Pretty high expectations. 1) as you said he was a rookie who missed camp and was hurt in the preseason 2) the scheme does not require penetration by the NT on every play 3) he was in a rotation to keep everyone fresh and healthy so his snaps were further limited 4) he split time taking practice reps at end and tackle so less concentration time on either technique.
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Yes he should step up, but in reality he is still going to be splitting reps with Pickett and the ends. Whats the criteria for success for him? Hard to be all pro splitting time.
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on the DL topic, Jolly had his court date moved back past the deadline for tagging rfas.

IMO with the needs of the O-line and the secondary in this up and coming draft, the pass rusher for our front 7 will not be able to be addressed this year. So it will be up to Raji and Jones to step up their games for this defense to take the next step. Pass rush is key, even if we draft a Woodson twin, the lack of a pass rush will bite us in the butt every time. I often wonder if we kept the old defense, drafted well like we did in 2009, got a new coach, if we would be further along going into the 2010 season, as more players fit the old system. Kampman would be playing his natural position with a Mathews type player playing on the other side. The defensive needs would only be in the secondary, as our front 7 would be solid, even Hawk would be in his natural position.

DT's rarely have an impact until year 2, and sometimes even 3. Seddrick Ellis (08), Haloti Ngata (06). You can find only a handful of DT's in undertackle system (4-3) drafted since 2000 that had anything but a rotational impact their 1st year. Raji can/will add a pass rush dimension this year. The 3-4 is all about the linebacker. I expect a marginal impact in 10' according to Raji's 'stat-line', but I expect much better production out of our linebackers as a byproduct of Raji's disruption.

I agree Aaron. Consider this, as well: Hutchinson's play is/has been on the decline and Josh Sitton very well could be the best guard in the NFC North next year. Raji has NO excuse to not dominate the interior within his division. Name even average NFL caliber starting guards/centers in the NFC North? That was a very short exercise, wasn't it?

He should dominate this division for years if he's even half the prospect Packer scouts thought he was.

I think your expectations of him may be a little unrealistic. Like you mentioned he missed camp, and then sprained his ankle in the preseason. He didn't get back to full strength until probably week 9 or 10, and still was good before that.

He was in a rotation spelling guys who were tired. He made a lot of really great plays doing so, but a guy can only do so much when he is only out there half the snaps.

He is too athletic and strong not to have an impact, and seeing him make 4 or 5 tackles in the backfield for losses of 3-4 is something we haven't seen from one our of DTs in a long time.

With a full offseason under his belt, and probably a starting spot at LDE I would guess he will have that impact that many of us are expecting him to have.

If Raji holds up to half the hype this year, we will not, I repeat, will not be burned but those elite QBs. If their pocket is being disrupted by the inside, there's no way the can deliver the ball so peacefully.
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What we really lacked, besides CB help, was disruption of the pocket, moreso than pass rush. If Raji can bring that, along with Jenkins, our D will go to the next level.

jrehor, I doubt the packers will let anyone on the DL walk.

They did so, expecting Harrell to replace Williams, and we got thin at the DL, and lost all D.

TT won't do that again. He won't lose anyone in the front 7, unless he brings in replacemens.