Truth B Told (TRU) Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 (edited) Schraeder vs Polumbus vs Baker vs Holmes. Early favorite maybe Schraeder, but if Baker is healthy he could push for the starting role. Former Falcon, Todd Weiner, who had the same build as Sam Baker was signed back in the day to play RT and block Michael Vick blind side. He actually did well. I wouldn't see why Baker couldn't do the same thing, especially considering he would be doing it in a ZBS and he wouldn't be blocking Ryan blind side. Baker is the best pass protector out of the four. When you factor in the fact he would be getting assistance from a pulling center or guard in the run game it makes even more sense. Edited May 25, 2015 by Truth B Told (TRU) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Doktor Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I don't see Baker at right tackle. Hes a left tackle. My guess is Schraeder and Polumbus. Baker is our backup left tackle. Holmes may end up being our swing tackle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truth B Told (TRU) Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 I don't see Baker at right tackle. Hes a left tackle. My guess is Schraeder and Polumbus. Baker is our backup left tackle. Holmes may end up being our swing tackle.Baker is head and shoulders better than Polumbus. Polumbus has already shown that he isn't that great in the ZBS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Doktor Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Baker is head and shoulders better than Polumbus. Polumbus has already shown that he isn't that great in the ZBS.And that may be true. I just don't see Baker staying healthy enough to really make a difference either way. He is "Just in Case". I guess I am more jaded than you on Baker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlfanstckndenver Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 IF Baker could stay healthy I'd have no problem letting him earn his money. Either way I'm done with him after this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gHost83 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 (edited) Baker is head and shoulders better than Polumbus. Polumbus has already shown that he isn't that great in the ZBS.Huh? I think you have it backwards. Polumbus graded well in a ZBS, he started to suck when Washington went back to a power scheme under Gruden.Baker isn't head and shoulders better than anyone. Edited May 25, 2015 by gHost83 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Some group (PPF?) graded Schraeder as the 3rd best pass blocking RT in the entire league(2014) if true why move him--teach him the new scheme in camp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaptain Krazy Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I wouldn't be upset if Baker was the starting LT, with Holmes his backup; Matthews starting RT, with Schraeder his backup. The Falcons could have legit depth, of course assuming everyone's healthy. Jake's future is at LT, but he only way to get value out of Baker's last year is to play him at his natural position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFanatic Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 If Polumbus wasn't any good in the ZBS scheme why would we have signed him?Honestly the O-line is the position I know the least about in football. I'm taking everyone's word for it that Baker is ONLY a LT even though I don't know why that is. I agree Shraeder played really well last year and should be the favorite for that job although Polumbus didn't always suck and if he IS a good fit for the ZBS, than the camp competition could be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_Lo_Touchdowns Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Baker can't play RT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndySG Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Schraeder deserves the chance. He played well last year (apart from the Carolina game). Competition is the right way to go, but he should be penciled in as the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heavy Hitter Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I have to agree slightly with the OP in that Polumbus sucks. Being that my wife is from Maryland and all her family are die hard Redskins fans I seen him play plenty. Schraeder only challenge for the starting RT position would be a healthy Baker, but that competition won't last long.I'm no fan of Holmes either. Any time you have to split carry with another player (Carimi) during a game you don't deserve to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I wouldn't be upset if Baker was the starting LT, with Holmes his backup; Matthews starting RT, with Schraeder his backup. The Falcons could have legit depth, of course assuming everyone's healthy. Jake's future is at LT, but he only way to get value out of Baker's last year is to play him at his natural position.They already said that Matthews is the LT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Baker is head and shoulders better than Polumbus. Polumbus has already shown that he isn't that great in the ZBS.You're wrong. It's the opposite. He showed that he was fine in a ZBS, but not in a power scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karst41 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Our O Line? Battle for Position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaptain Krazy Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 They already said that Matthews is the LT.I wasn't making a prediction. I'm not th3 whiny kind of fan that thinks they know best. But I do think the best way to maximize whatever Baker had left in his tank is to play him at his natural position. Whomever the coaches think the best 5 are, I'll root for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayOzOne Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm curious as to why Baker was ruled out at LT. Unless he's a horrible tackle fit in ZBS, I'd prefer him at