Things You Don’t Hear About Chris Baker
June 8th, 2017
Giant DE/DT Calais Campbell, was a fairy tale free agent for many Bucs fans.
JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters and sports bars from Lakeland to downtown Dunedin are filled with amateur NFL general managers.
In many of those circles, there are big mouths still flummoxed by the Bucs not signing manbeast, 300-pound workhorse DT/DE Calais Campbell in free agency. Campbell, 30, was the great prize of the offseason after nine seasons in Arizona, where he was a Pro Bowler with 56 1/2 sacks, including eight last season.
In March, the Jaguars guaranteed him $30 million as part of a four-year, $60 million deal.
For a lot of Bucs fans, Campbell was the giant fish that got away. Whether Bucs general manager Jason Licht really was interested is up for debate.
So far, Campbell has been impressing everyone in Jacksonville with his drive, effort and leadership. This excellent Jacksonville.com story really lays it out, including Campbell taking running back Leonard Fournette under his wing.
Instead of signing Campbell, the Bucs updgraded their defensive line by signing Chris Baker, the former Redskins defensive tackle. He turns 30 in October and isn’t exactly getting rave reviews in Tampa like Campbell is in Jacksonville.
Baker has appeared less than enthusiastic at times — and that’s when he’s attended voluntary spring practices. In fact, Buccaneers.com just published a new “highlight” video of defensive linemen through OTA practices. Joe has watched the video a few times and does not see Baker anywhere, even in the background.
Sure, it’s early June, and the only thing that counts is Baker being fit and ready to rumble on opening day and through the season.
Strictly because it’s fun and interesting, Joe will be comparing the 2017 seasons of Baker and Campbell.
June 8th, 2017 at 11:36 am
Baker and the rest of the D Line are going to be cooking up a storm for opposing QBs.
June 8th, 2017 at 11:43 am
Joe
Compare last year stats a perhaps you will get the answer!
June 8th, 2017 at 11:49 am
if he produces on Sunday all this chatter is meaningless. the ice cream man does not miss practices but he does not show up big on sundays either. maybe if gmc took a few days off in the offseason he’d would not get so tuckered out when it matters most on Sundays.
June 8th, 2017 at 12:25 pm
Baker is a gamer, he won’t flash in underwear sled pushing, but he’s gonna be big on game day. We basically got Gholston and Baker for what Campbell cost. I’ll take that all day.
June 8th, 2017 at 12:31 pm
“Joe will be comparing the 2017 seasons of Baker and Campbell.”
Baker (29 turning 30 Oct) makes $6M this year and $4.9 the following 2 years with no guarantees after 2017.
Campbell (30 turning 31 Sept) make $16.5 this year and $16.5 next year – all guaranteed and $15M the following 2 years if retained.
So which was the better and more intelligent investment for a 30+ year old DLineman?
Will Joe be factoring in that Campbell’s play should be 250% better than Swaggy’s to account for the pay differential? Of course not – which is why I point this out.
June 8th, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Pickgrin, you just nailed it!!!
June 8th, 2017 at 12:42 pm
Nice number crunching Pickgrin. Well said.
June 8th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
This is concerning to me because Washington players and media were saying that Baker did not like to practice. I want and we need someone who want to be at practice and want to win it all. Campbell has a history of being there and showing up every Sunday. I am afraid that Baker is not the player that we need him to be. I hope I am wrong because we already have a DT in McCoy who need to step to the plate.
June 8th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
The key to the defense improving is Noah Spence and Mikes Smiths ability to put him in a good position to succeed. Spawn should be our version of Von Miller and moved all over the field. That and our receivers need to play up on the line and Jam the receivers to give the pass rush an extra half second to a second to get to the QB. I’ve been waiting for years to see our defense play more aggressive and as long as our DB’s our giving up 10 yards for the receivers to go where they want and playing soft zone coverage good abs will continue to pick them apart.
