- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 16,682
- Reaction score
- 3,686
We need to consider everyone as we con't know where we'll be picking. One intriguing thing about Raji is we have a legit 4-3 MLB now. I don't think we would switch to a 4-3 but as oppsed to last offseason playing more is an option as we have Mayo who can run. Raji would give us depth behind Wilfork, a replacement option if it comes to that but also would give us the choice to play a line of Warren-Raji-Wilfork-Seymour (wow) with Vrabel-Mayo-Thomas behind them when the matchup dictates.
BB likes us to use multiple fronts, and already mixes 3-4 and 4-4 sets. I could see us keeping 3-4 as a base but throwing in a lot of 4-3, as well as other sets. Thomas and Mayo have the versatility to adapt to different sets. Guyton's speed could also be used to advantage. In my "wet dream" scenario, Dansby could also be used quite flexibly.
I would see Raji providing the following benefits:
- Allowing us to play a "big" 4-3 with Seymor-Raji-Wilfork-Warren, or even with moving AD up to DE for some sets.
- Providing injury insurance at DE if Seymour or Warren get hurt. We could use him at DE similar to how Baltimore used Ngata before Kelly Gregg got hurt.
- Providing injury insurance at DT if Wilfork gets hurt, plus just spelling Wilfork to keep us fresh at DT.
- Providing insurance if Seymour or Wilfork can't be resigned within our salary structure. Particularly with the number of teams going 3-4, I could see someone with a lot of cap room deciding to throw a bunch of $$ at them after 2009.
I just think BB could get very creative. Ngata is so athletic that Baltimore has used him as a 345# LB at times. It remains to be seen if Raji is that athletic, but he has shown tremendous burst and quickness for a 334# big man so far. He seems to be intelligent and to have a pretty high motor. I could just see us doing more with him than almost anyone else.
Compare the following scenarios that have been tossed around on this board:
1. Pats franchise Cassel and trade him straight up to Carolina for Julius Peppers, who converts to 3-4 OLB. Peppers somehow agrees to take on a long term contract which isn't totally exorbitant because he wants to "become the best that he can be" in the 3-4 with BB. Pepper's contract precludes signing any major FAs, and takes money away from resigning Seymour/Wilfork/Mankins after 2009.
2. Pats franchise Cassel and trade him to SF for #10 (roughly equivalent value to trading him to Tampa Bay/Detroit/Minnesota for #19-22 + a conditional 2010 pick; if necessary, possibly adjust the trade a bit to make it work). Jax and GB pass on Raji and we take him #10 and sign him to a contract somewhat similar to what Mayo got in 2008. We sign Dansby in FA and move him to SILB. We pass on a potentially dominant 3-4 OLB at #10 (Orapko, Brown) in favor of Raji.
3. Pats franchise Cassel and trade him to Tampa Bay/Detroit/Minnesota for #19-22 + a 2010 conditional pick. We take BVA at #19-22 (OL, DE/OLB, DB or possibly someone like Percy Harvin). We make the same offseason moves as in scenario #2.
4. Same scenario as #3 but instead of signing Dansby in FA we somehow manage to sign Suggs. Same salary cap considerations as with scenario #1 with Peppers. No other major FAs signed. Maualuga falls to #19-22 and we pair him at SILB with Mayo.
All 4 scenarios seem roughly equally likely (or unlikely) to me, but all have been tossed around on this board.
Which scenario do you think offers the greatest upside to the Pats? I'd personally vote for either #2 or #4, but #4 seems to me if anything more unlikely (geting Suggs) and more disruptive to our salary structure, and I think the Raji scenario gives us more flexibility and creativity on D.