PFF opinion of the Falcons re-signing of Sam Baker (1 Viewer)

[reerunn]

PFF opinion of the Falcons re-signing of Sam Baker: Senseless

Sam Baker to ATL: 6-year, $41.5m
One of the great fabrications in the NFL is that you need a franchise left tackle. The book and movie The Blind Side made the position into something it wasn’t, a glamor spot on the roster, and contracts given out to these stud pass protectors began to perpetuate the myth. The only problem is that we’ve seen recently you don’t need a great left tackle to win if you have a great quarterback. We’ve also seen that the best left tackle in football won’t make a bit of difference to your fortunes on offense if you can’t find a legitimate quarterback.
Sam Baker is like most starting LTs in the league, a former first-round tackle, but only one year has he really been able to look anything other than a major liability; 2012, his contract year. Even last year, the best we have seen from Baker, he was only our 27th-ranked OT, surrendering six sacks and allowing Matt Ryan to hit the deck another eight times on the year. The Falcons took this improvement as a signal to throw $20 million of guaranteed money at him rather than risk moving on without him and potentially disrupting Matt Ryan’s pass protection. Senseless.


https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/03/15/five-signings-that-make-no-sense/

 

[Saint Kamara]

I wholeheartedly agree.

Great job Falcons. You bunch of losers.

 

[Blaz3nDr0]

Sam Baker to ATL: 6-year, $41.5m
One of the great fabrications in the NFL is that you need a franchise left tackle. The book and movie The Blind Side made the position into something it wasn’t, a glamor spot on the roster, and contracts given out to these stud pass protectors began to perpetuate the myth. The only problem is that we’ve seen recently you don’t need a great left tackle to win if you have a great quarterback. We’ve also seen that the best left tackle in football won’t make a bit of difference to your fortunes on offense if you can’t find a legitimate quarterback.
Sam Baker is like most starting LTs in the league, a former first-round tackle, but only one year has he really been able to look anything other than a major liability; 2012, his contract year. Even last year, the best we have seen from Baker, he was only our 27th-ranked OT, surrendering six sacks and allowing Matt Ryan to hit the deck another eight times on the year. The Falcons took this improvement as a signal to throw $20 million of guaranteed money at him rather than risk moving on without him and potentially disrupting Matt Ryan’s pass protection. Senseless.


https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/03/15/five-signings-that-make-no-sense/

Is he making more than Ryan now! Lol

 

[Saint Droopy]

 

[SaintJ]

Meanwhile, Cool Hand Loomis lets Bushrod go and calmly waits for the river card.

 

[LSSpam]

Sam Baker to ATL: 6-year, $41.5m
One of the great fabrications in the NFL is that you need a franchise left tackle. The book and movie The Blind Side made the position into something it wasn’t, a glamor spot on the roster, and contracts given out to these stud pass protectors began to perpetuate the myth.

That's not true at all. Orlando Pace and, in particular, Walter Jones made the LT position a glamour spot, combined with the prevalence of Tampa-2 style teams with 4 man rushes.

Walter Jones repeated franchising in particular created a rapidly escalating pay scale for the position, and it was at a time where 4-man rushes which relied heavily on the pass rusher beating the individual in front of him one-on-one were in vogue.

The LT positions importance has diminished in part because of the increasing complexity of defenses pressure packages, which puts a higher premium on 5-good man lines which can identify pressure and work cohesively (as well as QBs who can recognize it).

It's telling that neither Manning, Brees, or even really Brady (depends on what you feel about Matt Light I suppose) have ever really had an elite LT.

 

[Saint Droopy]

That's not true at all. Orlando Pace and, in particular, Walter Jones made the LT position a glamour spot, combined with the prevalence of Tampa-2 style teams with 4 man rushes.

Walter Jones repeated franchising in particular created a rapidly escalating pay scale for the position, and it was at a time where 4-man rushes which relied heavily on the pass rusher beating the individual in front of him one-on-one were in vogue.

The LT positions importance has diminished in part because of the increasing complexity of defenses pressure packages, which puts a higher premium on 5-good man lines which can identify pressure and work cohesively (as well as QBs who can recognize it).

It's telling that neither Manning, Brees, or even really Brady (depends on what you feel about Matt Light I suppose) have ever really had an elite LT.

While I agree with everything you said... Sam Baker still sucks, and is not worth that contract.

 

[MarkIngramfan16]

 

[4thqtrsaint]

Imagine if the Falcons signed Bushrod.

 

[Danneaux]

I think the LT spot has diminished in value due to the how offenses have evolved.

Offenses no long use the old fashioned 7 step drops and bombs away. Everything is 3-step drop and quick releases. I think the 3 inside positions have become more valuable than tackles now.

We see it with Brees. The only times he really struggles is when we have pressure up the middle preventing him from stepping up in the pocket. We have all pro guards and a very good center. We've had mediocre tackles since Brees has been here. We've shattered records with that recipe.

 

[MLU]

That's not true at all. Orlando Pace and, in particular, Walter Jones made the LT position a glamour spot, combined with the prevalence of Tampa-2 style teams with 4 man rushes.

Walter Jones repeated franchising in particular created a rapidly escalating pay scale for the position, and it was at a time where 4-man rushes which relied heavily on the pass rusher beating the individual in front of him one-on-one were in vogue.

The LT positions importance has diminished in part because of the increasing complexity of defenses pressure packages, which puts a higher premium on 5-good man lines which can identify pressure and work cohesively (as well as QBs who can recognize it).

It's telling that neither Manning, Brees, or even really Brady (depends on what you feel about Matt Light I suppose) have ever really had an elite LT.

I'll go back further than that and raise you one Anthony Munoz. Regardless, the LT position has been the premium and high-paying position on the OL long before anyone ever heard of Michael Oher. The insinuation is just laughable.

 

[4T L4ST]

Cool Hand Loomis

Love it

 

[Thanatos]

I stopped reading when this person said the LT position only became valuable after the movie the Blind Side. Is he 20 years old? The LT position has always been a highly valued position in the NFL since passing became prevelant.

Utterly stupid article. We'll see how your QB likes not having Bushrod around this year...

 

[BoNcHiE]

I stopped reading when this person said the LT position only became valuable after the movie the Blind Side. Is he 20 years old? The LT position has always been a highly valued position in the NFL since passing became prevelant.

Utterly stupid article. We'll see how your QB likes not having Bushrod around this year...

Probably as well as he liked not having Brown around anymore while a bench warmer named Bushrod took over.

We are good at developing OL like that.

 

[LSSpam]

I'll go back further than that and raise you one Anthony Munoz. Regardless, the LT position has been the premium and high-paying position on the OL long before anyone ever heard of Michael Oher. The insinuation is just laughable.

Right but the direct escalation of pay in the modern era is tied to Walter Jones being franchised like 3 times in a row. From 2002 to 2004 by being tagged over and over, he raises the pay from $4.9 to $7 mil a year.

Just like Flacco getting a deal bigger than Brees, the water raised by the lead man raises all boats, Walter Jones single handily raised LT pay but over 50% in 4 years when he finally signed a long-term deal.