Budda Baker moving back to free safety for Cardinals

[BullheadCardFan]

Budda Baker moving back to free safety for Cardinals

After a season of playing cornerback under former head coach Steve Wilks, Budda Baker is expected to move back to free safety this season for the Arizona Cardinals.

According to Kyle Odegard of the team’s website, Baker is anticipating returning to the role he’s most familiar in the back-end of the defense.

“I’m very excited about (that), because that’s my position,” Baker said.

Baker played free safety at the University of Washington where he became a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Baker played at free safety as a rookie for Arizona where Tyrann Mathieu would move into the slot coverage role Baker would eventually take over last season. With Mathieu leaving for Houston, Baker was asked to play cornerback instead.

With Arizona adding Tramaine Brock in free agency, the Cardinals appear to have options at cornerback moving forward that allows Baker to move back to his traditional spot.

 

[Veer]

Good for Budda.

Mathieu had one remarkable season covering the slot. After Mathieu got injured and wasn't able to return to his playmaking ways for us, which lead to him ultimately being cut, Budda was basically "forced" into the full time slot role. Budda is a playmaking instinctive roaming safety. While he held his own in the slot, covering slot receivers doesn't play to his strengths. Another example of drafting a really good defender, in Budda's case even trading up high in the 2nd round, and then don't use him to the best of his ability. See Buc and Reddick as well.

However, what worries me is Tramaine Brock. He has been a huge coverage liability for years. Given the prominent role of slot receivers in the passing game, I hope we find another solution in the draft or at least someone else to step up. We could use Alford in the slot, I think he has done it before. But then again, we need someone outside to step up. I just can't stomach Brock on the field covering for us.

 

[Ohcrap75]

I would love to add a player like Darnell Savage to play the slot. We would have some dudes flying around back there!! Plus he could fill in for either BB or DJ if they were to miss some time.

 

[blindseyed]

Well that's some encouraging news, more natural for him which will make our secondary better

 

[Kai]

1. Jimmy Moreland (slot corner)
2. Lavert Hill (slot corner
   

 

[Kai]

We would have some dudes flying around back there!!

AZ is the no fly zone

 

[Chopper0080]

So happy to hear this. I love when we play guys in the positions they played in college.

Hopefully this will mean our need for a single high S is filled.

 

[Chopper0080]

Good for Budda.

Mathieu had one remarkable season covering the slot. After Mathieu got injured and wasn't able to return to his playmaking ways for us, which lead to him ultimately being cut, Budda was basically "forced" into the full time slot role. Budda is a playmaking instinctive roaming safety. While he held his own in the slot, covering slot receivers doesn't play to his strengths. Another example of drafting a really good defender, in Budda's case even trading up high in the 2nd round, and then don't use him to the best of his ability. See Buc and Reddick as well.

However, what worries me is Tramaine Brock. He has been a huge coverage liability for years. Given the prominent role of slot receivers in the passing game, I hope we find another solution in the draft or at least someone else to step up. We could use Alford in the slot, I think he has done it before. But then again, we need someone outside to step up. I just can't stomach Brock on the field covering for us.

Don't worry about Brock...Joseph used nickel at one of the lowest rates in the NFL last year. Our use of a 3rd DB will likely be closer to 40% than the 60% it has been.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

Defense could be nasty quick if the Cardinals draft right.