Raji's Ascension?

[Smidgeon]

Greg Bedard's observation from OTA today:

"Don't think I've ever seen that before: Tauscher got turned around against Raji in a dline 'game' drill"

Anything to be excited about? On the one side we have Tauscher, a guy who's been steady and reliable his entire career and (strictly from a fan's perspective) knows every veteran trick in the book to protect his QB. Solid if unspectacular, and not someone to let just anyone turn him around.

On the other hand we have Raji, a first round draft pick that Waldo (I think it was Waldo) pointed out had one of the top three acceleration to strength ratios (along with Wilfork and one other guy) in the last several years. His forte in college was pass rush, and he flashed it last year but didn't really dominate.

The glue holding all this together is that it is OTAs, it was one rep in one drill, some fans are starving for any information about their team, and that the pads don't go on for a while yet. So: anomaly, or a promise of things to come?

[mission]

There was another mention on the practice blog of Raji getting big push up the middle

[RashanGary]

It is OTA's, so we have to keep that in perspective, but these are the types of signs that can turn into season long patterns.

The year Kamp broke out, I noted him beating Tausch on my camp reports. That year he had 12 sacks. Before that year he was a 4 sack per year, a real nothing special - blue collar type was his rap.

This could be one of those situations.

[mission]

It is OTA's, so we have to keep that in perspective, but these are the types of signs that can turn into season long patterns.

The year Kamp broke out, I noted him beating Tausch on my camp reports. That year he had 12 sacks. Before that year he was a 4 sack per year, a real nothing special - blue collar type was his rap.

This could be one of those situations.

I really think Raji needs to be the guy in the middle who just prevents people from being in the location they're supposed to be in. Driving a guy back even two steps and making the RB bounce it out, whatever... I think he can do this on a very consistent basis and it's just a matter of time before he gets to that point. If my memory serves correctly, Warren Sapp didn't become dominant until his third year; it seems to take DL a little bit longer to show that they're men among boys (that's what we're after, right?).

4-5 sacks and a lot of blowups that result in his teammates making plays will be a great season for Raji this year. He doesn't play a numbers position so it's harder for the casual fan to quantify his value.

[Lurker64]

I'll be more excited when I see him whipping guys like Wells, Spitz, and EDS. As the starting NT, he'll be blocked by a lot of centers and approximately 0 right tackles.

[Scott Campbell]

It is OTA's, so we have to keep that in perspective, but these are the types of signs that can turn into season long patterns.

The year Kamp broke out, I noted him beating Tausch on my camp reports. That year he had 12 sacks. Before that year he was a 4 sack per year, a real nothing special - blue collar type was his rap.

This could be one of those situations.

You goin to camp this year?

[Fritz]

Only Viagra or Cialis can whip ED Smith.

[wist43]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

[RashanGary]

I'll be at camp this year. Probably not too many OTA's though.

[Lurker64]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

This is a situation where consistent negativity makes you the exact opposite of correct. In terms of his body type, measurables, and skillset Raji is the perfect NFL 3-4 nose tackle. He's got power, natural leverage, and extraordinary short area quickness for a man his size. What he really lacks is length, a characteristic that matters much less for the Nose Guard than it does for any other position on the defensive line. He also came into the NFL not having much experience in the A-Gap at BC, which explains why they didn't throw him in there right away.

But fundamentally the Nose Tackle needs to be able to do two unrelated things:
1) Be stout enough to hold up against a double team in the A-Gap, which will leave an uncovered ILB to make the play.
2) Be quick enough to get into the middle of the play (thus disrupting it) if left single-blocked or chipped and left one-on-one.

There are big guys who can do 1, and there are guys who can do 2, but there aren't a lot of guys who can do both. Raji is one of those guys.

