The Packers chose BJ Raji at #1. Apparently, TT is going for need rather than BPA (which would have been Crabtree- which would have really yanked my chain!). This is really exciting!

I had been all but given up on Raji falling to GB for the past few weeks. Think this is a great pick for GB. First he has said he wants to play for the Pack. He definitely fits GB's needs. At the least he will back up Pickett at NT in the 3-4. He also will surely see time as a DT when GB goes to the 4-3. IMO he could also play some DE in the 3-4. Even if he does not get the label of a starter, it is hard not to imagine Raji playing 50% or more of the D snaps.

Hawk and Barnett will surely benefit from his presence. Of course typically DT's take time to make an impact in the NFL. Still I wonder if Raji's year off due to academics mean that he could actually be more NFL ready. He will be 23 by the time the season starts.

Regardless, good maybe great pick for the pack!!!

I could NOT believe the draft unfolded this way!! Agree...FANTASTIC pick!!!

Definitely a fan of this pick. Hopefully he carries his ability to disrupt the flow of the offense into the NFL. I winced though when I saw them project our front 3 with Harrel in the mix. Do they not know he hasn't been healthy in...forever?

Good pick, I would have not been dissapointed with Crabtree either, in fact I think I would have been more excited.

This was need and BPA, which is why everyone was happy. Slam dunk choice. I reserve the nickname: BJ Giant Ewok Raji.

Think about it.

The 3-4 was an improvement with Capers leading it.

Adding Raji will be an improvement adding size and depth and talent to a line that was weak in part due to coahing and also due to injury.

If Jenkins is back and Harrell finally gets over the injury voodoo, then this could end up being the best DL in the division.

That will certainly make the LB's better with Kampmen going back there and Barnett now able to do something with Raji or Picket in front of him. Hawk too! Add another LB and a safety and this could potentially go from a good to a great defence in the next 2 years.

Of course that makes the O better and the ST will improve with packers adding depth.

2 years!

Did we just get our LB? Clay Matthews from USC.

I had hoped Monroe would slip, but Jax got him right before us. Raji is going to be good though.

Hello

I have not been able to follow the draft information much this year, but all I have to say about this pick is he better deliver what the "experts" say he will. We have seen too many defensive line busts.

According to what I have read, this guy will switch with Pickett which is suppose to take pressure off Barnett and Hawk.

When Barnett was drafted I expected him to be outside playing havoc on the interior of the oppositions offensive line. Although he is a Mike LB, it would be nice to see him doing that like he did in college. If Hawk can get in there too, then we may not need a DE or OLB that is a pass rush specialist.

Like I said, lets just pray Raji delivers.

Thanks

Wolfman 24

ointment flies

Shorter than desired, a bit squatty...struggled in the class room and his ability to pickup schemes may be a concern...some questions to his work ethic...struggles to finish when he reaches the QB...character issues are abound as he had trouble keeping his weight down...
http://warroomreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=365&Itemid=1

Weaknesses:
Conditioning and stamina have been problems...Is shorter than you'd prefer...Maturity and commitment have been questioned...Doesn't always play with proper leverage...Inconsistent and his motor tends to run hot and cold...Is not an elite pass rusher...Struggled to keep up with his studies and intelligence may be an issue..Durability concerns?
http://www.draftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/dt/BJ-Raji.php

Raji could spell the end for Harrell. Especially if Holiday or Carter are picked up.

Harrell will be a DE, Raji will be a NT, so I don't see how one does much to the job security of the other.

Talk is that Pickett will be the player moving around. Capers stated that Pickett could play all three spots!!!

According to Capers in his interview after the pick he think Raji can line up some at both DE and DT. Same for Pickett. It also sounds like he sees some pass rush ability in Raji. He said he saw Harrell as a DE. I suspect when we line up 4-3 in passing downs you'll see a front of Kampy-Raji-Jenkins-Matthews/Thompson. With Raji and Jenkins inside, I think Kampy and Matthews/Thompson get some sack opportunities that we didn't have last year.

