noob question: how good is raji?
 

i've never seen the guy play

i fully agree with the idea that a 3-4 NT is more valuable than a OLB, so I'm fine if we take him

but what is he like?

is there a player you could compare him to?

what is his upside?

and how much is his value inflated by scarcity? i.e. a weak DT class and the scarcity of true 3-4 NTs....

is he the Curry of NTs or the Patrick Willis of NTs....if you get my drift

He had an excellent year, but his work habits, etc., are troublesome.

from cbssportsline.com (weight issues, stamina issues, didn't play with a high motor prior to 2008, laziness, need to be kept motivated, will never be called a hard worker in weight room or practices ...).

"Body Structure: Raji is a wide-body type with outstanding shoulder and chest width. He has big hips, thick thighs, huge calves and tree-like legs. He lacks good arm length and needs to control his weight (as high as 360), as he does have stamina issues when he plays with added bulk. His frame is fleshy in the midsection and he has natural strength, rather than a well-built weight room physique.

Athletic Ability: Raji has a thick frame with decent initial burst for a player his size. He is agile moving down the line and light on his feet, but lacks the suddenness to explode through the gaps. He demonstrates good knee bend, showing the agility, balance and short-area acceleration to get into the backfield. He has the body control and change of direction agility to make plays down the line. He also has good strength, but needs to be more physical in his play. He did play with a high motor in 2008, something he did not do in the past. GRADE: 6.6

Football Sense: This kid is field smart, but does struggle in the classroom, sitting out the 2007 season due to academic issues. He does show good field smarts, but the coaching staff felt he just did not want to apply himself in the classroom and he paid for it by sitting out a season. He has the ability to quickly learn and retain plays. He understands assignments and is quick to pick up schemes. His feel for the ball is above average and he makes an effort on every play to get to the ball. He is rarely caught out of position due to a mental error. GRADE: 6.3

Character: Raji has finally bought into the program. He comes from a supportive family (both parents are pastors), but his academic problems and lack of work ethic in the past will raise a few red flags. He was suspended for part of a game in 2006 (vs. Clemson) for fighting vs. Central Michigan. The previous coaching staff felt that he was the laziest player on the team, but a year away from the game gave him renewed motivation. Still, you have to wonder if it was to impress the NFL teams or that he finally realized he needs to step it up on and off the field. GRADE: 5.3

Competitiveness: He is a solid competitor who plays with improved aggression, but you would like him to be a little more physical in his play. He can dominate the action in the trenches and never takes plays off. He relies a lot on his quickness and hand usage to finesse blockers and makes every effort to get to the ball, but for a player of his size he should be mauling blockers more often. The staff felt that it needed to motivate him constantly in practices, politely calling him a "game" player. GRADE: 6.0

Work Habits: Raji will never be called a hard worker in the weight room or practices. He is not the type that needs to be pushed to get the best effort out of him, as he is not a self-starter. He is a good field presence who lets his actions speak louder than his words, but not the example you want for being a mentor for the team's younger players. GRADE: 5.0 "

If I have a top 10 pick, let alone a top 5 pick in the draft, it will be a guy that lives, breathes and thinks about football. Not someone with motivational issues. Not someone who doesn't want to practice or work hard Monday-Saturday. I want a guy that will lead his team all week long.

that sets up an interesting dilemma...the pioli way of living football vs the positional value of a NT

I liked the part about him never taking plays off.

These guys don't usually get this big and fat, by being a high motor, ball of fire. But, if he doesn't take plays off, that would be nice.

This good:

That seems to contradict itself.

I think the first "not" shouldn't be there.

But,...but...if he doesnt rush the passer he's worthless right? Doesnt matter how many other contributions he makes...:rolleyes:....:)

Come on Mel, you're better than this.

The Nose in the 34 (or the 43) for that matter isn't expected to rush the passer so much as he's expected to take up space, eat up blockers, allowing others around him to make plays.

Even in a lighthearted post, I don't know if I can let the implicit comparison between a 3-4 DT and an ILB slide...

Raji's a linebacker?

I saw him pretty much get owned by Mack.

Are you seriously that dumb?

That must not of been at the Sr. Bowl since Raji was dominate there.

The only thing that concerns me about this pick after looking at tape and stats is he is 6' 1" tall and plays in the 4-3. We already have a really talented guy that size in Dorsey. Same basic player in my mind. He'd have to put on some weight / muscle but other than that they could be brothers.

Mack "owned" a lot of people.

Raji is 6'2" and 337 lbs... Dorsey is 6'1" 297 lbs...
Hampton is 6'1" 325 lbs...Sapp is 6'2" 300 lbs...

I used Hampton because hes arguably the best NT out there, I used Sapp because hes arguably the best UT to play.

thanks for the responses

Honestly, can we put a CP filter on this?

FAIL! Hampton went to Texas. Mecca thinks he sucks. :D

I think it means he'll play hard on the field but he isn't really someone you'd want players to emulate. What he does works for him but for most people it wouldn't...when people say he's lazy or anything like that they mean when he's not playing but cmon he's a big fat guy. And anyway weight issues for a DT are a non issue he's suppose to be fat.

I don't think he'd ever get pushed around that guy has a giant base he carries a huge portion of his weight in his lower body.

Raji shows 6 1 1/4" from the combine but really if Dorsey could bulkup a bit say 315 or so would he work as a NT? Just wondering?

Dorsey isn't really built like Raji is, there's more to it than just weight, it's how they carry it and how they play with it.

I've heard rumors that Dorsey has put on considerable weight.

FWIW.

on purpose?

I can not get past the first two paragraphs. Visions of Ryan Sims and Krispy Creme is clouding my eyes from further reading.

All DT's have those things in their scouting reports...they're all "lazy" because they're fat and so forth.

Literally every DT's scouting report is either that they are out of shape or undersized.

Taking Raji at 3 would be a huge reach. Raji is not even a top 5 talent, he is just the best defensive lineman in a very weak D-line class.

I would rather have Ron Brace in the second round.

ugh... I will never ever put Sapp above John Randle. Sapp was good at one point, but not even close to being one of the best UT's of all time.

Yep. I believe it was Bdeg... He said something about Dorsey weighing around 330 now. Sorry if im wrong Bdeg. Ive been wrong a couple times today. :shake:

There are 3 things that are sure to be found in scouting reports every year...

All DT's are either fat lazy and out of shape, or have great motors but they're undersized. No DT is ever a proper size.

Black players seem to always have great athletic gifts but lack motor while white players aren't athletic but have great motors.

wow

i thought one of the explanations for his play last year was that Herm and Gun had him playing at too heavy a weight?

i guess this because he's going to be a 3-4 DE?

If he weighs 330 like ive heard, He can be our NT without question.

Just adding weight doesn't mean he ca be effective on the nose.

Good ones have stronger lower bodies, and that isn't wher Dorsey's strength is.

Exactly. I'll take a NT who is huge and plays hard but has to rotate on occasion over a guy who can get pushed around all day but doesn't have to sub out.

The real question is if Raji is the best pick for NT at 3, or if Brace or that dude from Hampton for instance would be better picks later.

Argh, I hope we trade down. (no, I hope we draft Stafford or Sanchez)

Chris Baker is going to be a terrible NFL player. I wish I could say something positive here, but Baker just isnt going to be a guy worth taking which is why im praying that we dont take him in a later round.