Pat Yaz comments on Sam Baker (rising/falling) - guess which one

[g-dawg]

Link to my messageboard topic: E-mailed Pat Yaz on Sam Baker

looks like Pat Yasinskas/ESPN thought enough of my e-mail to co-op the obvious which is Sam Baker is "not gettin' it done" and mentioned in his "rising/falling" blog w/ Sam Baker obviously "falling":

NFC South Blog - ESPN/Pat Yaskinsas

FALLING:

SAM BAKER-left tackle, Falcons. He’s supposed to be the franchise left tackle and that means he’s supposed to protect the blind side of franchise quarterback Matt Ryan. Well, it’s not working quite like it was planned. Ryan got sacked three times against Philadelphia and the number would have been a lot higher if he didn’t do such a good job of throwing the ball away when he sensed pressure. It seemed like Ryan ended up on the ground just about every time he dropped back to pass. It’s hard to change left tackles midseason and the Falcons don’t have any real options. But it’s starting to look like left tackle is going to be high on their list of needs for the 2011 draft.

[slick0ne]

Well...He has been playing like CRAPOLA this year. I wouldn't mind drafting a LT high in the draft.

[Nono]

Well...He has been playing like CRAPOLA this year. I wouldn't mind drafting a LT high in the draft.

Lets play Will Svitek---maybe beard chin will get the message

[=abrahamburger=]

g-dawg, that's really cool that you wrote Pat Y, he responded, then posted an article on the subject.

Since you have a good rapport with the talking heads now, can you write Jamie Dukes and tell him to STFU?

Thanks.

[g-dawg]

g-dawg, that's really cool that you wrote Pat Y, he responded, then posted an article on the subject.

Since you have a good rapport with the talking heads now, can you write Jamie Dukes and tell him to STFU?

Thanks.

thanks abrahamburger......

unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to shutup Mr. Dukie......

[rugger8]

I'm all for another LT, but they don't grow on trees. We need better, but he's not so bad that anyone else will do. We need to find a better replacement. Where we will be drafting is not the traditional place to find a franchise LT. We'd either need to trade for an established player (nearly impossible for the position), find one in FA (unlikely that a team lets a franchise LT get to FA & talk about a serious bidding war!), trade way up in the draft (which would probably be very rich for our blood), or get lucky with a pick (it's a crap shoot, but maybe our best bet).

[g-dawg]

I'm all for another LT, but they don't grow on trees. We need better, but he's not so bad that anyone else will do. We need to find a better replacement. Where we will be drafting is not the traditional place to find a franchise LT. We'd either need to trade for an established player (nearly impossible for the position), find one in FA (unlikely that a team lets a franchise LT get to FA & talk about a serious bidding war!), trade way up in the draft (which would probably be very rich for our blood), or get lucky with a pick (it's a crap shoot, but maybe our best bet).

I doubt the Saints would have done it but........What exactly did Redskins give the Saints for Jamaal Brown? Probably would have been worth it knowing what we know now about Sam Baker

[Sun Tzu 7]

I doubt the Saints would have done it but........What exactly did Redskins give the Saints for Jamaal Brown? Probably would have been worth it knowing what we know now about Sam Baker

Believe it or not LTs haven't been impossible to get lately.

You mentioned how the Skins traded for one... What about Jason Peters? Didn't the Bills draft him yet he is now on the Eagles roster.

Also since Oher is now playing on the left side what about the guy the Ravens had playing LT last year? I remember reading a few things about him.

I think the coaching staff and front office were thinking that Baker might have developed but after 6 games I think they know he sucks.

'Short Arms' Baker is going to get Ryan killed...

[The Birds are the truth]

Lets play Will Svitek---maybe beard chin will get the message

+1

[The Birds are the truth]

Believe it or not LTs haven't been impossible to get lately.

You mentioned how the Skins traded for one... What about Jason Peters? Didn't the Bills draft him yet he is now on the Eagles roster.

Also since Oher is now playing on the left side what about the guy the Ravens had playing LT last year? I remember reading a few things about him.

I think the coaching staff and front office were thinking that Baker might have developed but after 6 games I think they know he sucks.

'Short Arms' Baker is going to get Ryan killed...

+1 And it doesn't seems like Ryan has much time left.

[madman88]

if i was baker the guy who i would watch tape on to patten my game around would be matt light.... there are VERY simialr, and light just doenst get beat often, and he has very short arms, thats prolly who baker reminded TD of.... thats my only advice i would suggest, besides that, i think if he doesnt show mark improvement by years end, then LT could be a big need, that and LB.....

[g-dawg]

I would love to have Jamaal Brown right now. If Falcons get the chance to grab a franchise Left Tackle in free agency or Draft - they need to do it...those guys don't grow on trees and - other than Quarterback, the left tackle position is the most important position on the team.

[g-dawg]

Well...He has been playing like CRAPOLA this year. I wouldn't mind drafting a LT high in the draft.

something must be done.....just wish we did not have to wait until offseason. Its painful to see how much talent we have but be unable to execute due to lack of blindside protection that is not afforded Matt Ryan by the lackluster play of one Sam Baker.

This is prime example of "Your only as strong as the weakest link in the chain". Well, Sam Baker is our weak link and its poisoning the entire offense.

[Herr Beast]

The poor play of the OLine is the root cause of our predictable and sometimes inapt offense and Sam Baker is the biggest reason why. It is very hard to overcome physical deficits in the NFL and right now DLs are overpowering Sam Baker with both, speed and strength.