Love the Raji pick!!! Hopefully he can become as good as Sapp was or better!!

There is mention that Pickett could be play DE (at times) with Raji as the NT. This could infringe on Harrell's playing time.

And, I did say especially if Holiday and/or Carter are picked up.

If the teams gets stocked on the Dline, then something gots ta give and that could be Harrell.

I'm still hopeful THE PACKERS can get something out of Harrell.

Raji instantly gives us some good flexibility on the DL. Being able to keep both Pickett and Raji rotated and fresh throughout the entire game will be a great luxury. Having Pickett also allows Raji a little more time to develop and gain his "man-strength" (which clearly he doesn't have with 30+ reps at 225lbs). I really think he's going to be a great player come 2010 and a solid DL this year. Very excited.

I think we'll see both Pickett and Raji on the field at the same time in certain situations.

That's certainly true, but I'm starting to think that Jolly could wind up being the odd man out.

Could does not mean should.

I could see Pickett and Raji on the field in short yardage, easily. But, I think they are both NT's. A nice NT rotation will be really really good for us as a team. A fresh and really solid NT at one of the most important positions. Should be nice.

That makes sense too.

Raji does change the look of the Dline....

Packers .com has Raji listed as #90.

Having both Pickett and Raji will be a nice option for 3rd and short situations.

Matthews will have either 51,52, or 59 as those are the open numbers.

I was reading on a Browns site, that his old man when drafted in 1978 was a 6'2, 245 pound linebacker out of USC.
Hopefully we'll get the same mileage out of him. I wonder if Junior has called Jason Hunter yet about #57 like his old man wore.

I hope that Jolly stays out of jail and suspension. I hope that Harrell is healthy and shows us he is a player. I hope that GB has 5 guys at least to rotate in the lineup, 6 would be better. I am not counting on Kampman as another DL, although I am sure he will play there a bit, maybe only in 4 down linemen, but maybe not. I could see Thompson looking for some PT and maybe he get more time at DE??? That would not shock me. I just thought, in the 3-4 with the zone blitz, seeing Raji or Pickett drop into coverage and Matthews and Hawk blitzing. Kindof scary.

One more thing: 3 pages on GB 1st pick, while 12 pages on GB 2nd pick in the first round...

Pickett
Raji
Jenkins
Jolly
Harrell
Montgomery
?

If we sign a vet, it comes down to Harrell, Monty, and Malone & crew for the 6th spot. Some teams keep 7.

Love the pick. Jenkins - Raji - Pickett is pretty tough. That's almost 1000 lbs of Dline.

I dont think Harrell can play football, Monty and Malone have a good shot, and there is Day 2 tomorrow.

Who needs Colin Cole?

Everyone is thinking Raji is rotating with Pickett. I don't see this as obvious. Last year the queens were beasts against the run, primarily because of two huge bodies up front side by side. 8 years ago the Ravens were beasts period, primarily because of two big bodies side by side. The downfall of the Ravens and the queens was lack of speed / skill in the back four. We're a lot better back there.

I wonder now if we're building pittsburgh, or if we're building baltimore.

Personally, I'm good either way.

Pickett and Jenkins on the DE and Raji at NT to start. Rotate others such as Jolly, Harrell and Monty..

I curious about the rumor of the failed drug test. A couple of months ago it seemed Raji would be long gone by 9.

It was a false rumor thought to be started by someone in hopes he would fall but was proven false long before the draft. Though he did test postive once in college.

That TT always with a trick up his sleve

The past few days I went back and forth on who my #1 player (realistically) was going to be @ #9.

My Final List Was:

1.) BJ Raji - DT
2.) Tyson Jackson - DE
3.) Eugene Monroe - OT
4.) Michael Oher - OT
5.) Malcolm Jenkins - CB

We got our guy, and I was finally happy after being disappointed in the last 2 drafts! I like what this does for us at NT.

