I think we are going to see a resurgence of Raji this year. He was dominant in the 2010 season and instrumental in our Superbowl run. That alone makes him a success. After that we had so many line issues that he was playing almost every snap. Hard to do when your a two gapper. After that they moved him out of Nose Guard. Didn't do well. Now he's back in his natural position.
Sounds like a short memory
While I generally agree with your statement, I'm also 95% confident that no other NT would have had enough athletic ability to drop into coverage as Raji did, pick off the pass, and run it in for the win against the Bears. We wouldn't have even made the Super Bowl without that one play. His performance in general was pretty good, and like everybody else on the team, contributed in a positive way towards that trophy.
That play simply sealed the deal. We still would have won without it.
Nose tackles in a 3 4 defense aren't pass rushers, they are two gappers, they take on multiple blocks to make space for the linebackers. The mere fact that he was such a great pass rusher is the best indicator of how dominant he was that year, he wasn't as good on the run. I personally feel he was run into the ground in 2010 and 2011, he played 85% of the snaps in 10 and almost 80 in 11. That's a tough thing to do. Then he was moved out of his natural position and struggled. He dropped into space and made a game changing interception in the NFC Championship game. A big boy like that dropping into space, that is athleticism, granted he was one step away from blowing with that showboating. I expect great things from Raji this year, well know if I'm right by next Feb. One disclaimer, look at the number under the ponco in my photo.
