I know Baker is a 4 star standout, but have you noticed how slow he is based on his combine numbers. I can deal with the 4.62 40 but his agility and quick cutting drills are terrible. Unless there are a series of errors in scouts reporting, his shuttle and 3 cone drills are on par with 300 lb linemen. I know he is highly rated and has the total tackles to back it up, but his workout numbers are concerning. He isn't big, just 6 ft 206 lbs, so I would have thought he was fast or quick. CParso, anyone, on an explanation? Based on what I saw of Prater I really hope we land McCray, who has the speed measurables and the rating to back it up. The last time I noticed an unusually slow time for a position was Ricky Dixon, although he was not as highly touted, and that hasn't turned out well.
Combine #s can be deceiving because of different surfaces, etc...the bottom line is this guy is our best LB recruit and everyone (almost I guess) can see it when they watch his films - he's been compared to derrick brooks by the FL scout at rivals. Besides, Mccray is even smaller than Baker and his body is slight..he's a safety at the next level (Prater had a good game too...he missed 2 tackles but they were both vs. the best player in the country...a pat white/vince young combination that also made the entire west team look foolish - he had 3 or 4 high level tackles, one on pryor in the bacfield, the rest of the game)
Just comparing him to a Derrick Brooks type player is all I needed to hear. That's from a scout who scouted Derrick Brooks, by the way.
Yea, i feel the same way when reading his profile on rivals which has him listed as 4.55 40 time for 6' 205 is pretty slow, untill I watch his videos. He gets to where he needs to be on the field in a big time hurry and hits like a truck. But I do hope that 4.55 was on a bad day or something, he surely doesn't play that slow.
4.55 sounds like an estimate not actual combine numbers. He ran in the 4.6's according to a combine on Scout. But like I said, the other speed drills were much worse. Some drills are almost a full second behind other speed positions, for example 8.2 seconds verses 7.2 seconds. The times are so bad that I question if they are misprints. I kid you not, there are lineman with better times. I am puzzled. If he had a faster 40 time I would be certain they were misprints.
In Prater's defense, on the last rushing TD Pryor scored, the West DE crashed down a little too far, leaving Prater (who had outside containment) out in the open. And anytime you have a fast player (who happens to be 6'6") with a running start, a stationary LB usually doesn't stand a chance--especially in open field.
Absolutely. You don't HAVE to be a 4.5-forty player to "play fast". I would take a 4.6 player that takes good angles and plays fast over a 4.4-4.5 guy that takes bad angles or can only reach good speed when he's running vertically. Baker will be fine and like you said, CParso, I love his highlight reels. He makes good reads and attacks well.