Welcome aboard Raji!

raji = sapp or donnell washington?

how about = Raji

Are these the only choces? Either boom or bust? Or, maybe he'll be like Pickett or Hawk- solid players that don't make the Pro Bowl, but are effective play to play and game to game.

Donnell Washington was nowhere even close to the athlete that Raji is. Have you even watched film on him? Raji can hold ground, collapse the pocket, or even rush with stunts and twists. He has the strongest lower body for DT's coming out in quite a while. Some scouts say he is the best DT coming out in the last 10 years. I'm not going to say he will be the next Sapp, but to compare him to Washington doesn't make any sense IMO. Raji was top first round talent. Washington was just a big fat man and was a reach in the 3rd round.

What type of thread name is this?

Are you a big E.E. Cummings fan?


Sapp.

...is the

distance within

Raji's

fire.

burnt.

and arisen;

Football.

Ummm- NewBrew, I believe it was e.e cummings. Something like ricky. All lower case.

Washington a reach when selected in the 3rd round, I think. Was more a lower round guy who was a big eater and little else. Had many write up coming out that declared him a bad prospect and had I think a 9 on the wonderlick. Sapp was a high first round that dropped b/c of weep positive. He was considered an early 1st round, just like Raji. Raji will show us who he is. My vote, he Raji = Raji

Weaknesses: Inconsistent in his effort. Will take plays off. There are big concerns about Raji's stamina as he'll often have to come out of the game. Weight has fluctuated during his career.
http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2009/1/29/7...report-b-j-raji

Negatives: Short and short-armed. Does not have great hip snap or flexibility to overpower blockers early or win one-on-one battles with creativity. Thinks he is better than he is. Conditioning and stamina are concerns. Was inconsistent before his senior season and his weight has fluctuated. Much of sack production came when he was unblocked. Immature upon arrival in college and motivation must be closely evaluated.
http://nfldraft.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp...outing#scouting

Weakness: As with any player who is out for academic reasons, Raji will have his intelligence and work ethic questioned. Raji also has some questions about his conditioning. In order to play a full NFL season at well over 300 pounds, Raji will have to commit himself to a better conditioning regiment to prevent “breaking down” before the season ends.
http://www.nfldraftspot.com/scouting-repor...ing-report.html

x=raji + time

The snippets you grabbed are true of basically all the enormous players taken at the top of the draft.

Here is ESPN on Ngata prior to the draft:

"A bit top-heavy. Effort can be inconsistent. He takes too many plays off. His technique needs improving. Plays too high at times and loses his leverage. Tires easily and will look sluggish."

http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2009/3/30/814...ew-with-bj-raji

Take a look at this interview.

I'm loving the pick, even after reading this, but it gives us a bit more insight in to Raji's character than before.

Thanks for this post.

I had read earlier somewhere where a quote was lifted and paraphrased from this interview to raise concerns about BJ's attitude.

When asked about his favorite part of preparation, BJ replied "going through the motions". This was meant to imply an immature response. I remember thinking, what kind of person would answer that way?

Reading the actual transcript, it's clear that BJ was talking about repetition being used to build muscle memory. Almost a complete night and day difference between what the other post implied and the true meaning of the quote.

I feel better seeing this. Maybe BJ will have some attitude issues, but they don't come through here.

And that's why you need multiple NT prospects on your team. They all get tired and sluggish when they're that big. Raji and Pickett = SOLID IN THE MIDDLE. I like that their strengths compliment each other. Pickett is solid in run support and Raji can collapse the pocket and put pressure on the QB. I think that those two are going to be a huge (pardon the pun) component in the success of this new defense.

good point on Ngata. Those places have to come up with some negative, regardless of player.

He did not make every tackle on every play, effort must be inconsistant.

Italics on a message board = quoted from unnamed source = it must be true.