For an example why the nose tackle has to be more than just a space eater, watch the first 10 seconds or so of this Adrian Peterson run against Cleveland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrhBXbVmrWc

There are two keys to this play (besides the missed tackles in the secondary). First, Steve Hutchinson totally annihilates the ILB, but that's besides the point. Second, the Browns NT Rogers is completely kept out of the play by a chip from the C and a single block by the RG. If Rogers had been just a step or two quicker there, he would have gotten Peterson in the backfield and the play would be over. But the fact that Rogers was blocked by one man, and he didn't make the play, meant that the offense could put a hat on a hat and give Peterson an easy pass to the secondary. If Rogers gets there in time, that's a 3 yard loss. If that doesn't happen, and Hutchinson doesn't make that block, it's a 4 yard gain. As it happened, you put a RB in the secondary and bad things happen for the defense.

[Joemailman]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

Don't you think he'll be doing some of both? Hypothetical situation: Raji stuffs a running play on 1st down creating a 2nd and 9 situation. Packers go to nickel package. Don't you think Raji will often be staying in the game? I don't see him coming out in most passing situations as Pickett does.

[Gunakor]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

He's a very, VERY powerful man. Much more powerful than Pickett is. I'm fairly certain he'll be able to collapse the pocket on passing downs even playing on the nose.

[mission]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

He's a very, VERY powerful man. Much more powerful than Pickett is. I'm fairly certain he'll be able to collapse the pocket on passing downs even playing on the nose.

Don't we often use a 4 or 2 man front on passing downs putting Raji over a guard or in the 1 hole?

[The Leaper]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

I see your point Wist...but you don't draft a kid in the first round to be a DE pass rush specialist in a 3-4.

Raji has all the necessary skills to become a dominant 3-4 NT. He's massive, yet athletic for his size. He has the strength to take on multiple blockers. If blocked incorrectly, he will be in a better position to make a play on the QB at NT than at DE. He's not lightning quick like a Warren Sapp...so getting him as close to the QB as possible may give us the most bang for our buck. He'll be a mismatch in our favor against most centers IMO, so he will force the offense to make some choices regarding blocking schemes.

Ultimately, the question isn't if Raji can find success at NT...but if Pickett can find success away from NT.

[wist43]

Raji would be wasted at NT IMO... can he play there??? of course he can, but his greatest value comes in his ability to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

This is a situation where consistent negativity makes you the exact opposite of correct. In terms of his body type, measurables, and skillset Raji is the perfect NFL 3-4 nose tackle. He's got power, natural leverage, and extraordinary short area quickness for a man his size. What he really lacks is length, a characteristic that matters much less for the Nose Guard than it does for any other position on the defensive line. He also came into the NFL not having much experience in the A-Gap at BC, which explains why they didn't throw him in there right away.

But fundamentally the Nose Tackle needs to be able to do two unrelated things:
1) Be stout enough to hold up against a double team in the A-Gap, which will leave an uncovered ILB to make the play.
2) Be quick enough to get into the middle of the play (thus disrupting it) if left single-blocked or chipped and left one-on-one.

There are big guys who can do 1, and there are guys who can do 2, but there aren't a lot of guys who can do both. Raji is one of those guys.

For an example why the nose tackle has to be more than just a space eater, watch the first 10 seconds or so of this Adrian Peterson run against Cleveland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrhBXbVmrWc

There are two keys to this play (besides the missed tackles in the secondary). First, Steve Hutchinson totally annihilates the ILB, but that's besides the point. Second, the Browns NT Rogers is completely kept out of the play by a chip from the C and a single block by the RG. If Rogers had been just a step or two quicker there, he would have gotten Peterson in the backfield and the play would be over. But the fact that Rogers was blocked by one man, and he didn't make the play, meant that the offense could put a hat on a hat and give Peterson an easy pass to the secondary. If Rogers gets there in time, that's a 3 yard loss. If that doesn't happen, and Hutchinson doesn't make that block, it's a 4 yard gain. As it happened, you put a RB in the secondary and bad things happen for the defense.

Lurker, how am I being negative?? I just don't think he's best utilized at NT.

As I said, he can play there... and I'd expect him to excel; but, playing NT wears a guy down, which over the course of a season is going to effect his pass rush - which to me is his greatest asset.

Again, just a disagreement over utilization... nothing negative. I'm one of the bigger Raji supporters in here, and I want to see him put in positions to make impact plays.