Saturday, April 25, 2009

Packers Bolster D-Line with Raji!!!

My fears were unwarranted. The Packers added vital depth to it's defensive line by drafting Boston College's B.J. Raji with the ninth pick of the draft. Raji won't have to play right away, but he will need to be ready when the almost inevitable injuries occur.

This is a needed moral boost for those who believe that games are often won and lost in the trenches. It is encouraging to see Ted Thompson acknowledge the dire situation and address it head on. He has acknowledged that Justin Harrell shouldn't be counted on and isn't a nose tackle anyway.

Watching the tape on youtube is difficult because it's so jerky, but it's apparent that on the college level B.J. Raji can overpower offensive lineman. Part of his power is explosiveness and ability to find the ball carrier. On some plays all you can see is a scrum and a pile short of the line of scrimmage with Raji on top of the ball-carrier. This is very good.

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