The official 2009 DRAFT thread

[gbpackfan]

Some like Raji, some don't. Let's not fight about it kids! :P

[Sparkey]

So... how many snaps a game do you expect out of this pick? I expect about 5. Awful awful awful pick.

Partial...

Raji can play anywhere on the line... assume they'll be in a four man line in a lot of passing situations - Raji will be lined up at one of the DT spots...

This is a very good pick... Raji is more than just a NT.

Brace on the other hand... he is strictly a NT... IMO, I doubt Raji has to come off the field much at all, except to get a blow.

Love this pick...

I'm not confident Raji can excel as a DE

As a 4-3 DE I would completely agree with you. But as a 3-4 DE, he is more than capable to of playing the run and holding the point.

[Fosco33]

Sounded like TT was shocked that Crab was there and caused him to think about taking it. Makes me glad that he realizes the variable nature of the draft and wasn't married to BJ.

[wist43]

Gentleman, there is still a draft being conducted......

Dude... let me enjoy this... when is the last time you saw me happy about a TT 1st round pick???

[Bretsky]

I'm thrilled with the pick. The Packers have the Midas Touch when it comes to B.J. picks. Why I remember just five yrs ago when a hot shot from OSU took the NFL by storm. B.J. Sander was the straw that stirred the drink. He could do more thi... er, never mind.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO for the reminder

Here is BJ #2

[Gunakor]

Crabtree at 10 is by far the best pick in the draft so far...

How can you be excited about Raji as a 5 snap a game player?!? Starting NT only plays 20ish snaps a game according to Waldo. Awful pick imo.

right, just because he's a monkey wearing glasses doesn't mean he is setting our depth chart

So you have Pickett, a very solid player, as a 5 snap a game player? I don't understand this logic at all.

This guy doesn't fit. We don't have a huge need at NT. We had a glaring need at DE. We've made a rich position richer, but passed on a rare talent in Crabtree.

Again, Pickett is gone next year. Buh bye. Then what?

Why is the assumption Pickett is gone ??????/

One thing the Packers learned last year is that you can't have enough good defensive linemen. How many games did they lose in part because the DL was gassed in the 4th quarter due to lack of depth?

Pickett can only play NT though, he can't play outside. Plus he's making a salary that would be pretty high for a backup NT. Assuming Raji is the starting NT next year, what sense would it make to retain Pickett at his salary when he may never see the field at all?

Pickett will be gone next year.

[retailguy]

So... how many snaps a game do you expect out of this pick? I expect about 5. Awful awful awful pick.

Partial...

Raji can play anywhere on the line... assume they'll be in a four man line in a lot of passing situations - Raji will be lined up at one of the DT spots...

This is a very good pick... Raji is more than just a NT.

Brace on the other hand... he is strictly a NT... IMO, I doubt Raji has to come off the field much at all, except to get a blow.

Love this pick...

I'm not confident Raji can excel as a DE

He won't have to. Pickett is GONE next year. Raji will be the NT.

Why do you keep saying that? He's got more than a year left.

Because they drafted BJ Raji. Pickett is gone. They are both NT's making starters money, so one of them will be gone next year. It will be Pickett.

Do you think they're planning to keep Raji at DE?

I think they're planning to have two solid nose tackles for a couple more years, and they're admitting that Harrell is a bust. That's what I think.

[cpk1994]

Crabtree at 10 is by far the best pick in the draft so far...

How can you be excited about Raji as a 5 snap a game player?!? Starting NT only plays 20ish snaps a game according to Waldo. Awful pick imo.

right, just because he's a monkey wearing glasses doesn't mean he is setting our depth chart

So you have Pickett, a very solid player, as a 5 snap a game player? I don't understand this logic at all.

This guy doesn't fit. We don't have a huge need at NT. We had a glaring need at DE. We've made a rich position richer, but passed on a rare talent in Crabtree.

Raji can play DE. Or is your man crush on Crabtree blind you?

You have no more evidence to suggest he can play DE than somebody who says he can not ; if you look at him physically a guy of his size is not normally a DE in the 3-4

But that doesn't automatically preclude him from playing DE either. Im just reponding to Partial's usual retardosity. You understand the pick at least.

