Budda Baker

Redsz

We do this together
Joined
Jan 21, 2004
Posts
4,875
Reaction score
2,395
He has been criticized a lot recently and it was deserved. But he had a good game last night (13 tackles, including 11 solo, three passes defensed and two tackles for loss). What changed?
 

Hoodhero

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 29, 2016
Posts
1,871
Reaction score
3,587
Location
Canada
He has been criticized a lot recently and it was deserved. But he had a good game last night (13 tackles, including 11 solo, three passes defensed and two tackles for loss). What changed?
He must of been immune to the P2 effect
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2002
Posts
13,301
Reaction score
1,175
Location
SE Valley
Actually I believe having Peterson on the field (even though he has played poorly himself) enables Bakers role to be adjusted. Baker now playing a more natural role for him, i.e. - closer to the line of scrimmage, able to be more aggressive, instead of having to worry about deep coverage.

Playing to his strengths!
 

Shane

Comin for you!
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
69,075
Reaction score
39,026
Location
Las Vegas
Actually I believe having Peterson on the field (even though he has played poorly himself) enables Bakers role to be adjusted. Baker now playing a more natural role for him, i.e. - closer to the line of scrimmage, able to be more aggressive, instead of having to worry about deep coverage.

Playing to his strengths!

didn't help much in ny or NO
 

Cardsfaninlouky

ASFN Lifer
Joined
Jan 10, 2019
Posts
4,768
Reaction score
6,782
Location
Louisville
didn't help much in ny or NO
Still can't cover a turd. He did have a nice game against the 49'ers, batted a ball down & was all over the field making tackles. That being said, he got burned several times in coverage, was made to look stupid against Kittles on that 30 yd TD. Still don't trust him in pass coverage.
 

vince56

ASFN Addict
Joined
Sep 15, 2002
Posts
9,081
Reaction score
2,308
Location
Arizona
Not a fan of Budda this year. No INTs, difficulties with both zone and man coverage. I think it's just an off year for him and hope he rebounds, but this play particularly was so bad. Granted, Kittle is very good, but not only did he school Baker at the LOS, he turned him into roadkill en route to a turning point TD:

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2002
Posts
13,301
Reaction score
1,175
Location
SE Valley
didn't help much in ny or NO
From my perspective Baker started showing up more against NO and then even better this week. NYG was Peterson's first game back, so it could be that changes weren't yet implemented. . .

:shrug:
 

dscher

ASFN Icon
Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Posts
13,261
Reaction score
8,313
Location
Mesa, AZ
Still can't cover a turd. He did have a nice game against the 49'ers, batted a ball down & was all over the field making tackles. That being said, he got burned several times in coverage, was made to look stupid against Kittles on that 30 yd TD. Still don't trust him in pass coverage.
Yeah. That. I like his overall intensity and hustle though.
 

Cardiac

ASFN Icon
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Posts
12,062
Reaction score
3,331
As VJ learns what each player can do well and isn't able to do the defense will improve and some players will start making more impactful plays.

I think that's what we are seeing with Baker. Plus players are feeling more comfortable in this defense.
 

Veer

All Star
Joined
Jan 25, 2016
Posts
863
Reaction score
890
Kittle is imo the best all-around TE in the NFL. He is on a level with Kelce and Ertz as a crafty route runner. Might actually be the phyiscally most gifted among them. Once he has you turned, his athleticism/long strides will take over and he is a load to bring down in space. Compared to Kelce and Ertz, Kittle is superior in the run game.

Budda being taken to school a couple times by Kittle is nothing to be ashamed for. I liked Budda's demeanor. If everybody on our D would play like that, we wouldn't even have this discussion.
 

Crimson Warrior

Dangerous Murray Zealot
Joined
Oct 27, 2002
Posts
8,247
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Home of the Thunder
Man he was flying around the field with reckless abandon on Thursday. Loved it.

He has 10 days to prepare for the TB passing attack. It would be great if he could string together about four or five good games in a row.

Did you know he ran a 4.45 at the combine? I wish he would use that excellent speed to fully undercut a route, and get a pick.
 

Chopper0080

2021 - Prove It
Joined
May 15, 2002
Posts
28,342
Reaction score
40,460
Location
Colorado
As VJ learns what each player can do well and isn't able to do the defense will improve and some players will start making more impactful plays.

I think that's what we are seeing with Baker. Plus players are feeling more comfortable in this defense.
I agree with this. I think Vance will work to put Baker in more situations to play close to the LOS which is where he is best.
 

Zeem_Freeze

Hall of Famer
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Posts
1,289
Reaction score
2,128
Location
Arcadia
Fantastic game by Budda. Showed he can be something to build around. Now show them you can do it week to week Budda!
 

Cardsfaninlouky

ASFN Lifer
Joined
Jan 10, 2019
Posts
4,768
Reaction score
6,782
Location
Louisville
Man he was flying around the field with reckless abandon on Thursday. Loved it.

He has 10 days to prepare for the TB passing attack. It would be great if he could string together about four or five good games in a row.

