noob question: how good is raji?

**the Talking Can** · 04-15-2009, 08:50 AM

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

Chiefnj2 · 04-15-2009, 09:00 AM

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.

LaChapelle · 04-15-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

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.

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

**the Talking Can** · 04-15-2009, 09:03 AM

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

**HemiEd** · 04-15-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

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.

Brock · 04-15-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

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.

That seems to contradict itself.

Chiefnj2 · 04-15-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

That seems to contradict itself.

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

Mecca · 04-15-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

That seems to contradict itself.

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.

**Saul Good** · 04-15-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

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.

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.

Delano · 04-15-2009, 09:12 AM

This good:

melbar · 04-15-2009, 09:45 AM