Chiefs And with the #3 pick the KC Chiefs take... B.J. Raji - Page 3

T-post Tom · 03-20-2009, 04:35 AM

Raji would make a lot of sense considering true 3-4 NTs are difficult to find.

Riser: Boston College's Raji a big man in draft class

Posted: March 19, 2009
War Room scouts
Sporting News

More than 20 teams spent quality time with Boston College defensive lineman B.J. Raji at the NFL Scouting Combine, and apparently that wasn't enough to satisfy their craving for the best nose tackle in the 2009 draft.

No wonder Raji is seen as a riser in April's draft. Offseason auditions including the Senior Bowl, Combine and on-campus workouts have yet to expose any skeletons in Raji's closet -- except those he collected while ransacking B.C. opponents.

War Room scouts join in the praise for Raji, a 6-1, 330-pound monster who would fit in the middle of many NFL defenses. That's why in their latest mock draft, scouts project Raji as the third overall pick, going to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here's what they say about Raji: "The Chiefs debate between LB Aaron Curry and Raji. But to make the switch to a 3-4 defense, finding a nose tackle is much more important than a linebacker."

The Denver Broncos are scheduled to meet with Raji on Friday at Boston College. The Detroit Lions played host to Raji this week. And with the Broncos and quarterback Jay Cutler at odds, these meetings could add smoke to rumors of a Cutler-to-Lions deal.

War Room scouts still project Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford as the first player taken -- by the Lions, if they keep the pick, or the Broncos if they trade Cutler to get it.

Denver's first pick for now is No. 12, so Raji will be long gone by the time the Broncos make that selection.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz told Detroit reporters his team was doing its due diligence in meeting this week with Raji and Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew, the top tight end in this draft class.

Raji is viewed as a rock on the defensive line, able to hold his ground against running plays. He also has the quickness to be an effective pass rusher.

He was academically ineligible for the 2007 season but made up for that in 2008. He bolstered his stock with an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl.

It appears he put the year off to good use. Raji told Scout.com that he made some of his biggest strides in performance during his senior year because of the progress he made in understanding the mental aspects of playing his position.

"I understood the game a lot more than I did in previous years," Raji said. "I better understood how I was going to be attacked, at pre-snap I was able to get some good reads, whether it was going to be a double-team or how a player was going to block me. So that helped me choose what moves to use."

War Room Scouts' latest mock draft is available online, with two full rounds of picks and analysis. Visit SN's Pro Football War Room for information and analysis on more than 400 draft prospects. Also, pick up a copy of Sporting News' 2009 Draft Guide, available online or at retailers.

This week's Top 10 picks

1. Detroit Lions
Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
2. St. Louis Rams
Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia
3. Kansas City Chiefs
B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
4. Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
5. Cleveland Browns
Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Smith, T, Baylor
7. Oakland Raiders
Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
9. Green Bay Packers
Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State
10. San Francisco 49ers
Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal

B_Ambuehl · 03-20-2009, 12:47 PM

just about every year teams think their guy is going to be an exception due to some special circumstance. This ball club did it in 2003 with Ryan Sims. "Oh John Bunting knows defensive tackles and says this guy is great and look at how he dominated the Sr. bowl". The Texans did it with Amobe Okoye. "Oh he's only 19 just imagine how great he's going to be". What's the excuse now? "Oh he missed his Jr. year". If his Sr. tape were all that impressive he wouldn't have taken this long to be ranked where he is.

googlegoogle · 03-20-2009, 01:05 PM

Titty Meat · 03-20-2009, 01:09 PM

Drafting Raji instead of a 4-3 Cover linebacker like Curry would be a good pick

Amnorix · 03-20-2009, 01:09 PM

Generally, if your team is truly terrible throughout, you want to build from the inside out. If you want to run a 3-4 defense, then the NG is the single most important postiion on the field. Without a decent NG, the rest of the defense is simply unworkable.

With a top 5 pick, you WILL pay the player an enormous amount of money. You must NOT miss. You don't absolutely have to get a Hall of FAmer, but you can't miss. The guy has to at least produce.

