Railbird Central Podcast: A Step Back in Time

Jeff Ash of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reacts to the Randall Cobb injury and tells us about the "Packers Dynasty" history project.

Episode 569

We welcome onto the show Jeff Ash of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, who helps us react not only to news of the injury to wide receiver Randall Cobb but also to discuss his "Packers Dynasty" project live tweeting the three-peat of world championships the Packers won in 1965, 1966 and 1967 some 50 years after they happened for a trip down Memory Lane. Give this unique and historical Twitter account a follow at @Packers656667. After the interview, there's also discussion on the Packers third preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles and where the Packers go from here.

Enjoy...

Listen in...

Streaming audio - Press play

Download Versions: Download Audio Podcast

Free Subscription Option

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (6)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Clay's picture

August 31, 2015 at 03:55 pm

Greetings Pack fans...just using this spot to start a small conversation or ask your responses. Sorry for the Debbie Downer point but here goes...much has been made of Raji returning to his "natural" position at nose tackle, where for one year he played well. From everything I have ever read, nose tackle is NOT his natural position. One source would be a book entitled, "Take Your Eye Off The Ball", I believe by Tim Kirwan. He shows Raji as a case study of a guy who was drafted out of position.

My point is, year after year we create reasons to expect good things from Raji. When he was moved to end he was suddenly going to rack up sacks as well as run stops.

With small exception, he has never lived up to any of the expectations that have been placed on him especially considering how high he was drafted.

I am reading how he got "pushed around one on one" Saturday night. He has been a staple of record setting BAD packer defenses.

In the off season the Redskins picked up Terrance Knighton, who was regarded as the best run stopper in free agency, for basically the same price the Pack signed Raji for.

Please help me understand Thompson on this one.

I am tired of hearing how great he is going to be when back at the nose. I think the coaches need to be real about certain players like Raji. At the nose Pennel is better than him right now, and probably Guion too .

Raji will be a nice situational guy or backup, but I am sorry to say in my very humble opinion it is time to let go of ANY expectations of him improving the defense; certainly not in any significant way over last year's.

Thanks for enduring my rant, and GO Pack GO.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

August 31, 2015 at 08:55 pm

Not sure if we have room for "humble opinions" here on our cozy little blog:)

0 points
0
0
Dan Stodola's picture

September 01, 2015 at 12:59 am

In my opinion, Raji should never have been moved from NT. It was a disservice to him forcing him to play out of position and he deserves some credit for not complaining publicly about it (tho I'm sure he made his preference known privately to the coaches). I hope back at NT he will play back to something close to the '10 version of himself. I'm happy to see the Packers coaches apparently don't agree w/ the assessments Kirwan and many commenters. I never believed anything about him being better at DE or another position for that matter. I will be very interested to see how he does. Not making any predictions of it, but certainly interested, since I think he can play close to the '10 version that excited Packer fans.

Even if he does, I'm not sure the Packers would sign him to another contract (I go back on forth on this). His age and the fact they've invested 2 years and resources into developing Pennel might mean that he is allowed to hit FA (and gain the Packers a comp pick).

Sometimes the grass (in this case Knighton and Pennel) looks greener than it really is. If you trust the Packers personnel and coaches at least.

0 points
0
0
Clay's picture

September 01, 2015 at 11:33 pm

Here is hoping you are right Dan...that is why I always couch my opinions as "humble"...I did look back on draft scouting reports, and you are right he was mainly characterized as a run stuffer. It's just amazing how Kirwan uses him as a case study in drafting out of position. He had him as best suited to tackle in a 4-3, and that is what I seem to remember hearing when he was drafted.

I will be the happiest fan to be shown wrong about BJ. I think it is fair to say the Pack could seriously use something nearing a dominant nose tackle.

0 points
0
0
NewNikeShoes's picture

September 02, 2015 at 12:16 am

Did they ever say why he got moved to DT? Its kinda stupid if you take a Pro-Bowl caliber player from his best position to one he's unfamiliar with, unless the need arises ala CM3

0 points
0
0
Clay's picture

September 02, 2015 at 10:57 am

Technically he was moved to DE, because it would allow him to attack the QB more because of his pass rushing skills.

It may have been right after Cullen Jenkins left.

0 points
0
0