The Packers Are Moving Around Defensive Lineman

by Brandon on Aug 10, 2011 9:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Training Camp

The Green Bay Packers are probably moving their defensive lineman around to new starting positions this season. From JS Online.com:

In the new setup, the 340-pound Pickett would be back at nose tackle, where he started from 2006-'09 and probably is most effective, and Raji would have more freedom as a one-gap player in the spot previously occupied by Jenkins.

I don't know if this will really happen, the Packers first depth chart of the season still lists Raji at nose tackle and Pickett at defensive end, but the potential move does make some sense.

My first thought is that they're doing this for the pass rush. Last season, they switched the side LB Clay Matthews played on to move him away from DE Cullen Jenkins. They wanted their two best pass rushers on opposite sides. Now they're moving B.J. Raji from the left side to the right, again away from Matthews, because Raji has emerged as their second best pass rusher.

Part of the article said this rotation might help Ryan Pickett to move back inside where he "probably is most effective" but the key for Pickett is to stay healthy no matter what spot he lines up at. There is a legitimate concern that DE Mike Neal is a little undersized to play on the strong side, but he didn't look out of place when he lined up on that side last season.

They also appear to be leaning towards playing Neal and Raji as the two down lineman on passing downs. I would expect they are their best pass rushing defensive lineman, so that isn't a big surprise.

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Consider Raji and Neal's skills this seems to be more based on Picket

Because Neal looked like he could have some real promise in the three technique and we know how well Taji ended the year last year. I’ve got to admit, I really loved having the disruption from “Raj Mahal” coming up the middle

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Aug 10, 2011 10:15 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

The Raj Mahal?

Clever.

by Dancing Raji on Aug 10, 2011 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Love the screen name Dancing Raji..

Do you have the t-shirt “Teach Me To Raji” ?

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

by White92 on Aug 10, 2011 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd love to claim it

But it was his nickname at BC

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Aug 10, 2011 12:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

No no no no no no no

I really hope the JS is wrong on this. Raji is probably at WORST a top-3 NT in the NFL. It’s one of the Packer’s biggest matchup advantages on defense. If you move him to the outside he’s probably a “good” to “very good” DE, but is then going up against quicker athletes that can eliminate his biggest advantage when playing inside. I don’t think I could disagree with this move more. I just don’t think you can throw away an elite NT and an adequate DE for an average NT and a good to very good DE.

Greinke: "It’s not about the guacamole itself. I just don’t want to let them win."

by GoGregGo on Aug 10, 2011 11:00 AM CDT reply actions

I have faith

that TT and MM will figure it out so you and I are satisfied. :)

Keep in mind that Neal is the strongest person on the team and him slamming RT’s to the ground for CMIII to dominate around the edge sounds very tasty.

by Acme on Aug 10, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Top 3 NT

I agree w/ that, but mostly that is based on his pass rush ability. I think Pickett is the better run defender. Raji admitted that Pickett is the better player in that regard, IIRC when I read the article. It would be a pretty limited defense, either way…. The packers only played base 34 D on 25% of the snaps last year. They played the nickel 2-4-5 D on nearly 70% of downs. So this new allignment might be to improve the run D in base defense only. WHen we go to the nickel we’ll still see Raji and Neal at the DT spots that we all expect. I’m curious to see how this works. I think it could help the run D and it won’t hurt the pass D. Pickett just isn’t mobile enough to play DE anymore. But he did do quite well at NT in 09. Kinda depends on Neal being able to play the Strong side DE spot. And it does put Raji in more of a playmaking role, which can’t be such a bad thing.

I’m not totally sold on it, but it has possibilities to turn out very well.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Aug 10, 2011 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs

This seems like Capers way of putting his playmakers in a position to make plays.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Aug 10, 2011 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Good post and good summary Stroh.

I too am hesitant to move Raji at all after such a great season. The man is an absolute beast at a position that does not have many players of his caliber. But maybe it could work out for the better.