!!!!
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : CB Marshon Lattimore to Commanders
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Bears are sending RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals, per sources.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : ZaDarius Smith continues his "north" tour.
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Let the Chiefs trade a 5th for him
Zero2Cool (5-Nov) : Nearing 30, large contract, nope.
Martha Careful (5-Nov) : any interest in Marshon Lattimore?
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : What does NFL do if they're over cap?
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : They've been able to constantly push it out through extensions, void years etc but they're in the hole by 72 million next year I believe
hardrocker950 (4-Nov) : Seems the Saints are always in cap hell
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Saints HC job is not an envious one; gonna be in cap hell for 3 years
Mucky Tundra (4-Nov) : Dennis Allen has now been fired twice mid-season with Derek Carr as his starting QB
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Kuhn let go
beast (4-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers would have any interest in Z. Smith, probably not
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Shefter says Browns and Lions will figure out how to get a deal done for Za'Darius Smith..
Zero2Cool (4-Nov) : Packers are more likely to have 1,000 yard rusher than 4,000 yard passer
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : It's raining hard.
Zero2Cool (3-Nov) : Packers inactives vs. Lions: CB Jaire Alexander S Evan Williams C Josh Myers Non-injury inactives: WR Malik Heath OL Travis Glover DE Bren
packerfanoutwest (3-Nov) : Malik Willis: My focus is helping the Packers win, not proving I can start elsewhere. But he could
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : I had Texans, but the loss of another WR flipped me
wpr (1-Nov) : I thought about taking the Jets but they've been a disaster. Losing to the Pats last week
Zero2Cool (1-Nov) : Surprised more didn't pick Jets in Pick'em.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM
Vikings
Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM
BEARS
Recent Topics
4h / Green Bay Packers Talk / buckeyepackfan

18h / Around The NFL / beast

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

6-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / Featured Content / Zero2Cool

5-Nov / GameDay Threads / Cheesey

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

5-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

4-Nov / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

2-Nov / Around The NFL / wpr

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.