The 10 Most Important Packers of 2014
By Dan Dahlke
Green Bay Packers defensive end B.J. Raji (90). Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
5) B.J. Raji
Raji certainly didn’t play like a top-ten player on the team last season. In fact, he hasn’t played to his potential since Green Bay’s 2010 Super Bowl run.
With Raji moving back to nose tackle there’s some hope the six-year veteran can turn things around this season.
If Raji can get back to dominating the middle of the line of scrimmage like he did when he first came into the league then the Packers defense will have a solid base to build around.
The Packers’ success at stopping the run will begin with Raji. He needs to control the point of attack, get a good push off the line, and free up the linebackers to make plays.
Raji is way too physically gifted to perform like he did last year. Without Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly on the roster, Green Bay is looking to Raji to be their primary big man in the middle of their line.
Let’s hope he can be a stonewall at nose tackle once again.