CenterFielder ~ Bishard Baker ~ Washington Huskies ~ 5095/195
Regarding CenterFielders
Throughout the FootBall World, Defenses are undergoing Transformational, Revolutionary Change.
Old Roles are getting dramatically transformed, and virtually every Front 7 ~ or Front 6!! ~ Defensive Job Description is transitioning into an Hybrid Role where the Defender is asked to excel in multiple Roles and in multiple Fronts.
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
CenterFielders ~ This is my term for "Free Safeties", as I find the application of the term "Safety" ~ a limp, lame term, to put it kindly ~ to be an Asinine Appellation for a Gladiator. The Prototype would be about 5110/200 or so.
CenterFielders are indeed the Last Line of Defense. But I sense that with the increasing Hybridization of Skill Sets in the Years to come, it will be advantageous for Teams to seek CenterFielders who can not only act as a Reserve Defender in Support of their CornerBacks, but who can ~ at a moment's notice, if need be ~ flip into Direct Coverage.
CenterFielders, like RoverBacks and Gryphons, are Hybrids, tasked both with Pass Coverage and Run Defense. Unlike Rovers and Gryphons, however, CenterFielders are expected to prioritize Pass Defense. As such, I'll be breaking my Evaluations down along the same lines as with the others, but with a decidedly divergent Emphasis:
Agility: Acceleration, Ricochet, Fluidity, and Verticity ~ that's Turn & Burn Acuity, to you Earthlings!!
Processing Speed: How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, Motor, and Tackling.
Pass Coverage: Agility, Processing Speed, and Field Vision.
Range: Processing Speed, Field Vision, Fluidity and Speed.
CatchPoint Capacity: Tracking, Timing, Combat Skills, and WingSpan.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Ricochet ~ How crisply and how rapidly one breaks in a new direction.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness. Closing Speed.
* Verticity ~ The Ability ~ or lack thereof ~ to Flips Hips and Turn & Burn in Pass Coverage.
Processing Speed
* How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
* Tackling
Pass Coverage
* Agility ~ Fluidity, Ricochet, Acceleration, and Speed, baby!!
* Processing Speed ~ Reading and Reacting with Speed & Precision to Offensive Tactics.
* Field Vision ~ Processing Speed with an emphasis on the Tactical LandScape.
Range
* Processing Speed ~ Reading and Reacting with Speed & Precision to Offensive Tactics.
* Field Vision ~ Processing Speed with an emphasis on the Tactical LandScape.
* Agility ~ Fluidity and Speed.
CatchPoint Capacity
* Tracking
* Timing
* Combat Skills
* WingSpan
* Vertical Agility
Old Roles are getting dramatically transformed, and virtually every Front 7 ~ or Front 6!! ~ Defensive Job Description is transitioning into an Hybrid Role where the Defender is asked to excel in multiple Roles and in multiple Fronts.
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
CenterFielders ~ This is my term for "Free Safeties", as I find the application of the term "Safety" ~ a limp, lame term, to put it kindly ~ to be an Asinine Appellation for a Gladiator. The Prototype would be about 5110/200 or so.
CenterFielders are indeed the Last Line of Defense. But I sense that with the increasing Hybridization of Skill Sets in the Years to come, it will be advantageous for Teams to seek CenterFielders who can not only act as a Reserve Defender in Support of their CornerBacks, but who can ~ at a moment's notice, if need be ~ flip into Direct Coverage.
CenterFielders, like RoverBacks and Gryphons, are Hybrids, tasked both with Pass Coverage and Run Defense. Unlike Rovers and Gryphons, however, CenterFielders are expected to prioritize Pass Defense. As such, I'll be breaking my Evaluations down along the same lines as with the others, but with a decidedly divergent Emphasis:
Agility: Acceleration, Ricochet, Fluidity, and Verticity ~ that's Turn & Burn Acuity, to you Earthlings!!
Processing Speed: How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, Motor, and Tackling.
Pass Coverage: Agility, Processing Speed, and Field Vision.
Range: Processing Speed, Field Vision, Fluidity and Speed.
CatchPoint Capacity: Tracking, Timing, Combat Skills, and WingSpan.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Ricochet ~ How crisply and how rapidly one breaks in a new direction.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness. Closing Speed.
* Verticity ~ The Ability ~ or lack thereof ~ to Flips Hips and Turn & Burn in Pass Coverage.
Processing Speed
* How quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to the developing Play.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
* Tackling
Pass Coverage
* Agility ~ Fluidity, Ricochet, Acceleration, and Speed, baby!!
* Processing Speed ~ Reading and Reacting with Speed & Precision to Offensive Tactics.
* Field Vision ~ Processing Speed with an emphasis on the Tactical LandScape.
Range
* Processing Speed ~ Reading and Reacting with Speed & Precision to Offensive Tactics.
