packers.com
by Mike Spofford on December 21st, 2010
quote:Earlier this season, when nose tackle B.J. Raji was playing an unexpectedly large number of snaps due to injuries along the defensive front, there was some concern he might get worn down late in the season.
But Raji looked no worse for wear in Week 15 against New England last Sunday, putting together perhaps the best performance of his young career, considering his competition across the line.
“They had a good battle,” defensive line coach Mike Trgovac said. “B.J. won his share, and (Mankins) won his. On a couple of those (big plays), he was on the move, so he’s not waiting for where the block goes. When he gets that chance to go, he’s disruptive like that.”
By “on the move,” Trgovac means defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ calls had Raji slanting at the snap to one side or the other into gaps, rather than sitting and anchoring in the middle. Capers will do that with his down linemen to change things up, or as a game-plan decision depending on the opponent’s offensive line scheme, and it can allow Raji to use more of his short-area quickness to get off blocks.
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Raji’s workload continues to be high, but it’s hard to get him off the field. Right before his second sack against the Patriots, Trgovac tried to send Jarius Wynn in to give Raji a breather, but Trgovac said Raji waved him off.
Trgovac has given Raji the latitude to do that if he’s feeling OK. In that instance, the Packers had possessed the ball for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter – the Patriots had returned an interception for a touchdown earlier in the quarter, so their offense hadn’t gotten the ball yet – and it was just the third play of New England’s ensuing series. Including the halftime break, Raji had gotten at least a half-hour rest, so he was fine.
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“Evaluating myself as his position coach, I look at it and say, ‘Where are the opportunities I can take him out of the game?’” Trgovac said. “(Sunday) was one of those games he wasn’t overly tired. Obviously I’d love to have him out there, but I don’t want to wear him down as well. When we get back on Sunday night or Monday morning and I look at the plays he played, I’m always looking for opportunities to give him a rest. But he’s always such a comfort zone for me because he’s playing at such a high level.”
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Whether or not Raji, a first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall) last year, has earned enough respect around the league to pile up Pro Bowl votes is difficult to say. But Trgovac believes it’s only a matter of time.
“B.J. will be there at some point in his career,” Trgovac said. “Sometimes it takes a couple years.
“If B.J. keeps working and doing what he does and has games like that on national TV, he’ll get his due process, because he’s a big physical guy. I think the players when they vote, they know who they have a rough time blocking and who they don’t have a rough time blocking.”continue