LT and Jake at RT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gHost83 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I'm curious as to why Baker was ruled out at LT. Unless he's a horrible tackle fit in ZBS, I'd prefer him at LT and Jake at RT.A healthy Matthews is much better than a healthy Baker. And Baker is never healthy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 I wasn't making a prediction. I'm not th3 whiny kind of fan that thinks they know best. But I do think the best way to maximize whatever Baker had left in his tank is to play him at his natural position.Whomever the coaches think the best 5 are, I'll root for.Yeah, I wasn't trying to attack you, if it came out that way. I said it more of a statement of fact than anything. I also find it a bit surprising that they just declared Matthews the LT, without competition. I guess that they're waiting to see if he can be a backup or if he can play OG, since I really can't see him at RT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskooler Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 A healthy Matthews is much better than a healthy Baker. And Baker is never healthy...Not true. In a contract year, playing for a paycheck, he was fit as a fiddle. I think carrying such big checks to the bank is what hurt his back. Or he threw it out when laughing at TD for actually paying him huge money for tiny production outside of that one year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Not true. In a contract year, playing for a paycheck, he was fit as a fiddle.I think carrying such big checks to the bank is what hurt his back.Or he threw it out when laughing at TD for actually paying him huge money for tiny production outside of that one year.To be fair, he hasn't had any back issues since the 2011 season. It's been knee injuries keeping him off the field the last two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geaux_Falcons Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Schraeders job to lose. Polumbus is the backup. Baker will probably be exclusively the backup LT if he doesn't get involved with the LG battle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-train Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Not true. In a contract year, playing for a paycheck, he was fit as a fiddle.I think carrying such big checks to the bank is what hurt his back.Or he threw it out when laughing at TD for actually paying him huge money for tiny production outside of that one year.Re-signing Baker to that kind of deal is one of the few things I really take issue with TD over, but if you look at the scenario objectively, it's almost understandable.Grimes played a key role & got hurt, then franchised & hurt again, so rather than paying big for what seemed like a huge risk, TD opted to let Grimes walk. We all know Grimes ended up bouncing back & having some productive football left in him after the injuries.TD had to have approached the Baker situation thinking he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Of course he would be fully aware of the injury concerns with Baker, but he also couldn't risk letting another key player walk just to end up staying healthy & playing well for another team.He played it safe with Grimes & it backfired.He took a chance on Baker & it backfired.D@mned if he does, d@mned if he don't kind of deal really.To his credit though, he seems to have done a solid job of filling those two key positions with promising young players in Tru & Matthews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truth B Told (TRU) Posted May 25, 2015 Author Share Posted May 25, 2015 Baker can't play RTYeah in a man blocking scheme or power blocking scheme, but in a ZBS he can. They said the same thing about NY Giants RT, Justin Pugh and he had no problem playing there.Justin Pugh Strengths Very good range and mobility. Good feet. Will sit into his blocks. Experienced player. Plays with body control and balance. Gets to the second level easily. Good pad level. Weaknesses Very short arms. Lacks ideal offensive tackle size. Doesn't possess a lot of core strength, can be bull rushed back. Not a quick twitch athlete, doesn't respond well to sudden moves. Hand usage is inconsistent. NFL Comparison Sam Baker Bottom Line Pugh is a seasoned starter at offensive tackle with very good movement skills. However, he lacks adequate arm length and size to stick at offensive tackle going forward. His best fit will likely be as an offensive guard in a zone-blocking scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybird56 Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 Re-signing Baker to that kind of deal is one of the few things I really take issue with TD over, but if you look at the scenario objectively, it's almost understandable.Grimes played a key role & got hurt, then franchised & hurt again, so rather than paying big for what seemed like a huge risk, TD opted to let Grimes walk. We all know Grimes ended up bouncing back & having some productive football left in him after the injuries.TD had to have approached the Baker situation thinking he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Of course he would be fully aware of the injury concerns with Baker, but he also couldn't risk letting another key player walk just to end up staying healthy & playing well for another team.He played it safe with Grimes & it backfired.He took a chance on Baker & it backfired.D@mned if he does, d@mned if he don't kind of deal really.To his credit though, he seems to have done a solid job of filling those two key positions with promising young players in Tru & Matthews.Grimes hadn't played a game with MIA when TD signed Baker to the extension. Grimes was injured first game in 2012 and at the end of the season he walked and we signed Baker. But yeah, TD was stuck in a difficult place as there weren't really any other options in FA beside Jake Long who had injury problems of his own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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