Budda Baker

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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

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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
 
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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!
 

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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

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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

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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:

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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:
 

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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.
 

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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.
 

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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.
 

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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

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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.
 

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Fantastic game by Budda. Showed he can be something to build around. Now show them you can do it week to week Budda!
 

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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.
 

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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.
 

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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

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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.
 

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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

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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.
 

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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?


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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.
 

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