Raji to RDE?

[pbmax]

Here is the description of the Eagle. It was used in 2010 with Raji at nose, but in 2011 McGinn said Capers envisioned Pickett back at nose with Raji at a 3-technique. Early in the season, McGinn tracked it, but either he or I lost count. Not sure if he gave number of snaps for it in his season ending recap.

Originally Posted by Bob McGinn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug 9, 2011
 Okie, in which both ends play a 5-technique head-up over the tackles while the nose tackle is head-up on the center.

 Eagle, in which the end to the strong (tight end) side is head-up on the tackle in a 5-technique, the nose tackle is in a shaded position just off the strong-side shoulder of the center, and the weak-side end is in a 3-technique position on the outside shoulder of the guard.

Last year, on the approximately 25% of the defensive snaps when the Packers were in the 3-4, they played far more Eagle than Okie. Usually, Pickett was the 5-technique on the left side, Raji was the shaded nose tackle and either Cullen Jenkins or Howard Green was the 3-technique on the right side.

In the new setup, the 340-pound Pickett would be back at nose tackle, where he started from 2006-'09 and probably is most effective, and Raji would have more freedom as a one-gap player in the spot previously occupied by Jenkins.

And just to start a fight about nomenclature of defenses, I think the Eagle as described would look like a Fritz Shurmur 4-3 Under defense on the line if you consider the weakside OLB as the fourth lineman. In 2010, Pickett was Reggie White, Raji was Gilbert Brown, Jenkins was Santana Dotson and Zombo/Jones/Walden was Sean Jones.

In 2011, Pickett was Gilbert, Raji was Dotson, CJ WIlson/JariusWynn/Howard Green was Reggie and the LBs were Sean Jones.

[3irty1]

I think Pickett is perfect for his position but that position is really just situational Run-stuffer. He offers almost no pass rush so it makes sense to pull him on 3rd down. I think Raji's regressions are most just do to being overused. He already played tons of snaps when we had Jenkins, then last year without him he could basically never leave the field.

Poe is pretty much the same type of prospect that Raji was, since he could learn to do it all he would be a major asset as a guy who can take any of Raji's reps from him keeping both fresh. Don't they say that NT is the most exhausting job in football? The real problem with Poe is that out of all the first round DT's this year he's probably the worst player right now although I also feel that Memphis overused Poe. I'm ok putting faith in Trgovac to develop his 2nd Raji though. That is one rare, rare, skill set right there.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think Pickett is perfect for his position but that position is really just situational Run-stuffer. He offers almost no pass rush so it makes sense to pull him on 3rd down. I think Raji's regressions are most just do to being overused. He already played tons of snaps when we had Jenkins, then last year without him he could basically never leave the field.

It seems like a convenient excuse for Raji--since he almost never left the field in 2010 either. In fact, about halfway through last year the coaches decided to play Raji less. I'm not sure how much less he played, but I wouldn't be surprised if he played fewer snaps in 2011 than 2010. I shouldn't say convenient excuse though. Most big guys wear down. Raji didn't wear down much in 2010. In fact, he got better as the year went on.

[Fritz]

That's what I keep coming back to: there just aren't many guys that big and that quick.

But I'm no guru, so I trust in TT.

[ND72]

do NOT like Poe. He played no top level teams and put up no noticeable stats. He was listed as a 6th round player in my pre-combine guide, then post-combine he was listed as top 10. Guy will be nothing in the league.

[3irty1]

do NOT like Poe. He played no top level teams and put up no noticeable stats. He was listed as a 6th round player in my pre-combine guide, then post-combine he was listed as top 10. Guy will be nothing in the league.

He had the same production at this point in his career as Raji or Haloti Ngata.

[pittstang5]

I never heard of Poe until he blew up the combine. His Stats are outright amazing for how big he is. My gut says he's gonna fall to the 2nd round and someone might take a flyer on him. I don't see TT taking Poe if he is available. If he does, In TT I trust.

