Peace Out Homie: Sam Baker Done as a Falcon?

by James Rael on Jan 16, 2012 10:17 PM EST

Not a done deal. But the writing is on the wall. In my mind, it couldn't be clearer that he's played his last snap as a Falcon.

First, let me just say that I hold no ill will towards Baker as a person. He's a nice guy, and the injury bug has unfortunately clouded his otherwise solid career as a run blocker. But there are several reasons he won't be back next Fall. And here are the top five:

(5) He's due a substantial raise

He made $1,012,500 this year. He's due $1,951,250 next year. Given his production - or rather the lack thereof - I'm thinking we can find a better use for that $900K.

(4) He couldn't transition to guard

The turnstile that was our LG position this year saw its fair share of Baker. And he couldn't hack it.

(3) Our new OC has a pass-heavy philosophy - and Baker's not the scheme-fit he once was

Koetter is known as a proponent of the vertical attack. The running game will still have its place, but I'd imagine pass protection just became a huge priority.

(2) He can't stay healthy

Injuries ad nauseum. Enough said.

(1) He has abnormally short arms

No words. It's just awkward.

Let's be honest, he's not the first bust to come out of the first round of the NFL draft. Heck, I'm not even sure we can characterize him as a bust. He was 11 picks from being a second rounder and we reached like crazy. Can't blame him for that. Moreover, I'd like to think The Comrade's draft philosophy has paid off. He's allowed to make some mistakes.

Discuss!

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The way Svitek played

I’d say he’s done for sure. We need to go out and get Carl Nicks away from NO filling our weakest spot, RG.

by dirtybirds233 on Jan 16, 2012 10:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions

unrealistic free agency wish list

1. Carl Nicks
2. Mario Williams

Two biggest roster holes filled. Then our draft picks can be focused on best talent instead of most glaring need.

by birdwatch on Jan 16, 2012 10:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Or Mathis.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 16, 2012 11:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That's like

120 mil in contracts, doubt we could/should swing that for 2 players.

by Hutch11 on Jan 16, 2012 11:56 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

please note

I said “unrealistic” wishlist. I know this is 99% sure not to happen…. but! What if it did??

by birdwatch on Jan 17, 2012 12:40 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Didn't notice the unrealistic part

but even if it did, that much cap/money invested in two players is probably a bad idea

by Hutch11 on Jan 17, 2012 1:06 AM EST up reply actions

See ya, good riddance

Nicks or Ben Grubbs please

by Beachy Keen on Jan 16, 2012 10:27 PM EST reply actions

Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na hey hey hey

Goodbye

by pierre02 on Jan 16, 2012 10:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions

hey! I also have 32" arms

But then again, I’m only 6’1.5" and don’t play left tackle in the pros.

by TheAreopagite on Jan 16, 2012 10:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Cut him

And spend the money on a LT via FA and move Tek to RG. If a FA LT is not available, then spend the money on Nicks and draft a LT with our first in 2013.

by Magellan55 on Jan 16, 2012 10:55 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I’ll take door #2

by birdwatch on Jan 16, 2012 11:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Door #2

is a long ass time away. Another season like this one and Matty will turn into David Carr.

Perilously close to a 2007 style depression.

by VaderX5 on Jan 16, 2012 11:28 PM EST up reply actions

The only way I disagree with u is if Carl Nicks is signed. Which is what was behind door #2.

by birdwatch on Jan 16, 2012 11:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, but I don't

think we can wait another 17 games for an LT.

Perilously close to a 2007 style depression.

by VaderX5 on Jan 17, 2012 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

I do

Svitek can get the job done, and an improved interior will improve the whole line.

by Hutch11 on Jan 17, 2012 12:29 AM EST up reply actions

Tek was alright.

He wasn’t great, but if we shore up the other half of the line with Nick’s then we should be able to float more help to the left side as needed. Blalock is, at the very least, serviceable if not solid so long as he isn’t between two inexperienced starters(a la 2011). However, I do admit I like Svitek a thousand times more as a backup as opposed to starter, nor do I think he is more than a stop gap at starter. But, with enough talent around him I believe he wouldn’t be too much of a liability.

Sorry if that ran on, I’m a lil tired at the moment

by birdwatch on Jan 17, 2012 12:37 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Are his arms really that short? I've never noticed

by leonw92 on Jan 16, 2012 11:12 PM EST reply actions

I think 32"

I would bet very very few other o-lineman in the league have arms that short, it really is a disadvantage for the position and should have been a red flag.

by Hutch11 on Jan 16, 2012 11:58 PM EST up reply actions

should have been a red flag.

Oh, it was, that and injuries were the red flags, and the commandant ignored it, moved up and drafted him anyway. He was considered a reach of at least one round. Bit that is how TD rolls.

by Whopper Dawg on Jan 17, 2012 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

Which is ironic

because his reach is the problem.

'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban

by J Tadpole on Jan 17, 2012 6:50 AM EST up reply actions

According to this scouting report, he has long arms

http://fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?Prospect_ID=1221

by leonw92 on Jan 17, 2012 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

Clearly done by a terrible scout

In 2008 only 3 O-linemen had arms shorter than 32", I can’t imagine that has changed much. 32" is short for an O-Line. 34+ is ideal.

by Hutch11 on Jan 17, 2012 1:17 AM EST up reply actions

Clearly done by a terrible scout

Agree. His arm length (shortness) was a clearly identified issue at the time of his draft along with injuries. Remember there were 5 tackles taken before Baker which lead to fears there would be none left by the time we picked in the second, hence the move up and stretch for Baker in spite of his shortcomings. Also, Baker had the TD intangibles that are so prized, good guy, good work ethic, etc. Note also there was one tackle selected after Baker, Duane Brown to the Texans 5 picks later (he still starts at LT for the Texans by the way), but after that no tackle was taken until the 3rd round, so there was some credence to the fear of getting shutout for a “top notch” tackle. It just looks like TD picked the wrong guy.