Investing more time in Sam Baker might be a bad idea because he just doesn´t have the body to succeed at LT in the NFL. He might start at RT next season because Tyson Clabo will be a unrestricted free agent and Baker is under contract at a reasonable price.

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

something must be done.....just wish we did not have to wait until offseason. Its painful to see how much talent we have but be unable to execute due to lack of blindside protection that is not afforded Matt Ryan by the lackluster play of one Sam Baker.

This is prime example of "Your only as strong as the weakest link in the chain". Well, Sam Baker is our weak link and its poisoning the entire offense.

Question. How was Philly able to hide King Dunlap's blocking woes. Not enough to just point out an individual. I smell bad coaching...all around on offense. Likewise, they started a QB that is a strict pocket passer and were able to over compensate for injuries on the line. Hmmm...coaching. No coach'em up going on in the Falcons organization at the moment.

[MSalmon]

Question. How was Philly able to hide King Dunlap's blocking woes. Not enough to just point out an individual. I smell bad coaching...all around on offense. Likewise, they started a QB that is a strict pocket passer and were able to over compensate for injuries on the line. Hmmm...coaching. No coach'em up going on in the Falcons organization at the moment.

The coaching comes to mind, but also the overall lack of talent. I really get sick of these coaches (like Gibbs and boudreau) that grow so arrogant in their belief in their system, that they believe you can plug anyone into it and they will excel. I think what we are seeing is that we really lack top line talent in pass blocking and the run blocking prowess was overexaggerated due to a weak 08 schedule(we ran well on bad teams). Bottom line, i think Dahl and Clabo are what they are: great depth/backups, servicable starters. And far from elite. Blalock, IMO is a very nice guard and someone to build around. McClure is undersized and just long in the tooth. Baker is a RT at best. Here in lies the problem: we have only drafted mid round to late round guys the last couple of drafts. We have Reynolds--who size wise is a prototypical LT, but a late rounder (for a reason?); Hawley and Johnson (who are both mid-round talents). What's the chance that these guys are an improvement on a line that could potententially require an overhaul of at least 3 players?

If i were GM (maybe this will be bad), i'd focus on grabbing the BPA on offense next year regardless of position. Lets say we get a stud WR or RB with playmaking skills, or even TE with the 1st pick, then i'd go for the best OC or OG available. I don't think that fixes everything, but if we are to able to add a bonified explosive playmaker and a very solid to great OLinemen we'll go a long ways.

[Dominique is Manufique]

g-dawg, that's really cool that you wrote Pat Y, he responded, then posted an article on the subject.

Since you have a good rapport with the talking heads now, can you write Jamie Dukes and tell him to STFU?

Thanks.

ya, do it a la dave chappelle in "black bush": "you know what chyu should do, you should santion me, sanction me with your army...oh wait you don't have an army. i guess that means you should shut the eff up, shut the...eff...up!"

[NoMoreVick]

LT isn't his spot. It's pretty easy to see that now. It won't get better. What we have from Baker now is what we have. If you're than concerned about LT, go draft a sure-fire LT and move Baker to RT. If that doesn't work, then it's time to let him go or plug someone in that can do the job.

[1989Fan]

i dont think at all that Bodreau or TD think that he can just take a turd and doesnt need talent.

the took 4 OLmen in 3 years in the draft, inlcuding a round 1 pick.

Dahl and Clabo were coming of impressive years in 08, so obviously we would not just dump them. everyone on this site thought they were the next great tandem. Not to mention so many forget in 08 this OL set the franchise record for least amount of sacks in a season! So we obviously werent gonna to break that up prematurely w so many other needs.

sure the line isnt great, but we have a first and 2nd round pick starting, a PB caliber center, and used a 3,4,5 picks on interior OL players, which is not slacking, since many OG and OC only go mid rounds.

this team COULD be completely different with JOhnson, Reynolds and Hawley next season, who knows. I have faith that TD wont let it sit and cross his fingers tho.

there is NO logic to think we would not go into this season with Baker. It is only his 3rd year. He had a great rookie season, and was beat up last season. He showed no reason to cut ties with him BEFORE this season.

I still think take him out of space against speed and he will be very good. He is a great OG candidate IMO.

regardless, there will be changes because Dahl, Clabo and Blaylock are all free agents. I hope we keep Blaylock, but the other 2 I would only keep on the cheap.

[BenB321]

g-dawg, that's really cool that you wrote Pat Y, he responded, then posted an article on the subject.

Since you have a good rapport with the talking heads now, can you write Jamie Dukes and tell him to STFU?

Thanks.

To piggy back on this, g-dawg, how about asking Pat Y if he has any feedback about what happened in the playoff game against the Cards. Why did the Cards get a jump on the snap? Did they have a read, were we using the same exact snap count? etc? As far as I know no one in the Falcons organization has ever addressed this egregious screwup and I think the fans deserve an explanation.

[gritzblitz]

Agree that we need to improve at LT, however in somewhat to Baker's defense, we have become so predictable on offense opposing defenses can just tee off on us. This offense has Ryan drop back to the same depth/spot on too many plays. I know Ryan is a pocket passer and I did not like the roll-out but at least move him around in between tackles every once and while; change up the depth of his drop once in a while just so the D-Line doesn't know where he is going to be in the pocket on every pass plays. If we do not do that then we will not be able to find any OT to protect him...