Ol' Bag of Donuts » Vince Wilfork

Other thoughts on the first weekend of free agency

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:23 +0000

So far, we at OBOD have covered the hell out of free agency as it relates to the Green Bay Packers and the rest of the NFC North.

(Okay, maybe we haven’t “covered the hell” out of it. But we’ve been good….solid….decent. Yeah, let’s stick with that – decent.)

But what about the rest of the NFL? After all, there has been activity outside of the division and, with it being Monday morning and all, it seems like a good time to expand our horizons and look at some of the other notable moves made. Some of these, of course, have Packers-related repercussions and we’ll mention them, as needed.

Cardinals taking big steps back – After watching Kurt Warner retire awhile back, the Cardinals lost three more key players this past weekend. Arizona finally rid themselves of Anquan Boldin, trading the somewhat malcontent receiver and a fifth round pick this year to the Baltimore Ravens for third and fourth round picks this year. Boldin might have been a pain in the butt, but he’s also an elite talent who is as tough as they come. Steve Breaston is decent, but Boldin he is absolutely not (love this move for the Ravens, by the way, as Boldin finally gives them the big-time wideout they seemingly have never had). Another big loss comes in the form of middle linebacker Karlos Dansby – I remember seeing him do something big a couple of months ago, but I can’t remember what - signing with the Miami Dolphins (five years, $43 million with $22 mil guaranteed). Dansby, while not an elite ‘backer, is very good and was a great fit for that defense. The Cards also lost safety Antrel Rolle to the New York Giants (five years, $37 million with $15 mil guaranteed, more on that in a bit). It’s true that they replaced Rolle by trading a fourth round pick this year and a seventh next year to the New York Jets for safety Kerry Rhodes and that Rhodes is a good player. But Rolle was on the up and knew this scheme. It will take Rhodes time to learn it. Those moves, combined with Matt “Chubby Girls and Beer Bongs” Leinart now at quarterback, lead me to believe the NFC West is an open race. Well, unless you’re the Rams.

The champs also appear to be losing some steam – The New Orleans Saints were dealt a considerable blow on defense as linebacker Scott Fujita signed a three year, $14 million deal with the Cleveland Browns. Fujita, while not a great player, was a very solid presence, both on and off the field. Things could get even worse if safety Darren Sharper bolts for another team (the Miami Dolphins, perhaps?). Sharper is 34, but is coming off of one of his best seasons yet and could still be a very good player for at least another year or two as he is a great fit in Gregg Williams’ scheme. The Saints seem to be making a push to get Sharper back, but they need to do more. If he leaves, that defense isn’t as good and they could go back to where they were a couple of years ago (i.e., a .500 team that wins eight games 45-41 and loses eight games by that same score). Right now, the Cards are definitely not as good as they were last year and the Saints could be heading that way, opening the door for other NFC teams….like maybe the Packers?
Two contracts shed a light on how much the Packers will have to pay Collins and Pickett – If you thought Nick Collins was going to want big-time dough before, you have to think that tenfold now when you see the deal Rolle got – the richest ever for a safety. In two years of playing free safety – he’d been a corner, previously – Rolle recorded 139 tackles, five interceptions, 13 passes defended and 1.5 sacks (with a Pro Bowl appearance in 2009). Collins, over the past two years – playing in two different schemes – recorded 104 tackles, 13 interceptions, 28 passes defended and one sack (with two Pro Bowl appearances). Collins pretty much crushes Rolle in the key playmaking categories and, as a result, you have to think he will want much more than Rolle got. If Rolle is getting an average of over $7 million per, Collins likely will aim for the $8-$10 million-a-year range and, at this point, it’s hard to blame him. Thanks, New York. As for Ryan Pickett, you can now use the contract given to New England’s Vince Wilfork - five years, $40 million with $25 million in guaranteed money - as a barometer of sorts. Age-wise, the two are fairly similar (Pickett turns 31 in October while Wilfork turns 29 in November). And while Pickett is not in the same class as Wilfork, a truly elite 3-4 nose tackle, he’s not that far off and provides great value to Green Bay’s defense. If Wilfork got an average of $8 million per, it’s likely going to take $5 or $6 million on average to lock up Pickett.
Cromartie deal not a slam dunk for the Jets – Many seem to be applauding the New York Jets for trading a third round pick in next year’s draft to San Diego for cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Those people have said that Cromartie’s pairing with Darrelle Revis (the second best corner in the game) gives the Jets the best corner tandem in football. While I disagree with them on that - Charles Woodson and Al Harris/Tramon Williams, anyone? – I’ll stick to the trade in this post. Here’s what Cromartie is: A guy who had one truly amazing season (2007, in which he recorded 10 picks) and two average ones since (five picks of the past two years combined). He’s also still griping about a new contract – even though he’s only been decent as of late – and has fathered seven children in five different states. I know Rex Ryan has a devil-may-care attitude about players with questionable character, just like his old man, but I also know that you don’t see too many Antonio Cromarties on championship teams. So glad the Packers didn’t pursue this guy.
Bad trends building for Big Ben – Okay, so this one doesn’t have anything to do with free agency. But the accusations of sexual assault against Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Georgia was one of the biggest NFL stories of the weekend. Now I have no idea whether or not the guy is guilty or not. In the end, that’s not up to me to decide, anyways. What I do know, though, is that a nasty trend is forming with him. This is the second time such accusations have been lobbed his way, remember. He beat the criminal charges, stemming from an incident in Nevada awhile back, and he may well beat these. But leaders – true leaders – simply do not put themselves in these spots. Can you ever see Joe Montana allowing himself to be put in such a spot in a million years? Or even a guy like Aaron Rodgers? Not a chance in hell. Sure, he’s won two Super Bowls and he’ll never have to pay for a drink in Pittsburgh again. But if you want to be truly great, Ben, and not be remembered simply as “the guy who kept getting accused of sexual assault”, you must stop allowing yourself to get caught in these situations. Okay, I’ll jump off my soapbox now.

