Matty's Big Board Prospect Countdown: 7!

Hey folks, the Super Bowl is behind us and it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty draft, which has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). What I plan on doing is twice a week until draft weekend, I'll be counting down my top 25 prospects, discuss their strengths, weaknesses, overall impact in the NFL and potential landing spot. So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 7... that's right baby, we've cracked into the top 10!

7. B.J. Raji, DT Boston College Eagles

2008 Season Stats:
42 tackles, 16 for a loss, 8 sacks

Career Stats:
104 tackles, 32.5 for a loss, 12.5 sacks

Personal Stats:
6'1" 337 lbs. SR

Strengths:

Outstanding mass, bulk, size and strength. Is about as strong against the run, and specifically the point of attack as any defender in this draft. When ready to go he anchors well, gets leverage, stands up blockers, sheds them and makes plays. He is a two gap tackle who will occupy multiple blockers and keep his linebackers free but will still generate a push. He gets good penetration to collapse the pocket and considering his size and speed he can track and bring down the QB. Surprising athleticism for a guy his size and moves very well in short spaces, has a surprising amount of pass rush variety and won't just use a bull rush. Very aware of where he is on the field and will naturally drift into passing lanes and get his hands up to knock passes down, also offers some scheme versatility depending on the defensive front.

Weaknesses:

Has conditioning and stamina problems, when he gets tired he gets up really high and doesn't wrap up or tackle well. His intelligence and maturity will come into question has he has had off the field problems and classroom problems. Despite stats, will not be an elite pass rushing DT.

Overall:

Raji is an elite tackle and would be a solid fit as a NT in a 4-3 or a NT in a 3-4. He has all the strength and ability to be a disruptive force for years to come, he is the only player of his kind in this draft and once he is gone there isn't anyone like him who can do what he does. He'll likely be drafted by a team to play NT in a 3-4 but there some schemes that will use him as a UT or NT in a 3-4, similar to how Minnesota uses Pat and Kevin Williams. I think he will be an elite and pro bowl talent if he can focus and kick his off the field issues.



Projected NFL Destination:

With the 7th selection in the NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...










There you have it folks, be sure to tune in later for Prospect #6!

BREAKING NEWS: B.J. Raji Fails Drug Test

Sports Illustrated.com has reported officially that Boston College Defensive Tackle has failed a drug test.

The article was quoted as saying "Defensive tackle B.J. Raji, whose draft stock has soared over the past six months, had a positive drug test at February's combine, NFL team sources have told SI.com. It's unknown to SI.com which drug triggered the positive result, but NFL scouts were made aware before the 2008 season that Raji had tested positive for marijuana during his time at Boston College."

This doesn't look good for Raji who was likely to be anywhere from a top 5 to top 10 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft this April. Raji has always had some question marks about his off the field character, he had serious academic issues at Boston College, it is now been brought up that he tested positive for marijuana at B.C. and now he has tested positive for a banned substance at the Combine.

I think this will hurt his chances of being a top 10 selection but I can't imagine him falling out of the top 20 considering his ability and the need some teams have for a big, space eating tackle who can also rush the passer and collapse the pocket. I don't see him getting past Denver at 12, San Diego at 16, Denver at 18 again and for damn sure won't get by Tampa Bay or Detroit at 19 and 20.

Hopefully he can explain himself and move on from here, way to Raji. Smooth move man, hope that purple haze was worth it.

-Matty

B.J. Raji In Lion's Den

Seems as though the Lions are bringing in another highly touted prospect to check out their facilities and put the immense fear of doubt that they aren't ultimately drafted by the Lions so they don't have to live in Detroit. This weeks victi... I mean visitor, yeah, that's it... it is none other then the behemoth defensive tackle from Boston College B.J. Raji.

Raji has come on like gangbusters since he dominated the Senior Bowl and has turned what was once a weak defensive tackle class into a pretty solid one along side fellow teammate Ron Brace, Missouri's Ziggy Hood, Auburn's Sen'Derrick Marks, Ole Miss' Peria Jerry and San Jose State's Jarron Gilbert.

Either way, with the recent trade of Julian Peterson for Corey Redding it seems a lot more likely that the Lions could indeed draft B.J. Raji, Schwartz who worked in Tennessee had the pleasure (or displeasure) of working with $100 million Albert Haynesworth and he was a disruptive force who could stuff the run and rush the passer and I think Raji is the only defensive tackle who can do both of those things for a team.

Though the likelihood is that the Lions draft an offensive tackle with their first selection overall, don't be surprised if they turn to Raji if they can't get the dollars and cents right with Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith.