I think that if Pioli sees Raji as a very good NG and a solid performer with no personal issues, there's a good chance that he will be the pick.

htismaqe · 03-20-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Generally, if your team is truly terrible throughout, you want to build from the inside out. If you want to run a 3-4 defense, then the NG is the single most important postiion on the field. Without a decent NG, the rest of the defense is simply unworkable.

With a top 5 pick, you WILL pay the player an enormous amount of money. You must NOT miss. You don't absolutely have to get a Hall of FAmer, but you can't miss. The guy has to at least produce.

I think that if Pioli sees Raji as a very good NG and a solid performer with no personal issues, there's a good chance that he will be the pick.

The thing is, DT might be the riskiest position in all of football. The best 3-4 NT's are all later picks.

Amnorix · 03-20-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The word out of his pro-day is that he might not be best-suited for the 3-4 NT but rather as a 1-gap guy in a 4-3.

I don't watch any college football, but 6'1" and 330 is about the right body type.

It's all about the ass for a NG. If he's got stickly legs or whatever (hard to imagine at that height/weight) then forget it.

Amnorix · 03-20-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The thing is, DT might be the riskiest position in all of football. The best 3-4 NT's are all later picks.

What? DT is the riskiest position? In what way?

You're burnt by your Chiefs fandom. Patriots have hit home runs with all 3 Defensive LIne draft picks in the 1st round -- Seymour, Wilfork, Warren.

Seymour was #6, Warren at 13 and Wilfork at 21 in the first round.

Titty Meat · 03-20-2009, 01:18 PM

The Pats drafted Seymour & Wilfork in the first round so the Chiefs will probably draft Raji. Who else could play the NG in the 3-4?

Amnorix · 03-20-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

I thought that the article said that it's not that he'd be less suited for it, but that people felt it might be a waste of his talent given his explosiveness.

Some said that about Wilfork, who is explosive.

They're wrong. Explosion is always good. Wilfork is great going laterally along the line to chase down RB and screen plays, and cannot be ignored in pass rush protection.

vailpass · 03-20-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The word out of his pro-day is that he might not be best-suited for the 3-4 NT but rather as a 1-gap guy in a 4-3.

Really? fuck all that.

Amnorix · 03-20-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I would say there aren't any DT's in a similar factual situation as Raji. He was ineligible his entire junior year. I agree he is risky with a top 5 pick though.

Patriots don't really take "risky" players high. They'd prefer to hit a double every time than go for a home run and risk a strikeout.

Titty Meat · 03-20-2009, 01:20 PM

They said we're not going to play just the 3-4 so I think Raji would be a good for this defense

Chiefnj2 · 03-20-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Patriots don't really take "risky" players high. They'd prefer to hit a double every time than go for a home run and risk a strikeout.

Curry it is.

htismaqe · 03-20-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

The Pats drafted Seymour & Wilfork in the first round so the Chiefs will probably draft Raji. Who else could play the NG in the 3-4?

They didn't draft either of them at #3 overall though.

Titty Meat · 03-20-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

They didn't draft either of them at #3 overall though.

They drafted Seymour in the top 10. What has more value a WR, RT, Coverage LB, or a Nose Guard in the 3-4?