June 8th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Baker and Djax need to show up when it counts….Jameis needs to get his men in line both offense and defense
June 8th, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Pickgrin, if Campbell helps the Jags to the playoffs — oh wait, I had a brain cramp.
June 8th, 2017 at 1:06 pm
im not too worried especially considering were pretty deep at DT with mccoy, clinton mcdonald, and drafting Stevie T… i dont believe baker will play every snap this year either will see alot of 3-4 fronts with either mccoy, mcdonald, or Stevie T playing nose tackle
June 8th, 2017 at 1:09 pm
im also curious do we still have devonte lambert and siliga seaver on the team? 2 more DT depth pieces if so
June 8th, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Not worried about Baker for the same reason I’m not worried about DJax. They’ll rise to the games, no doubt.
June 8th, 2017 at 1:26 pm
I hardly watch any team expect for bucs damn sure not redskins. Idk who is this Baker guy is or what he is about. So from the outside looking in Baker has the looks of a bust. Imo
June 8th, 2017 at 1:32 pm
In many of those same circles you have people out there who think McCoy should be traded for a 4th round draft pick.
June 8th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
I live in DC and when we signed these two Redskins I hung my head low. Neither of these guys are high effort. Jackson does one thing well (and it’s not catch the ball) and Baker was the best Dlineman on a defense with precisely 0 talent. 0!!!! So what does that mean for Baker? (Hint: it’s less than 1)
June 8th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
I would take Dontari Poe over both of them.
June 8th, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Simply put, the Bucs did not see Campbell as being worth the difference in salary. They had already blown their wad on the DeSean Jackson signing. Also, Baker is a little more stout, lower center of gravity. They wanted to strengthen the run defense. So, if Baker shows up on gameday despite his aversion to practice, then they got a bargain. It would be better if he were a leader and a good practice guy, but let’s be honest – he’s a contractor, a hired gun. He’s here until they can draft a player to replace him for cheaper. Tu’ikolovatu might be his eventual replacement.
June 8th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
Light is about value. Signing a 30+ year old DT for $16 plus mill a year is not value… $6 million for a guy outplaying a lot of similar $8-10 mill players is value.
June 8th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
“LakeLandBuc Says:
June 8th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
I would take Dontari Poe over both of them”
Poe’s numbers suck compared to Baker’s the last 2 season despite playing with way more talent. Poe is a bigger name at this point that is all
June 8th, 2017 at 2:36 pm
Cambell is coming off a knee injury and wanted way too much money. He played on a good defense as it was and perhaps put up those stats as a result; plus the AZ offense giving his side the lead late in games. It will be interesting to see what his impact is in Jville.
Baker was very much a value play and highly productive when he played. I think his production should maintain at a high level given that hell be playing with McCoy taking on doubles and even triple teams at times…
June 8th, 2017 at 2:54 pm
Chris Baker seven seasons in the NFL, Zero Pro Bowls. That’s not saying much for him.
June 8th, 2017 at 3:04 pm
Dontari Poe is only 26 with 2 Pro Bowl appearances, and he was a 3-4 DT in KC. Campbell and Baker played a lot of DE in 3-4 defenses, that’s why their numbers were better. In Atlanta 4-3 defense, Dontari Poe will shine. Dontari Poe ate up a lot of blockers in KC, that’s why KC linebackers were able to play loose. Give me a big body DT, who can disrupt the line. The numbers don’t show everything.
June 8th, 2017 at 4:21 pm
The FA that will haunt us is AP. It’s beyond me how you let the guy go to a division rival for what amounts to peanuts. If he keeps us out the PO im gonna lose it.
But, on a positive, I’m truly excited about GMC lining up outside on the edge. Good luck blocking him with a RT. Wish he would have been more flexible earlier in his career but divas will be divas.
June 8th, 2017 at 7:47 pm
Yes I will be comparing Tyrod Taylor and Tom Brady also ! SMH