by Whopper Dawg on Jan 17, 2012 6:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

see, now THAT'S a fair criticism of Dimitroff... and I agree

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 17, 2012 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Short arms aren't a red flag necessarily

Matt Light has 32" arms, and you’ve probably seen how well the Patriots line pass blocks. If you’re technically sound, short arms aren’t going to kill you. But if you’re Sam Baker, you’re not very technically sound.

by TheAreopagite on Jan 17, 2012 8:22 AM EST up reply actions

if you cant be trained into a guard

cut him. im sick of seeing matt ryan hit the ground and here #72 shortly after.

by mar991 on Jan 16, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions

you = he

idk why i wrote that

by mar991 on Jan 16, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions

Mock Offseason/Draft

Sign Carl Nicks
Re-Sign: HD, Lofton
Draft: 2nd- Nate Potter, OT, Boise State
3rd: Aaron Henry, FS, Wisconsin (if we miss out on Nicks replace this pick with Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin)
5th: Phillip Blake, C, Baylor or Trenton Robinson, FS/CB, Michigan State
6th: Antoine McClain, OG, Clemson
7th: Darrell Scott, RB, South Florida

I know I went OL heavy but we need to et as many guys competing as possible to save Matt’s health.

Other 2nd round picks I’d be happy with:
Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
Ben Jones, C, Georgia
Oraon Charles, TE, Georgia

by FLA_Falcon on Jan 16, 2012 11:55 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Drafting

I like your approach at building the offensive line. We have a franchise multi million $ QB. How about we give him some top notch protection.

Coaching wins championships!

by Edgecrusher211 on Jan 17, 2012 8:18 AM EST up reply actions

You have to think about available roster spots

You’d end up burning all those picks on lineman that frankly cannot make the team. You’re likely to see 1-2 picks, maybe a center and tackle, and then some undrafted free agents. It’s helpful to think of who is really vulnerable on this roster, as in they could be replaced by a rookie with more upside. People like Robert James or Michael Palmer.

by TheAreopagite on Jan 17, 2012 8:26 AM EST up reply actions

Baker is probably gone

and if he is I guarantee you, you will not say if only we still had Baker one time next year.

by Whopper Dawg on Jan 17, 2012 12:02 AM EST reply actions

Thats what we said about:

Boley, Houston, Jenkins, Anderson…….. At some point this FO needs to own the mistake of letting talent walk because they can’t seem to be coached properly here. I’m glad we have new OCs because I’m tired of seeing hopefuls leave and find success elsewhere wile we have dead weight on our roster.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 17, 2012 12:09 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

*new OC/DC and while.

I’m tired.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 17, 2012 12:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I had

more mixed feelings about some of those guys then I did Baker. And when I see the expensive moves TD made to feel those “gaps”, Anderson and Jenkins specifically, and the incremental gain we achieved vs keeping those guys, you wonder if we made the right moves. Letting Dahl walk was clearly a mistake that most scratched their head about when it happened.

by Whopper Dawg on Jan 17, 2012 7:04 AM EST up reply actions

When you listed off those players

I definitely did not think they would be in the category of “talent”. Boley was solid but unspectacular (and overpaid by the Giants), while the other three are 1st and high 2nd picks (2/3 by Petrino-McKay) that were just missed draft picks. I’d let that “talent” walk anyday.

by TheAreopagite on Jan 17, 2012 8:29 AM EST up reply actions

All I have to say

by Beachy Keen on Jan 17, 2012 1:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

not to relevent to this blog

but that kansas city stuff is weird. glad to have our FO

by mar991 on Jan 17, 2012 3:20 AM EST reply actions

Don't let the door hit ya

Where the good lord split ya.

Good luck catching on elsewhere. Like in NO maybe.

"Everybody has a plan until they get hit" Iron Mike Tyson.
"Screw 2nd." Lugs Harvey.
"In Grimes we trust, all others get gashed"- Me.

by CaptJackSparrow on Jan 17, 2012 5:51 AM EST reply actions

I agree Baker's probably gone, but

I think we’re going a little over-board calling Koetter “pass-heavy” (not just you, James). Maybe it was his “talent” available in Jacksonville, but he’s been one of the most RUN heavy play-callers since ’07.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 17, 2012 10:16 AM EST reply actions

Good luck to yah Sam...wish it could have worked out!!

I wish you the best in your future and your career…peace…

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl." - Joe Jacoby, formerly of the Redskins
"To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too." - Matt Millen, formerly of the Raiders

"We now have exactly the same situation as we had at the start of the race, only exactly the opposite" - Murray Walker, Sportscaster

by Blood_Talon on Jan 17, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions

Not a Bust

Just not a boom.
Yeah we reached on him a little bit, but overall did a decent job for us when he was healthy. Now we’ve got different plans and better options than we did 4 years ago. So he has to go, but he wasn’t a bust.

Falcon Fans UNITE!

by Blue Falcon on Jan 17, 2012 12:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions

2 million is not that much for a starting LT.

Not even that much for a starting RG. Maybe an offseason with new coach and competion going foward will help him. He is still under contract and I doubt that he will be cut outright before he gets evaluated again in ota’s. He might not see the ax until preseason when someone steps up.
Would not hurt my feelings if he left, but financially, I think he will be here through camps.

by SmokeyBell on Jan 17, 2012 2:43 PM EST reply actions

Dahl

when you think about it, the Dahl move “domino effect” may make us better in the long run. Now no Baker, No MM, no VG, and new OC, new DC, and new OL coach, new QB coach.

bravesfan1957

by rwh41360 on Jan 18, 2012 11:05 AM EST reply actions