-Chris Lempesis

Breaking down B.J. Raji

admin — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:19:44 +0000

As Chris mentioned in his last post a closer look at the two first-round picks B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews breaking down the pros and cons of drafting each player. This is merely just some quick reactions as neither of these players have taken the field and both may be All-Pros and both may end up being busts (and we all pray the won’t be), you just don’t know yet. As Chris already broke down Matthews, here is my breakdown of the selection of Mt. Raji or B.J. the Behemoth, whichever you prefer.

Anyways, let’s start with the Cons:

- His Head. No one is going to question Raji’s talent, but there are some off-field issues. There is a big difference between book smart and football smart, but you have to remember Raji was academically ineligible for his entire 2007 season at Boston College. Some guys are just not suited for the classroom, but Raji decided to come back for his senior year instead of leaving early and taking the easy way out. He also will never have to attend another class.

Outside of the classroom, he has had to shake off reports about testing positive for marijuana at the combine. The reports made by Sports Illustrated were found to be false, but last Thursday Raji did confirm that he tested positive while at BC. He did man up for his mistake in college, but every red flag has to be scrutinized with the Goodell administration in place.

However, he does enter the NFL with a clean slate, unlike someone who tested positive at the combine. I don’t know, someone like a certain Vikings’ first round pick. I think his name is Percy “Puff Puff Pass” Harvin, or something like that. At the very least Raji has the smarts NOT to smoke before the biggest job interviews of his career.

- Boom or Bust. It has been widely noted that drafting defensive tackles have been known to be huge hits or misses and little in between. For every Warren Sapp, Albert Haynesworth, or Kevin Williams there is a Dimitrius Underwood, Gerard Warren, or Jonathan Sullivan (I’ll leave Justin Harrell out for the sake of a positive post).

You can say that every position has busts, but defensive tackle is more blatant than most. Ryan Pickett is basically in his prime, but do you think his career is worthy of being a first round pick? Probably not. Raji is expected to contribute right away and has the physical size and tools to do so. Let’s hope he goes the way of Sapp and Fat Albert and not of Warren and Sullivan.

