Arizona Cardinals’ rookie making mark on special teams
By Jim Koch
Arizona Cardinals’ safety Budda Baker is out to make the most out of the special teams assignment he’s been given as a rookie
The Arizona Cardinals have had some excellent special teams performers throughout the years. Guys that sacrifice their bodies to get downfield and make the tackle on kickoff and punt returns. Some players loathe the responsibility, while some actually make a career out of it.
The Cardinals’ latest special teams “demon” is this year’s second-round draft pick, Budda Baker. Upon arriving in the desert this offseason, the rookie found that there was a logjam at safety, the position he plays. Tyrann Mathieu, Tyvon Branch and Antoine Bethea have stood in the way of Baker getting a lot of playing time in Arizona’s secondary.
But rather than sulking, the University of Washington product is attacking his role on special teams with enthusiasm. At the halfway point of the season, Baker is currently tied for second in the NFL with 11 special teams tackles. The first-year talent shares that spot with the Los Angeles Chargers’ Nick Dzubnar, with only Derrick Coleman of the Atlanta Falcons ahead of them both with 12 stops.
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The Cards have had excellent gunners before. Ron Wolfley, the club’s current radio color analyst, made his bread and butter in the league by breaking wedges. Drafted in the fourth round of the 1985 draft (when they resided in St. Louis), Wolfley was voted to four Pro Bowls as a special teamer.
Backup cornerback Justin Bethel has also been dominant on return units. The sixth-year Cardinal’s play on special teams has gotten him voted to three Pro Bowls since he’s been a pro.
There are a couple of other Cardinals excelling on special teams in 2017. Running back Elijhaa Penny has contributed eight tackles as a gunner. Linebacker Josh Bynes has chipped in seven.
Until he receives more playing time as a defensive back, Baker will continue to race downfield on return coverage units. The 21-year old is doing exactly what the coaching staff is asking of him. And doing it well.