Kiper 2009 draft grade review

[LUKE23]

I've been watching Matthews and Jones for the most part, but in the remaining weeks I'll make a more concerted effort to watch Raji. I haven't seen him get blown off the line or make an obvious mistake all season. I've seen him make some eye-popping stops. Raji is playing D-Line in a 3-4. The only way these guys stand out is if they're being gashed against the run, and nobody is running against GB (2nd in the NFL).

Right now I'm absolutely loving both first rounders.

Pretty much my thoughts on the matter. The only times you notice 3-4 DL are if they are making a sack, TFL, or they are getting destroyed in the run game. Raji's big plays haven't been several, but he's had very, very few blown plays. With his burst and coming into next season healthy, I expect more plays behind the line.

This is my favorite Packers draft in a while.

[Ryan5UW]

This is my favorite Packers draft in a while.

Agreed.

[Mags FTW]

I wanted Crabtree, but I'm not going to whine about having Raji.

[midranger]

If you want a wideout, just draft Golden Tate this year. The guy has the best/strongest hands I've ever seen. He's going to be a better version of Wes Welker in the NFL.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

If you want a wideout, just draft Golden Tate this year. The guy has the best/strongest hands I've ever seen. He's going to be a better version of Wes Welker in the NFL.

One of my friends who is a big ND fan, told me that playing for Green Bay is Tate's childhood dream. He is from some where in the south I think, but has always been a big Packer fan. He said when he jumped into the band this year after a td that he imagined it as a Lambeau Leap. I'd be down with drafting Tate. We could use him in a lot of different ways, in the back field, as a receiver, and as a returner.

[El Duderino]

I've been watching Matthews and Jones for the most part, but in the remaining weeks I'll make a more concerted effort to watch Raji. I haven't seen him get blown off the line or make an obvious mistake all season. I've seen him make some eye-popping stops. Raji is playing D-Line in a 3-4. The only way these guys stand out is if they're being gashed against the run, and nobody is running against GB (2nd in the NFL).

Right now I'm absolutely loving both first rounders.

I didn't want it to seem like i'm all down on Raji and would rather have Crabtree, i just wish he'd have made a few more plays this year. As i said though, i understand that the 3-4 scheme is more about eating up blockers along the DL.

[jerrod]

the packers had a good draft. the idea that they wouldn't "need" another offensive playmaker is odd to me. can't have too many of those

although, they're trailing way behind the ravens in the number of major hollywood movies based on the lives of this years draft picks. a rarely mentioned but important category.

[ReasonablySober]

I watches The Blindside last night. I liked the book but I thought I'd hate the flick. I was wrong. Likedit quite a bit.

I think Jennings, Driver, Jordy and Jones are more than adequate at WR for at least the next year or two. If the BPA was a Harvin/Cribbs/Jackson kind of threat I wouldn't have a problem but no one stood out to me this season that fits the criteria.

I would still love either an outstanding rush libebacker or down lineman. To me, Cody would be perfect. If he's only on the field for 40% of the defensive snaps, I don't care. He spells BJ when he needs a breather and they play together on obvious run downs.

[Kerb Hohl]

In the things I saw yesterday, Raji once again controlled his spot on the line and made some stuffs up the middle.

Whether he is better than Crabtree remains to be seen but I think he has a very bright future. He really seems to be getting going.

[LarryHarris]

I just don't see WR as a position of need for this team. If we were to go after a WR, I'd rather take a Percy Harvin type guy than someone like Crabtree, anyway. I understand that Jones and Nelson are probably no. 3 receivers at best and eventually we'll have to replace Driver, but I think we should just do that when it becomes a need.

With this D, moving forward, it will be pivotal to have someone like Raji and it was much more of a need...

[Ill-yasova]

I've been watching Matthews and Jones for the most part, but in the remaining weeks I'll make a more concerted effort to watch Raji. I haven't seen him get blown off the line or make an obvious mistake all season. I've seen him make some eye-popping stops. Raji is playing D-Line in a 3-4. The only way these guys stand out is if they're being gashed against the run, and nobody is running against GB (2nd in the NFL).

Right now I'm absolutely loving both first rounders.

I didn't want it to seem like i'm all down on Raji and would rather have Crabtree, i just wish he'd have made a few more plays this year. As i said though, i understand that the 3-4 scheme is more about eating up blockers along the DL.

I'm afraid I don't agree with you at all in your evaluation of Raji. In the last four games he has been dominant at the point of attack blowing linemen off the ball. He's already drawing consistent double teams his first year. On a lot of plays where he doesn't make the tackle he still collapses the line and funnels the runner into another tackler.

I'd say that over the last month I've focused solely on Raji when the ball has been snapped on about 50% of the plays and I've been very impressed.

[Ayt]

I agree about Raji. He's played very well. The only thing he really needs to work on is holding the point against double teams. Sometimes he gets pushed back too much. Its mainly just a technique thing so it shouldn't be hard to fix with more PT and more practice time.

[LarryHarris]

I'd just like to get more of a sense of who Raji is as a person, you can see Matthews in tenacious, I believe Raji has the same tendencies, I just want a couple more stories written about him by the beat writers...

[Kerb Hohl]

I'd just like to get more of a sense of who Raji is as a person, you can see Matthews in tenacious, I believe Raji has the same tendencies, I just want a couple more stories written about him by the beat writers...

Oh come on, doesn't his celebration after every good play where he raises his arms and waves his fingers towards himself do it for you?

Way better than Jared Allen's extremely annoying wave of his arm for noise or whatever he wants before EVERY SINGLE PLAY.

[eagle13]

At draft time the bpa - raji & crab close to same. It was case of our need matching one of the bpas.
Thrilled we took Raji over Crab.
Raji will blow up next season as an impact DL and great team-mate.
Crab is talented but will eventually become a moron diva jerk cancer.

[Wade-A-Holic]

And wasn't Heyward-Bey taken ahead of both of them? That has to be considered even "stupider".

[LarryHarris]

And wasn't Heyward-Bey taken ahead of both of them? That has to be considered even "stupider".

One of the worst picks of the decade. Reminds me of when the Dolphins took Ginn Jr., which at the time was considered a HUGE stretch. Heyward-Bey is even worse, you don't pick a project player when there are still impact players on the draft board.

[Balls2TheWalls]

Saying that WRs don't dominate generally in their first season is just as true about defensive tackles. Raji was a great quality pick, and he will continue to grow as a player. He and Johnny Jolly should be cornerstones of the defensive line.

Right now we need offensive line, a cornerback, and a playmaking running back - hopefully with some hands out of the backfield.

[Sauce Boss]

If we can nail 3 to 4 draft picks again this year...we'll be a scary team to face for sometime. My hopes are getting good tackles and a young talented corner to be woodsons protege, but I think no matter who we draft they'll have a good surrounding to promote success.