Packers Keep Building Up Defense, Take DT Raji

The Green Bay Packers filled a critical need on their rebuilding defense in the first round of the NFL draft, taking Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji with the No.

[GBPfan]

This pick seemed a no-brainer. The questions, however, will fly about Mathews. There is no question that Mathews has as a good a pedigree as there is. But he better have a huge immediate impact considering what TT gave to get him. If not, I don't see how TT sticks around beyond this year. The trade for Mathews seems to indicate that TT thinks GB is close right now. It seems like a big gamble. It doesn't seem very Ted-like.

[Proball5]

GBPfan wrote:

This pick seemed a no-brainer. The questions, however, will fly about Mathews. There is no question that Mathews has as a good a pedigree as there is. But he better have a huge immediate impact considering what TT gave to get him. If not, I don't see how TT sticks around beyond this year. The trade for Mathews seems to indicate that TT thinks GB is close right now. It seems like a big gamble. It doesn't seem very Ted-like.

That's OK, you don't seem very Ted-like either.

[GBPfan]

The first 2 picks certainly seem to fill some Packer needs. But based on his past performance, I previously said that TT would be be beating the odds if he found 3 players that would EVER make a significant contribution to the Packers. I also said there was about zero chance of TT picking enough IMMEDIATE impact players to really turn the team around. Considering the number and position of our remaining picks, I feel stronger about my predictions than ever.

Don't misunderstand me. I hope that I end up being wrong. It's just tha TT is making it look like I will be right.

I saw Bill Belichick say that New England kept on trading (including down several times in the first round) to amass as many 2nd and 3rd round picks as possible, because he thought that the 2nd and 3rd rounds is where the real "value" was in this draft. After TT was done yesterday, he had given all the Packer 2nd and 3rd round picks to New England. I suppose Belichick might be wrong and TT right. But any reasonable betting person would put their money on Belichick, not TT. We'll all see which team ends up with the better record this year, won't we?

[wal0645]

Not so fast GBPfan, don't sell TT short on this one. What Belichick did what we typically do and I for one am glad to see TT make the move to bring in quality. Matthews will be a huge addition and think about it; we now possess a very nice combination of LB's with Kampman, Barnett, and Hawk. This could be an exceptional group especially when you add the coaching skills we now have on defense. As for BJ, we have that rock in the middle. Our secondary is already pretty good, so I'm pretty excited about yesterday. The draft is already a success based on the 1st two picks in my opinion.

[GBPfan]

wal0645 wrote:

Not so fast GBPfan, don't sell TT short on this one. What Belichick did what we typically do and I for one am glad to see TT make the move to bring in quality. Matthews will be a huge addition and think about it; we now possess a very nice combination of LB's with Kampman, Barnett, and Hawk. This could be an exceptional group especially when you add the coaching skills we now have on defense. As for BJ, we have that rock in the middle. Our secondary is already pretty good, so I'm pretty excited about yesterday. The draft is already a success based on the 1st two picks in my opinion.

Everyone is optomistic at draft time, me included, but Raji and Mathews are just 2 rookies. They are no more "miracle workers" than TT is. Raji and Mathews won't fill any of the Packers other needs. Nor will they provide much needed depth.

Even with Mathews and Raji, the Packer's success this year depends on many big "ifs." For example, "if the Packers stay healthy" which is one "if" no NFL team can depend on and some NFL teams don't depend on.

Do you think the Patriots depend on staying healthy? Or do they take advantage of bad GMs in the league by working out trades that are used by the Patriots to create depth?

[Brooks]

GBPfan wrote:

<quoted text>
Everyone is optomistic at draft time, me included, but Raji and Mathews are just 2 rookies. They are no more "miracle workers" than TT is. Raji and Mathews won't fill any of the Packers other needs. Nor will they provide much needed depth.
Even with Mathews and Raji, the Packer's success this year depends on many big "ifs." For example, "if the Packers stay healthy" which is one "if" no NFL team can depend on and some NFL teams don't depend on.
Do you think the Patriots depend on staying healthy? Or do they take advantage of bad GMs in the league by working out trades that are used by the Patriots to create depth?

Seems to that you’re going to criticize TT no matter what he does; I do understand why so many people dislike Ted, but I don't think we will be able to do any better that TT for a while. Thank goodness we have Raji!!!!!!

[GBPfan]

Brooks wrote:

<quoted text>
Seems to that you’re going to criticize TT no matter what he does; I do understand why so many people dislike Ted, but I don't think we will be able to do any better that TT for a while. Thank goodness we have Raji!!!!!!

You mean to say there is nobody that can build a winning NFL team? That really is absurd. Where there is a will, there is a way. We just need the will to hire someone capable of finding the way.

[Tom Woodworth]

I've never heard a man that can fart as loud in public as Warren Sapp does.

[GBPfan]

Tom Woodworth wrote:

I've never heard a man that can fart as loud in public as Warren Sapp does.

Doesn't farting in private count for anything?