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Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 2:21 am
by Ill-yasova
http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20101101/PKR07/101101161/Baranczyk-Christl-column-Raji-Williams-playing-like-Pro-Bowl-contendersRaji
Raji is an explosive force. His ability to get upfield has caused havoc in the running game, and he collapses the pocket in the passing game and makes opposing quarterbacks uneasy about stepping up. Most teams double him. They have to. The Jets have maybe the best center in the game in Nick Mangold and maybe the best offensive line, and they were pulling their guards, so they didn’t double Raji as much. But when they did, he blew it up.
Raji was better than Mangold without question. That’s the kind of performance that can be a ticket to the Pro Bowl.
Raji doesn’t get pushed around — maybe a little at the end of the game against Minnesota. But for a 3-4 defense to be successful, it has to have an anchor in the middle. If your nose tackle is getting driven back, your linebackers have to climb over the top and that gives the opposing running back angles to make plays. The longest gain by one of the Jets’ running backs was 8 yards.
It’s obvious why the Packers moved Ryan Pickett and gave Raji his job. Pickett was good at standing his ground and flowing down the line of scrimmage. What he didn’t have was Raji’s quickness off the ball and ability to penetrate. If the other team’s center and guards don’t get push, their running backs have to change direction sooner than they want. Get the running back off track and he has to find another hole, maybe take a step back, and that allows the linebackers and safeties to get where they need to be. Plus, Pickett was nothing more than a stalemate kind of guy as a pass rusher.
It would be awesome to see all of Raji's hard work on that depleted line get rewarded with a probowl appearance.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 2:24 am
by emunney
I guess I don't know much about his competition, but I think he's been outstanding.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 2:34 am
by RiotPunch
I think so. His impact has been fantastic for our defense and his durability has been even more impressive.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 2:51 am
by MickeyDavis
NT's are hard to judge. They don't rack up sacks or tackles. he seems to be doing a great job.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 3:09 am
by Wade-A-Holic
Raji has been consistently improving. Not sure he's pro-bowl worthy yet, but he'll be in the discussion.
This team would probably be 2-5 without him this season though. His durability has been incredible for a man his size. Given the other losses we've sustained on the defensive line, you could make the argument that Thompson's first round of a year ago, Raji and Matthews, are the two most indispensable pieces of that unit right now.
Edit: Weirdly, the injuries we've sustained on the defensive line probably make it LESS likely that Raji makes the Pro Bowl. His pass rush hasn't been nearly what it was early in the season because he's had to play so many snaps, and that's what gets you noticed for pro bowl bids.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 3:15 am
by xTitan
He has been awesome.....that first round of last year could have the potential to be the best 1st round in Packer history....the potential.....
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 5:00 am
by El Duderino
Wade-A-Holic wrote:Raji has been consistently improving. Not sure he's pro-bowl worthy yet, but he'll be in the discussion.
This team would probably be 2-5 without him this season though.His durability has been incredible for a man his size. Given the other losses we've sustained on the defensive line, you could make the argument that Thompson's first round of a year ago, Raji and Matthews, are the two most indispensable pieces of that unit right now.
I was going to point out his incredible stamina for a man his size, but you beat me to it.
For a 330-340 pound guy to play 50-60 plus snaps in multiple games is nearly unheard of, much less staying effective while playing that many snaps. So impressive and he probably would have another sack or two if he didn't have to use so much energy by never leaving the field.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 12:16 pm
by midranger
Raji has been great, but I don't think he's the best young tackle in our division unfortunately. Suh is beastly.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 1:28 pm
by Newz
midranger wrote:Raji has been great, but I don't think he's the best young tackle in our division unfortunately. Suh is beastly.
Yeah, Suh is ridiculous. Already one of the top 5-10 defensive players in the NFL, IMO. He would be the first non-QB player I would take to start a franchise. Guy can put a lot of pressure on the QB from the inside and he is also a monster against the run.
I think Raji has been Pro Bowl worthy this year though. Guy has been a one man wrecking crew so many times during the year on run plays.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 1:35 pm
by trwi7
MickeyDavis wrote:NT's are hard to judge. They don't rack up sacks or tackles. he seems to be doing a great job.
Yeah, this is why he won't get voted in. He's been fantastic this year though.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 2:45 pm
by Icness
Here's the competition at DT/NT:
Ndamukong Suh
Jay Ratliff
Darnell Dockett
Justin Tuck
Sedrick Ellis
Barry Cofield
Calais Campbell
Colin Cole
Israel Idonije
Suh and Tuck are no-brainers. Ratliff isn't putting up stats but he's been the Cowboys best player by a big margin. Cofield is having a career year (30 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 TFL, 1 FF) and plays for a team that will probably send a bunch to the Pro Bowl. Campbell and Dockett both have almost the exact same stats as Raji. So does Idonije and he's done so with less help but if the Bears continue to plummet he won't have a chance. Ellis is probably sexier as a player than Raji and he's having a big impact too.
I'm glad y'all recognize his stamina. That impressed the hell out of me Sunday when you see Casey Hampton, Aubrayo Franklin, and all the other 3-4 NTs gassed or subbed out after 4 snaps on every drive.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 4:32 pm
by Wade-A-Holic
Do 3-4 ends usually get lumped in at tackle? I realize a lot of them basically are tackles for all intents and purposes (Pickett, even Jenkins to an extent).
And what about Kevin Williams? I realize he isn't the force of a year ago but he's still looked good when I've watched him this year.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 5:49 pm
by Icness
Wade-A-Holic wrote:Do 3-4 ends usually get lumped in at tackle? I realize a lot of them basically are tackles for all intents and purposes (Pickett, even Jenkins to an extent).
And what about Kevin Williams? I realize he isn't the force of a year ago but he's still looked good when I've watched him this year.
Typically the roster has 3 DTs and 3 DEs, and the DE's are always high-sack guys (Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, Osi Umenyiora). So the 3-4 DE's are usually chosen as DTs if they get in at all. Tough spot to make the Pro Bowl from. The DE's this year will be Osi and TBD (Trent Cole? Kyle VDB?) so there could be some wiggle room, maybe Tuck goes as a DE--he splits his time between DT and DE.
Williams has been decent but the numbers just aren't there and the Vikings are a trainwreck. He'll suffer because of that, same way Shaun Rogers used to get dissed in DET even though he was the best DT in the NFC most weeks.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 6:44 pm
by RedDeath
Man...
Think of where this team would be without the 1st round of the 2009 Draft....
Subtract Clay and Raji from this team and we are pretty bad.....
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 6:49 pm
by PkrsBcksGphsMqt
RedDeath wrote:Man...
Think of where this team would be without the 1st round of the 2009 Draft....
Subtract Clay and Raji from this team and we are pretty bad.....
Yep, those two were they key to our quick transition from 4-3 to 3-4.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 6:56 pm
by Wade-A-Holic
Can't say enough about Raji's attitude either. It's almost hard to believe that there was any chatter concerning his character going into that draft.
Re: Is Raji Probowl Worthy?
Posted: Tue Nov 2, 2010 7:16 pm
by chuckleslove
He certainly deserves to be in the conversation and considered. I haven't looked closely enough at the competition but just based on how many snaps he is playing and how effective he has been the guy has been flat out sick.