2009 Player Grades: Defense

Jan 17, 2010 ~ By Bob McGinn, Journal-Sentinel

~Bob McGinn offers his team and individual grades in our 2009 Packers report card available in Sunday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Insider subscribers can chat with McGinn about the 2009 season and beyond at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

B.J. Raji: Played 385 snaps (36.4%), had 37 tackles (five for loss) and just three pressures. Played four positions: LE, NT and RE in base, DT in nickel. Erratic at the point. Flashed big-play explosion but was much more easily displaced by double-teams than Pickett or Jolly. His pass rush was disappointing. Wasn’t able to string moves together, and neither his bull rush nor his edge quickness was good enough to many win one-on-ones. High-ankle sprain slowed him until midseason. Staff will demand major improvement in his second season. Grade: D-plus  Full story here

Rookie BJ Raji made a few great plays in 2009, but he'll be expected to do that a lot more in 2010, and will be expected to get some push towards opposing QB's finally.