- Ron Brace – Why am I mentioning the Patriots’ second round pick? He was Raji’s teammate and defensive tackle partner at BC. Both players were considered by most to be the top two nose tackle prospects in this year’s draft.

The question needs to be raised, are both as good by themselves or are they products of playing alongside each other? There is no question that few offensive lines in the Big East would be able to contain both Raji and Brace. However, the two did not disappoint, but rather dominated anything in their path. The Eagles had one of the best defenses in college football last year, ranking fifth in the nation defensively (268.1 ypg) and seventh in the nation against the run (91.2 ypg).

However, with Raji out of the lineup for all of 2007, Brace led a unit that ranked second in the nation against the run allowing only 75.5 ypg.

Only time will tell if both of these players will be as dominant on their own. But if New England thinks highly of Brace, I have a feeling both will be just fine.

Enough with the cons, let’s bring in some positivity into the room.

Pros:

- Defensive Anchor. This first pro about Raji is simple, he was the best nose tackle and arguably the best defensive lineman in the draft. Switching to the 3-4 the Packers need players to run the system and Thompson waited until the draft to address this. There were questions on why he didn’t make a move in free agency, but drafting Raji answered those questions.

In order to run the 3-4 effectively, you need to have a dominant NT (see Jamal Williams – San Diego, Vince Wilfork – New England). Raji can be that guy for the next decade. No one will ever know if Raji was the highest rated player left on Thompson’s board, but Teddy made the right move by drafting Raji.

-Versatility. Drafting Raji while having Ryan Pickett makes the defense very versatile. Yes, the Packers are switching to a 3-4, but don’t be surprised if you see a healthy dose of the 4-3, especially in passing downs. Dom Capers is one of the best in the business and he will find creative ways to get Raji and Pickett on the field at the same time.

There has been talk about moving Pickett to end, but I think it’s clear that he is better suited in the middle and a move to end would leave very little depth behind Raji. Can you imagine a defensive line front of Cullen Jenkins, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and Aaron Kampman coming at an opposing quarterback on third and long? Pretty scary.

Having both Raji and Pickett penciled in as NT in the 3-4 also provides great depth. It is hard to say what the learning curve will be on Raji, but rotating will keep both fresh. In 2007, the strength of the defense was the defensive line that went seven or eight deep. Last year they struggled because there wasn’t much depth. Adding Raji to the mix will not only benefit Pickett, but guys like Jenkins, Johnny Jolly and Justin Harrell as well.

- He’s not Michael Crabtree. This is more about the selection of Raji and not the actual player. Nothing against Crabtree, who I think will be a very fine receiver in the league, but anyone who follows the Packers knows Thompson’s infatuation for receivers. It even came out that Thompson had “a love affair” with Crabtree.

That being said, if Crabtree was the top player left on Thompson’s board and the Journal-Sentinel’s Bob McGinn reported before the draft that he was the top player on their board period, Thompson went against his usual ways and passed on Crabtree.

That was smart. Coming into the draft defensive line, OLB, and offensive line were the three biggest needs for the team and receiver was probably only behind quarterback as the team’s LEAST biggest needs. While the though of Crabtree lining up in the slot next to Driver and Jennings split out wide on the other side would be the scariest aerial attack in the league (sorry New England), it would also be unnecessary.

Shoring up the defense, especially switching to the 3-4 was critical. Would you rather have Crabtree in the slot with a average at best defense or have Jordy Nelson in the slot with the potential to have defense stud for the next 10 years?

There is only so many balls to go around, but there is one ball to stop every time on defense. I find it hard to believe that Raji was far behind Crabtree on Thompson’s board either. It wasn’t a reach like Justin Harrell.

-Raji is fun to say. This last point may sound silly, but Raji is a blast to say.

Try it. Yell “RAJI!”

Didn’t that feel good? Next time you are having a few beers with your buddies and something good or funny happens, yell “RAJI!”

Someone on your softball team hits a homerun? “RAJI!”

Playings cards and win a hand? “RAJI!”

Bring an attractive, young co-ed home and….well you get the point.

-Adam Somers