[pbmax]

He had the same production at this point in his career as Raji or Haloti Ngata.

What are his stats in college?

[Deputy Nutz]

No on Poe! Hes a combine warrior, not a football player.

He played on a shitty team and on a shitty defense. Scouts found his lack of intensity problematic. I am not a huge fan of this guy, short arms, not a lot of length. I just don't think he is what Packer fan should be looking for when it comes to defensive ends. Raji is a nose tackle, or a defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense, he didn't like playing defensive end in 2009. I wouldn't mind the Packers stocking up on nose tackles, but if you are looking for a first round pick the Packers need to really focus on defensive end, olb, and safety. If Poe is the best value on the board then I would concede to either trade back, or take him and rotate him in at nose tackle to keep Raji fresh, but that is not ideal for your first round pick.

[George Cumby]

He played on a shitty team and on a shitty defense. Scouts found his lack of intensity problematic. I am not a huge fan of this guy, short arms, not a lot of length. I just don't think he is what Packer fan should be looking for when it comes to defensive ends. Raji is a nose tackle, or a defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense, he didn't like playing defensive end in 2009. I wouldn't mind the Packers stocking up on nose tackles, but if you are looking for a first round pick the Packers need to really focus on defensive end, olb, and safety. If Poe is the best value on the board then I would concede to either trade back, or take him and rotate him in at nose tackle to keep Raji fresh, but that is not ideal for your first round pick.

If this is accurate, TT ain't touching that.

[Guiness]

Here is the description of the Eagle. It was used in 2010 with Raji at nose, but in 2011 McGinn said Capers envisioned Pickett back at nose with Raji at a 3-technique. Early in the season, McGinn tracked it, but either he or I lost count. Not sure if he gave number of snaps for it in his season ending recap.



And just to start a fight about nomenclature of defenses, I think the Eagle as described would look like a Fritz Shurmur 4-3 Under defense on the line if you consider the weakside OLB as the fourth lineman. In 2010, Pickett was Reggie White, Raji was Gilbert Brown, Jenkins was Santana Dotson and Zombo/Jones/Walden was Sean Jones.

In 2011, Pickett was Gilbert, Raji was Dotson, CJ WIlson/JariusWynn/Howard Green was Reggie and the LBs were Sean Jones.

After reading that last line, all I could think was "No, I'M Spartacus!"

[ND72]

He had the same production at this point in his career as Raji or Haloti Ngata.

No he didn't, nfl network tonight said Poe had 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss last season.

[3irty1]

No he didn't, nfl network tonight said Poe had 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss last season.

Well they must have said that mid season. Poe in 2011: 33 tackles, 8 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 FF

Raji over 4 years: 99 Tackles, 23 TFLs, 9 sacks
Poe over 3 years: 101 Tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 5 sacks

[Pugger]

No on Poe! Hes a combine warrior, not a football player.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!

Have any of you seen game tape of this guy? If he disappears when he's up against O linemen in his conference in college he'll be even worse in the NFL.

[ND72]

Well they must have said that mid season. Poe in 2011: 33 tackles, 8 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 FF

Raji over 4 years: 99 Tackles, 23 TFLs, 9 sacks
Poe over 3 years: 101 Tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 5 sacks

Are you getting those stats from Wikipedia? Official senior year stats has him listed as 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 TFL, and 1 FF. Wikipedia has a completely different number, 33 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1FF. And, most networks only list solo tackles, not total tackles since you can jump on a pile and get credit for a tackle. He had 57 solo tackles in 3 years, 101 total (accroding to wikipedia).

On Wikipedia They list Raji as having 13 tackles his freshman year, 27 his sophomore year, and 63 his junior year without giving any stats his senior year, and giving him a total of 99 tackles...even though if you total his frosh-junior year, that total is 103 tackles, which is more than what they say is his total amount is including his senior year. So I'm curious where you're getting stats from so I can see those. Wikipedia isn't a creditable source.