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Rookie safety eager to learn from vets
Rookie safety Budda Baker is impressing the team with his resemblance to Tyrann Mathieu.
The Arizona Cardinals have high expectations for Budda Baker. That’s why they chose to trade up in the second round to select the safety.
So far, Baker is making his new team look good – impressing teammates, coaches and the front office with his play.
To defensive backs coach Nick Rapone, Baker is everything he hoped he’d be at this stage.
“My impression is he’s what we thought: a quick learner, wants to get better and will do whatever it takes to get better,” Rapone said. “You can see he was extremely well coached at the University of Washington. At this point he gets a little bit better each day”
On the Doug and Wolf Show on 98.7 FM, Cardinals GM Steve Keim said Baker was the player that stood out to him the most after the team’s first preseason game against the Cowboys.
“I think the little things — the film study, the playbook and all that, is like you anticipated — things that’s he’s going to have to continue to grow and continue to improve upon, but when you just watch the kid’s foot speed and explosiveness, his violence as a tackler, he has it all when it comes to the physical traits that you look for,” Keim said. “When you’re out at practice that last couple of days, you see No. 36 (Baker) and No. 32 (Tyrann Mathieu) all over the field making plays. That is extremely encouraging.”
Baker has been compared to Mathieu quite often, as the two players are roughly the same size and can play both safety slots on defense.
Mathieu can see the resemblance and said it might not be long before people are comparing the Honey Badger to Baker.
“Anytime you turn on the tape, he’s flying to the football. He’s a natural playmaker. He has great instincts and that’s what you need at this level,” Mathieu said. “A lot of times, things get overwhelming. Guys think too much and they don’t make any plays. His first day here, he was reminiscent of myself, for sure.”
In Baker’s first NFL game last week against the Cowboys, he played 51 snaps and recorded six tackles and broke up one pass. After the game, Baker’s phone buzzed with texts and calls from family and friends who had watched him play. He called it a memory he’ll never forget.
His play earned the praise of Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.
“He’s very decisive,” Arians said. “He’s fast and he’s not afraid to stick it up in there and hit, tackle. He’s an extremely good tackler, broke up a couple passes. Just continue to grow and don’t try to put too much on his plate too soon.”
Quick Learner
Baker missed OTAs in May and June because he was still finishing up classes at Washington, but he hasn’t missed a beat in training camp.
“I feel like I’m almost there, I’ve learned all the plays, now it’s just a matter of me stacking good practice after good practice and preseason games,” Baker said. “As long as I can get better and focus on one play at a time, I feel like I’ll be fine.”
Learning the playbook is always one of the most challenging tasks a rookie is given, but Baker said the defensive style is very similar to what he played in at Washington. The biggest difference is the language, but when he has questions, he has 12- and 10-year veterans Antoine Bethea and Tyvon Branch to pester.
“He’s always asking Ty (questions),” Arians said. “He’s right next to Antoine all the time, and Tyvon Branch. He’s a sponge.”
Baker has bonded well with the group of safeties and says the relationship between guys has been important to his good start – especially when he’s made mistakes.
“Any time I have questions, I can ask them and they’ll answer my questions with open arms,” Baker said.
Baker likely won’t play as many snaps against Oakland in the team’s second preseason game. Arians won’t overplay rookies whom he expects to have a role during the season, and Baker is expected to help on special teams as well as make an impact on defense. His versatility makes him especially useful.
“He has good eyes, he diagnoses well, he has a great first step, meaning he can burst,” Rapone said. “He’s a good tackler and aggressively goes for the football. He has all the traits that you want a good defensive back to have.”
‘Fish bait’
It hasn’t all been great though for Baker. Arians has called him “Fish Bait” because he tends to bite on play-action fakes.
“He doesn’t like it,” Arians said. “But quit biting on the play-action passes, he’ll get rid of it quick. I like the aggressiveness.”
In the meantime, Baker isn’t letting the pressure of high expectations get to him. He said he puts more pressure on himself to be great than anyone outside ever could, and that keeps him going.
He continues to make adjustments to the pro game – and to life in Arizona. The Washington native got a rude awakening when he reached Arizona in the middle of summer.
“In the beginning, it was dreadful,” Baker said. “When we had our rookie workouts, it was 115-plus, so that was hard, but now I’m acclimated to it. It’s 100 and sometimes I’m just like, ‘Hey it’s not even that bad this time.’ Even though in Seattle, if it’s 78 it’s hot. Next time I go back, I’ll probably be wearing a trench coat or something.”
With less than a month until regularseason action begins, Baker has one goal for the upcoming season – win.
“My type of goals are team goals, I just want to win,” Baker said. “As long as we win games and I’m a part of that, then fine by me.”
“My impression is he’s what we thought: a quick learner, wants to get better and will do whatever it takes.” NICK RAPONE DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH, ON ROOKIE BUDDA BAKER