[Bretsky]

Broncos take Knowshon Moreno - not a bad pick actually....but they need defense...


Overall Football Traits

Production 1 Redshirted in 2006. Played in all 13 games (six starts) as a redshirt freshman in 2007, when he rushed for 1,334 yards and 14 scores on 248 carries. Started all 13 games as a third-year sophomore in 2008, rushing for 1,400 yards and 16 scores on 250 carries. In two seasons combined, he hauled in 53 passes for 645 yards and two scores. Only the second Georgia running back to rush for 1,000-plus yards in consecutive seasons; Hershel Walker did it three consecutive season.

Height-Weight-Speed 3 Adequate height and bulk but will need to get bigger and stronger to hold up in the NFL. Is quicker than fast. Top-end speed is adequate but not great.

Durability 3 His reckless running style and undersized frame creates legitimate concern regarding his long-term durability in the NFL. Got nicked up at times and played through a knee injury early in 2008, but he did not miss a game in two seasons of carrying the load for the Bulldogs. Still lots of tread left on his tires.

Character 1 Immediately took over as a team leader when he cracked the starting lineup as a freshman in 2007. Not a vocal leader but leads by example. Great practice player. Ultra competitive. His relentless style of play is infectious.

Running Back specific Traits

Competitiveness 1 Competitiveness and effort is outstanding in every aspect of the game. Not very big or overpowering as a runner, but he runs hard, uses good pad level and bounces off of a lot of would-be-tacklers like a pinball. Feet are seemingly always moving. Displays good ball security. Plays the game with a non-stop motor.

Vision 2 Decisive runner. Doesn't dance in the backfield. Only issue here is that he tends to bounce some runs outside when it's unnecessary. He displays excellent peripheral vision in the open field, though. Knows when he has the angle as a runner and when it's time to cut against the grain.

Explosiveness 2 Very good initial quickness. Bursts through the line of scrimmage. Shows some elusiveness in space. Will make defenders miss more often than not when in one-on-one situations. Only concern in this facet of his game is the lack of an elite second-gear. He gets from 0-to-60 miles-per-hour very quickly but that's where he tops off.

Balance/Change-of-Directions 2 Is shifty. Displays a very good center of gravity. Doesn't give defenders much of a target to hit. His balance is exceptional. Shows rare ability to take a hit, recover before a knee/elbow touches the turf, and then quickly regain his burst heading north. (see: 3rd quarter TD run with 13:04 remaining versus Vanderbilt). Moreno also makes himself small behind the offensive line and is very difficult to find because he changes direction and gets up-the-field so quickly.

Passing Game 2 Underrated receiver. Good instincts as a route runner. Soft hands. Can adjust to poorly thrown ball. Can find the ball over his shoulder (see: TD reception versus Michigan State in Capital One Bowl) and also can catch the ball thrown over his head. Aggressive in pass pro. Looks to initiate contact. Is a bit undersized and will be overmatched physically on occasion, but he's willing and tough. Mixes in effective cut blocks and keeps blitzers guessing.

IDIOTS

Going BPA

[Joemailman]

Orakpo at #13 is great value for Washington.

[RashanGary]

Re: Raji

This was the #1 guy on my board. I love this pick.


Raji has natural leverage
Of guys Raji's height and natural leverage, very few can carry this type of weight to anchor
Of the squatty, powerful guys that can carry the weight, even fewer can move the way Raji can


When you have a bad season, this is the exact type of rare piece that you need to add to make it worth it.

Ya'd need a forklift to move Raji out of the middle.

That's exactly it. He's heavy and all of his weight is low. There are only a couple players like him in the NFL and they all happen to be on great defenses. I don't think it's a coincidence.

[Bretsky]

Re: Need

Ok Mr TT. Now that after all these drafts of me bitching about need, you FINALLY come around to my way of thinking................


OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Time for you to give your dear TTT some serious MANLOVE

[packrulz]

I wanted Crabby but I'm fine with Raji, it's like comparing apples and oranges, both are good. I'll feel better about the Pack having to face AP twice a year.

[gbpackfan]

Just a little info - The Packers have the ability to move back into round 1 with their 2nd round pick and one of their 3rd round picks. They could go as high as 25.

[pack4to84]

Dom Capers coming next on 620tmj