Did you know he ran a 4.45 at the combine? I wish he would use that excellent speed to fully undercut a route, and get a pick.
His hustle I love, he flys around the field & makes tackles & hustle plays. He frustrates me by missing assignments & getting beat in coverage so often. He batted at least one ball down Thursday night, maybe 2? That's a start, hope he continues to improve.
 

Shane

Comin for you!
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
69,075
Reaction score
39,026
Location
Las Vegas

meh... he’s been overhyped around here for awhile and one game where he still got embarrassed doesn’t negate eight bad games… He’s going to have to put together quite a string in order to get out of the doghouse for me.
 

Krangodnzr

Captain of Team Conner
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Posts
36,490
Reaction score
34,466
Location
Charlotte, NC
meh... he’s been overhyped around here for awhile and one game where he still got embarrassed doesn’t negate eight bad games… He’s going to have to put together quite a string in order to get out of the doghouse for me.

Adrian Wilson was an average players for years, until Denny Green arrived.

The Cardinals have done a crappy job of using Baker; he isn't a centerfielder, he isn't a corner. He is a chase down, box safety. That's what he does well. He has struggled in every other role.

Can a defense be good when Baker if your 3rd or 4th best player? Probably not, but this defense can be good if he is the 6th or 7th best player.
 

Shane

Comin for you!
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
69,075
Reaction score
39,026
Location
Las Vegas
Adrian Wilson was an average players for years, until Denny Green arrived.

The Cardinals have done a crappy job of using Baker; he isn't a centerfielder, he isn't a corner. He is a chase down, box safety. That's what he does well. He has struggled in every other role.

Can a defense be good when Baker if your 3rd or 4th best player? Probably not, but this defense can be good if he is the 6th or 7th best player.

Yet Adrian still had 4 Ints in his first 3 seasons being misused compared to Buddha who has none. Adrian is arguably a HOF level player and you could see he was gifted from the start. Budda isn’t gifted like that physically. AW could make up for his mental mistakes at times with his physical ability. Budda can’t. If he puts together a string of games like last week I may start to be swayed. But 8 very average to bad to 1 good showing not so much.
 

Shane

Comin for you!
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
69,075
Reaction score
39,026
Location
Las Vegas
Strengths
Tremendously explosive and passionate in his play. Former high school track sprinter with good play speed. Screams off the edge as a blitzer. Always bouncing on balls of his feet just waiting to race to the action on a dead sprint. Plays with smooth backpedal and diagonal shuffle. Has a shiftiness that allows him to mirror change of direction in space. Plus instincts from any coverage areas. Allows quarterback's eyes and pattern recognition to carry him around the field. Not easily pulled from coverage responsibilities by bait routes around him. Has the click and close ability of a cornerback in coverage. Ball skills are solid. Plays with exceptional aggression. Accelerates through receivers to jar the pass loose. Tackle finisher who races to the throw to end plays at the catch point. Scouts use terms like "winner" and "top notch person" to describe him.


Serious question to all of his supporters say he’s being Misused and only an in the box safety... Based off of his draft bio youd think he could cover And in space to boot which based on this is probably what he was drafted to do?
 

Krangodnzr

Captain of Team Conner
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Posts
36,490
Reaction score
34,466
Location
Charlotte, NC
Strengths
Tremendously explosive and passionate in his play. Former high school track sprinter with good play speed. Screams off the edge as a blitzer. Always bouncing on balls of his feet just waiting to race to the action on a dead sprint. Plays with smooth backpedal and diagonal shuffle. Has a shiftiness that allows him to mirror change of direction in space. Plus instincts from any coverage areas. Allows quarterback's eyes and pattern recognition to carry him around the field. Not easily pulled from coverage responsibilities by bait routes around him. Has the click and close ability of a cornerback in coverage. Ball skills are solid. Plays with exceptional aggression. Accelerates through receivers to jar the pass loose. Tackle finisher who races to the throw to end plays at the catch point. Scouts use terms like "winner" and "top notch person" to describe him.


Serious question to all of his supporters say he’s being Misused and only an in the box safety... Based off of his draft bio youd think he could cover And in space to boot which based on this is probably what he was drafted to do?

He CAN cover. You just can't expect him to completely shutdown guys like Kittle.

I'm not saying that he is even close to the level that Wilson was, but Wilson wasn't good at all his first 3-4 seasons.
 

devilalum

Heavily Redacted
Joined
Jul 30, 2002
Posts
16,776
Reaction score
3,187
He CAN cover. You just can't expect him to completely shutdown guys like Kittle.

I'm not saying that he is even close to the level that Wilson was, but Wilson wasn't good at all his first 3-4 seasons.

Cover? How many freakin times was Kittle WIDE OPEN on drag routes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Crimson Warrior

Dangerous Murray Zealot
Joined
Oct 27, 2002
Posts
8,247
Reaction score
9,485
Location
Home of the Thunder
LOL you're conveniently ignoring the two pbus that Baker had on Kittle.

For just me personally, it was his best game in coverage I've ever seen him play. By a mile. Three passes defensed, tripling his total for the entire year, lol...

And 13 tackles too?

Probably the best game of his career, despite getting stiff armed by kittle.
 

Latest posts

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
553,681
Posts
5,410,695
Members
6,319
Latest member
route66
Top