-Matty

Prospect Update: Boston College DTs

Per the AssociatedPress.com:

"B.J. Raji and Ron Brace gave three NFL talent evaluators a close look at what Boston College opponents had to handle: two of the best defensive tackles in college football.

In the bubble that covers the school's football field during the winter, they were the top players among about 40 from New England schools working out for scouts and assistant coaches for pro teams on Thursday.

"It's going to be great on April 25 to see both of us go" early in the draft, Raji said.

He is considered the top defensive tackle in the draft and could go as high as No. 4 to Seattle, which had the third-worst defense in the NFL last season. He almost certainly will be taken in the top half of the first round.

Brace figures to be chosen in the second round, giving a school known for turning out offensive linemen another strong position in the draft.

"That shows the prestige of our school, our linemen," Brace said.

Both attended the NFL combine in Indianapolis last month. Their workout Thursday was just a small part of their evaluations and lasted about 25 minutes, with the players running, displaying their footwork and rushing at a tackling pad held by Cleveland Browns defensive line coach Bryan Cox, a former NFL linebacker."

Boston College Pro Day

Per NFL Prospect analyst Gil Brandt:

One of the most interesting prospects at Boston College’s pro day was LB Brian Toal. At 6-0 1/4, 228 pounds, he probably doesn’t have the size to play linebacker at the pro level, but he is a good athlete. He worked out at both safety and fullback and is the kind of player who belongs on the field, he just has to find the right position. He ran a 4.65 and 4.67 in the 40, had a 37 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot broad jump, a 4.45 short shuttle, a 7.03 three-cone drill and 15 bench press reps.

He and the rest of the prospects ran on the game field under a bubble. Twenty teams were there, including three defensive Line coaches and also Jets assistant GM Scott Cohen. Ten players worked out from B.C. and 25 players worked out from Boston-area schools.

Here are the notable prospects:

DT B.J. Raji (6-1 1/4, 330 pounds) kept everything from combine, did positional drills.

DT Ron Brace (6-2 3/4, 331 pounds) ran 5.55 and 5.51 in the 40, kept everything else from the combine and did position workouts.

LB Kevin Atkins (6-2, 219 pounds) ran 4.76 and 4.73 in the 40 and kept everything else from the combine. He was worked out as a safety.

TE Ryan Purvis (6-3 3/4, 254 pounds) ran 4.95 twice in the 40, had a 4.61 short shuttle, a 7.25 three-cone drill, a 29-inch vertical, an 8-foot, 7-inch broad jump and put up 19 lifts.

Robert Fancios (6-2 1/4, 244 pounds) ran 4.61 and 4.59 in the 40, had a 35 1/2-inch vertical, a 9-foot, 10-inch broad jump, a 4.34 in the short shuttle, a 7.11 three-cone drill and kept bench press from combine.

Brian Toal — Real interesting guy. LB, 6-0 1/4, 228. 4.65 and 4.67 in the 40. 37.5-inch vertical, 10-0 broad, 4.45 short, 7.03 cone and 15 bench presses. They worked this guy out as a fullback, safety. He’s a good player that you have to find a position for.

Prospect Update: B.J. Raji

Per NFL.com:

Former Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji was the latest NFL Draft prospect to visit the studios at NFL Network on Wednesday.

Raji chatted it up with NFL.com readers from the infamous Green Room, and he looks the part of a prospect who is right in the middle of the rigorous and non-stop stretch between the end of his college season and April’s draft. It’s a marathon, and the aspect of keeping in shape for the Combine and Pro Day workouts while traveling extensively is difficult. Raji has been preparing for the Scouting Combine and his Pro Day workout with other NFL hopefuls at Velocity Sports Performance in Southern California since early January. He’s wrapping up his training this week — his Pro Day is March 12.

Raji said he has no preference of whether he plays tackle in a 3-4 defense or end in a 4-3 scheme; he played several positions at BC and feels he can do either. Trying to pry out of him several times what team he really wants to play for, he said he just wants to be picked as high as possible. Understandable. Raji did echo the sentiments of many other prospects about the interview process at the Combine — it’s tremendously difficult to get a true indication of which teams are really interested in you.

Here’s the way Raji breaks down among some of our NFL experts: He’s the top-rated defensive tackle and No. 11 overall prospect on Mike Mayock’s top-20 list; NFL Network analyst Charles Davis has him going to Denver at No. 12; NFL senior writer Steve Wyche pegs him at No. 4 overall to the Seahawks; Pat Kirwan also has him slated at No. 12 overall to the Broncos.