Zero2Cool
15 years ago
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B.J. Raji has learned his lesson about publicly pushing for playing time, but hell make this much clear:

If this is the week the Green Bay Packers decide to ramp up their top draft picks workload, Raji is ready.

Hes looked a whole lot more like himself the past two games, albeit in limited backup action, and the sprained ankle that cost Raji his first two NFL games finally seems to be drifting into the rearview.

Yeah, and now Im really starting to understand the defense, Raji said on Thursday. Ive been more spectating and watching and learning than playing. So now, Im getting my chance, and hopefully, I take advantage of it.

Raji played the best game of his young career on Oct. 25 at Cleveland, where he registered two solo tackles in 14 snaps and showed his restored explosion by driving back veteran guard Hank Fraley during a goal-line stand. He had two more solo tackles in 12 snaps Sunday against Minnesota a performance that would have graded out better had he not drawn a 15-yard face mask penalty.

Both games showed Raji has come a long way since Sept. 27, when he suited up for the first time since his injury in the preseason finale and was a shadow of the player the Packers drafted No. 9 overall. The power from his thick lower body wasnt there, and Raji also was incredibly slow off the ball, proof of the practice time he had missed because of the injury and the two-week layoff before his contract was finalized on Aug. 13.

The last two games, I finally got my power back in my ankle and Im able to explode into guys, Raji said.

But the Packers didnt give Raji nearly $18 million in guarantees to be a bit player in their 3-4 defense. They brought him in to be a difference-maker, the future at nose tackle and a player who could make an immediate impact as a base end and inside nickel rusher.


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PackFanWithTwins
15 years ago
That play on the goal line was great. I remember the announcers trying to give the credit to away for the stop. I think that was to Hawk or Matthews. Anyway, that is the type of penetration we have been waiting for from him.

Question is who to take out to let him in. Pickett has been playing very well in his snaps, Jolly has been also. IMO, I think he would help more at NT than DE. We have been playing tons of 2 Dline formations, and I think that is because Pickett doesn't have the push on pass rush. If Raji is really ready to go, I think we will have a much better pass rush, putting the 3 big guys Jolly, Raji, Jenkins would be able to get to the QB with the defense having to figure who is coming Matthews or Kampman. Or even when rushing all 5 the QB time should be low enough that we would be able to cover.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
Rockmolder
15 years ago

That play on the goal line was great. I remember the announcers trying to give the credit to away for the stop. I think that was to Hawk or Matthews. Anyway, that is the type of penetration we have been waiting for from him.

Question is who to take out to let him in. Pickett has been playing very well in his snaps, Jolly has been also. IMO, I think he would help more at NT than DE. We have been playing tons of 2 Dline formations, and I think that is because Pickett doesn't have the push on pass rush. If Raji is really ready to go, I think we will have a much better pass rush, putting the 3 big guys Jolly, Raji, Jenkins would be able to get to the QB with the defense having to figure who is coming Matthews or Kampman. Or even when rushing all 5 the QB time should be low enough that we would be able to cover.

"PackFanWithTwins" wrote:



That's a pretty nice assessment. I think we'll keep on rotating these guys. Depth is never a bad thing when you're working with 300+ men.

I don't think that Raji will break the starting line-up. Not with the way our current D-line has been playing. I do think, however, that he'll be playing every position along the D-line in relief of, mainly, Jolly and Pickett. Especially Pickett, in obvious pass rushing situations.

One place where I can especially see him getting a lot of time is in the 2 DT nickel formation. We've been in that package a lot, and so far, we have generated 1.5 sacks in 7 games from our 'D-line'. Raji ought to get that up. At least getting more pressure.

The pressure on the opponents QB should be crazy if we get Cullen Jenkins and BJ Raji as our two DTs, while having Matthews, Thompson and Kampman out there, as well.

Alas, Jenkins and Thompson don't play that formation, apparently, so the best we can hope for now is Raji and Jolly. Or just Pickett and Raji, with the two of them taking up 4 blockers.
Stevetarded
15 years ago
Is Pickett a FA after this season? It seems like he is playing himself into a nice sized contract after this year.
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PackFanWithTwins
15 years ago
Pickett will be a FA after this season. Though his stock is not going to go as high because he is a limited down player now. Only run situations.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
Zero2Cool
15 years ago
I disagree about Pickett's stock being down. He's play very well as a NT and people are noticing.
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PackFanWithTwins
15 years ago
Not down, just not as high. He is playing great, but his is not a 3 down Dlineman. He is a run stopper. He will get a contract from us or somebody, just won't be a bank breaker.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
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