03-20-2009, 04:35 AM
T-post Tom Threepeat! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $4257293	And with the #3 pick the KC Chiefs take... B.J. Raji Raji would make a lot of sense considering true 3-4 NTs are difficult to find. Riser: Boston College's Raji a big man in draft class Posted: March 19, 2009 War Room scouts Sporting News More than 20 teams spent quality time with Boston College defensive lineman B.J. Raji at the NFL Scouting Combine, and apparently that wasn't enough to satisfy their craving for the best nose tackle in the 2009 draft. No wonder Raji is seen as a riser in April's draft. Offseason auditions including the Senior Bowl, Combine and on-campus workouts have yet to expose any skeletons in Raji's closet -- except those he collected while ransacking B.C. opponents. War Room scouts join in the praise for Raji, a 6-1, 330-pound monster who would fit in the middle of many NFL defenses. That's why in their latest mock draft, scouts project Raji as the third overall pick, going to the Kansas City Chiefs. Here's what they say about Raji: "The Chiefs debate between LB Aaron Curry and Raji. But to make the switch to a 3-4 defense, finding a nose tackle is much more important than a linebacker." The Denver Broncos are scheduled to meet with Raji on Friday at Boston College. The Detroit Lions played host to Raji this week. And with the Broncos and quarterback Jay Cutler at odds, these meetings could add smoke to rumors of a Cutler-to-Lions deal. War Room scouts still project Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford as the first player taken -- by the Lions, if they keep the pick, or the Broncos if they trade Cutler to get it. Denver's first pick for now is No. 12, so Raji will be long gone by the time the Broncos make that selection. Lions coach Jim Schwartz told Detroit reporters his team was doing its due diligence in meeting this week with Raji and Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew, the top tight end in this draft class. Raji is viewed as a rock on the defensive line, able to hold his ground against running plays. He also has the quickness to be an effective pass rusher. He was academically ineligible for the 2007 season but made up for that in 2008. He bolstered his stock with an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl. It appears he put the year off to good use. Raji told Scout.com that he made some of his biggest strides in performance during his senior year because of the progress he made in understanding the mental aspects of playing his position. "I understood the game a lot more than I did in previous years," Raji said. "I better understood how I was going to be attacked, at pre-snap I was able to get some good reads, whether it was going to be a double-team or how a player was going to block me. So that helped me choose what moves to use." War Room Scouts' latest mock draft is available online, with two full rounds of picks and analysis. Visit SN's Pro Football War Room for information and analysis on more than 400 draft prospects. Also, pick up a copy of Sporting News' 2009 Draft Guide, available online or at retailers. This week's Top 10 picks 1. Detroit Lions Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia 2. St. Louis Rams Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia 3. Kansas City Chiefs B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College 4. Seattle Seahawks Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest 5. Cleveland Browns Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas 6. Cincinnati Bengals Jason Smith, T, Baylor 7. Oakland Raiders Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech 8. Jacksonville Jaguars Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland 9. Green Bay Packers Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State 10. San Francisco 49ers Rey Maualuga, MLB, Southern Cal
Posts: 20,384

03-20-2009, 12:47 PM	#31
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9805405	just about every year teams think their guy is going to be an exception due to some special circumstance. This ball club did it in 2003 with Ryan Sims. "Oh John Bunting knows defensive tackles and says this guy is great and look at how he dominated the Sr. bowl". The Texans did it with Amobe Okoye. "Oh he's only 19 just imagine how great he's going to be". What's the excuse now? "Oh he missed his Jr. year". If his Sr. tape were all that impressive he wouldn't have taken this long to be ranked where he is. __________________ Who's decision was it to fire Romeo" - Coleman C Hunt: "It was my decision but it was one that Scott agreed with" LOL
Posts: 2,605

03-20-2009, 01:05 PM	#32
googlegoogle Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $10004900
Posts: 4,700

03-20-2009, 01:09 PM	#33
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $1737558	Drafting Raji instead of a 4-3 Cover linebacker like Curry would be a good pick
Posts: 75,652

03-20-2009, 01:09 PM	#34
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Generally, if your team is truly terrible throughout, you want to build from the inside out. If you want to run a 3-4 defense, then the NG is the single most important postiion on the field. Without a decent NG, the rest of the defense is simply unworkable. With a top 5 pick, you WILL pay the player an enormous amount of money. You must NOT miss. You don't absolutely have to get a Hall of FAmer, but you can't miss. The guy has to at least produce. I think that if Pioli sees Raji as a very good NG and a solid performer with no personal issues, there's a good chance that he will be the pick.
Posts: 43,125

03-20-2009, 01:18 PM	#38
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $1737558	The Pats drafted Seymour & Wilfork in the first round so the Chiefs will probably draft Raji. Who else could play the NG in the 3-4?
Posts: 75,652

03-20-2009, 01:20 PM	#42
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $1737558	They said we're not going to play just the 3-4 so I think Raji would be a good for this defense
Posts: 75,652