Raji's Going To Have To Earn It

[wist43]

We had the #2 scoring defense in the league, I think #2 in yards too that year. And we played some really complete football teams in the post-season/superbowl. We were more than just a WR/QB team. Starks had fresh legs and ran alright too. And our ST's was pretty good, especially during that stretch when our punter really hit his stride as a player.

A lot more than AR and the WR's went right in that stretch, Wist. And that defense was good for more than a 4 or 5 game stretch. They were an elite defense that whole year.

It's like you didn't even watch that 2010 football team. They were good, man. Really good. Sacks, interceptions, great run defense, everything. They were good in every way.

The '10 defense was okay... I think that's where you have to start looking at Capers - he was in his 2nd year then?? third?? I don't remember.

The point would be, he played a lot more base 3-4, he had a lot better players in Woodson and Jenkins; and Green was the fat guy I've been calling for ever since. Even though Green wasn't going to be a long term answer - the position of fat guy, has to be pencilled into the roster, and it is up to TT to go find that guy. After Green left, and Jenkins left, TT did nothing.

We fell off very quickly from '10 to '11.

A combination of all those things... Capers MO with other teams, and the way he fades; losing some players that filled key needs, i.e. Green the fat guy, and Jenkins the tough penetrator that could also hold the edge; and TT doing nothing to replace the players that need to be on your roster to carry out those duties.

It's not like we can't disect what happened forensically - we all had quite a few arguments over TT doing nothing to replace Jenkins and Green.

[smuggler]

Good grief, Bush had an interception, Zombo had a sack, and Green had the hurry, that led to the Collins pick and TD.

I'm gonna say those names again - Bush, Zombo, and Green. Do we even win that game without those 3?? And none of 'em is a legit, full time, from scrimmage player.

Lightning in a bottle.

Probably not, if you just assume that Driver, Shields, Williams, Collins, and Woodson will all be injured for stretches in that game.

If you're taking that roster into the game healthy and not mandating those injuries, it's probably a blow out win, even without Zombo, Green, and especially Bush.

[pbmax]

If I were Raji, I'c be super-leery about playing for my next contract. It just seems that if he plays as instructed and structured in previous years of Capers' D, he's going to look like a plugger and space-eater, not the DL type that is going to get the best offers on the market. Also, there's the balance between not enough snaps to feature him and too many snaps to keep him effective.

I think its a little of both here. Despite what the source said about him getting more freedom to attack, I suspect they will ask him NOT to penetrate as much out of the base 3-4. Similar to the Vikings playoff game.

But he does get plenty of chances to rush the passer as part of a 4 man line. He might like to see his snaps come down, but that might be the only serious area of contention.

Or we could be in store for something new this year from Capers.

[pbmax]

Wasn't 2010 the first year of nickel all the time? Or was that 2011?

[Patler]

It kind of always perturbs me when I read about the player who, in his contract year, suddenly decides to "eat healthier", or work extra hard in the off-season. I have read both about Raji, It seems like contract year effort is rarely of the life-changing variety, and the player often reverts quickly to his old ways after getting his new contract from somebody.

Yup -- Cleditus Hunt, Joe Johnson, etc.

I agree, Hunt is a good example of my complaint. He proclaimed to have a new attitude and commitment, etc. It lasted about one year.

Not sure that Joe Johnson is a good example, though. Johnson was a two-time Pro Bowl player, was All-Pro two years before coming to GB, and had been named the Comeback Player of the Year. Johnson was a very accomplished player throughout his career in New Orleans. He didn't just turn it up, or do anything different in his contract year, that I recall. He was on at least his third contract when he came to GB.

[rbaloha1]

Good grief, Bush had an interception, Zombo had a sack, and Green had the hurry, that led to the Collins pick and TD.

I'm gonna say those names again - Bush, Zombo, and Green. Do we even win that game without those 3?? And none of 'em is a legit, full time, from scrimmage player.

Lightning in a bottle.

Yup -- Bush was playing like an all pro from the line of scrimmage.

[rbaloha1]

I agree, Hunt is a good example of my complaint. He proclaimed to have a new attitude and commitment, etc. It lasted about one year.

Not sure that Joe Johnson is a good example, though. Johnson was a two-time Pro Bowl player, was All-Pro two years before coming to GB, and had been named the Comeback Player of the Year. Johnson was a very accomplished player throughout his career in New Orleans. He didn't just turn it up, or do anything different in his contract year, that I recall. He was on at least his third contract when he came to GB.

JJ signed the Packer contract and restarted smoking dope.

[Patler]

JJ signed the Packer contract and restarted smoking dope.

Ya, I remember the traffic stop. Described like a scene from a bad movie at the time!

[RashanGary]

Wasn't 2010 the first year of nickel all the time? Or was that 2011?

That's what I thought too, and I think other NFL teams started copying us after we won the SB that way. Woodson played like 75% of the snaps inside, meaning we played like 75% nickle because a LB never played CB.

Capers is still an innovator. The amount he played nickle was different, effective, and helped us win a championship.

[wist43]

That's what I thought too, and I think other NFL teams started copying us after we won the SB that way. Woodson played like 75% of the snaps inside, meaning we played like 75% nickle because a LB never played CB.

Capers is still an innovator. The amount he played nickle was different, effective, and helped us win a championship.

My memory of that game is pretty fuzzy, as I was very sick at the time and ended up in the hospital the next day... that said, I went and looked at some highlights.

I don't think it a coincidence that, in the highlights I watched... we were much more effective with 3 man lines.

Take a look at Mendenhall's TD. 1st and goal from the 8, Spraypainted Hair comes out in a 2-4, and the Steelers laughed as Mendenhall scored pretty much untouched. On Mendenhall's fumble, 2nd and 2 from our 33 yd line, we had 4 down linemen on the field and stuffed the run.

When Capers started throwing more 2-4 out there, that's when Pittsburgh really started to move the ball.

[mraynrand]

I agree, Hunt is a good example of my complaint. He proclaimed to have a new attitude and commitment, etc. It lasted about one year.

Ole Cleedeeus lost too much weight on the AbLounger

[mraynrand]

Yup -- Bush was playing like an all pro from the line of scrimmage.

He just guessed right on that INT; Rapelisburger missed the open guy. Bush is totally lost in the secondary. I had a chance to watch him up close in the season ender versus Detroit in 2011. Guy plays with great heart and athleticism, but is absolutely clueless. He has no idea what he's doing. his failure as a db is entirely mental.

[3irty1]

I think the fact that Raji will be playing out his final year is just a matter of numbers. The fact that he might play better is icing on the cake. Dude already makes a bunch of money and if he wants way more than 8M or so, you might as well just tag him for around 9. 2014 has a lot of deals to get done. Its probably best to get Shields and Burnett done for purposes of managing the cap. I seriously doubt a guy like Raji gets away. All the reasons you drafted him #9 overall are still true. You just don't let a big guy like this get away.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Would Raji be better in a 4-3? He just seems to be a better player when asked to attack the backfield and a 4-3 would give him that more often. I think that perhaps his asking price is high on purpose so that way GB lets him walk to a team where he can play more the way he is better at.

[pbmax]

Would Raji be better in a 4-3? He just seems to be a better player when asked to attack the backfield and a 4-3 would give him that more often. I think that perhaps his asking price is high on purpose so that way GB lets him walk to a team where he can play more the way he is better at.

He might be, but then you have asked your best player on D, Matthews, to change positions or change his role. Its going to be a weird fit either way.

Raji has done it. The question is whether he wishes to do it more often.