* Field Vision ~ Processing Speed with an emphasis on the Tactical LandScape.
* Agility ~ Fluidity and Speed.
CatchPoint Capacity
* Tracking
* Timing
* Combat Skills
* WingSpan
* Vertical Agility
Budda Baker Scouting Report
Agility: Tremendous. Excellent Speed and Phenomenal Fluidity.
Processing Speed: Sensational.
Run Defense: Outstanding. Baker consistently anticipates the Flow of the Play effectively and rapidly. He's Short, and his WingSpan is shorter, which will be a Liability, he's not Small, his Tackling is excellent, and he's ferocious.
Pass Coverage: Extraordinary. A Liability against Flex Ends, but an excellent Match against SlotBacks, Power Backs, SpeedBacks, and FlexBacks, due to'is amazing Field Vision and phenomenal Verticity.
Range: Magnificent. An astonishing combination of elite Processing Speed and Field Vision, combined with phenomenal Fluidity and excellent Speed, enable Baker to cover a vast and sprawling swath of Real Estate.
CatchPoint Capacity: Competitive, but I mean that as a Compliment!! Lousy Vertical Agility, horrible WingSpan, and mediocre Hands, but his magnificent Tracking & Timing make up for quite a lot!!
Budda Baker Prospectus
I struggled mightily to determine whether I should roll with his CenterFielder Resume, or project'm as a Slot Corner Convertible, due to's extraordinary Pass Coverage Skills and his short Frame.
The way I figure it, Budda Baker is destined to play Slot Corner on a lot of Passing Downs, regardless, so it really comes down to determining where he should play on the early Downs ~ CenterFielder or CornerBack.
I decided to roll with CenterFielder, for two reasons:
01 ~ At 5095/195, he's Short, but he's Compact. His is certainly not the optimal Frame for the Rigors of playing CenterFielder. At 6000/200, he'd have a far better natural Advantage in seeing the Field. Butt he is able to do so incredibly well, despite his Height, and compact Players tend to last longer, give they're Sane.
02 ~ Processing Speed such as Baker commands is advantageous at any Position, including CornerBack, but such rapid and effective Processing Speed belongs at CenterField. Baker's combination of Processing Speed, Field Vision, Fluidity, and Speed are awesome, as his to rapidly and effectively read the Tactical Landscape adds an enormous extension to what is already outstanding natural Range. And as a ferocious, compact, and efficient Tackler, his Potential as the Last Line of Defense against Runs and Passes and as a TurnOver Machine PlayMaker is flat out phenomenal.
Now, I ask myself: Should I apply an Injury Discount to'is Rank and Grade? I'm finding myself operating with an increased mindfulness about Age and Health Discounts, this Year, because it seems to me that the more important a Player becomes to a Team, the more injurious to the Team's Prospects it'd be to lose them for long stretches.
Let's look at some'f the Players that Baker's been compared to...
Earl Thomas: 5103/208 ~ Extraordinary Reliability.
Tyrann Mathieu: 5085/185 ~ Marginal Reliability.
Eric Berry: 5115/210 ~ Marginal Reliability.
Bob Sanders: 5084/204 ~ Horrible Reliability.
Sanders has a very compact Frame, but the shorter you are, the more difficult it is to keep your Head out'f Harm's Way when you're making Tackles. Yet it may well be that Berry is a bit too tall for'is own Good.
In fact: Looking at these Numbers, I'm persuaded to drop my Optimal Frame from 6000/200 to 5110/200.
And I'm not sure that it shouldn't be about 5010/200.
Thomas's Height/Weight Ratio for the Job is magnificent. He is indeed both mentally and athletically awesome, of course, thus his Greatness...but I don't believe for a Second that his astonishing Reliability is a Coincidence.
So we come to Budda Baker...At 5095/195, I'd give'm a good Grade for Compactness, but his Short Height, exacerbated by Short Arms, is a Liability to his Reliability, so I'm gonna back off my Grade and Rank 2 Measures.
Based on Talent, Drive, and Intelligence, with no regard to Reliability Risk, I'd consider this Prospect's Prospects elite.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the invaluable Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
The way I figure it, Budda Baker is destined to play Slot Corner on a lot of Passing Downs, regardless, so it really comes down to determining where he should play on the early Downs ~ CenterFielder or CornerBack.
I decided to roll with CenterFielder, for two reasons:
01 ~ At 5095/195, he's Short, but he's Compact. His is certainly not the optimal Frame for the Rigors of playing CenterFielder. At 6000/200, he'd have a far better natural Advantage in seeing the Field. Butt he is able to do so incredibly well, despite his Height, and compact Players tend to last longer, give they're Sane.
02 ~ Processing Speed such as Baker commands is advantageous at any Position, including CornerBack, but such rapid and effective Processing Speed belongs at CenterField. Baker's combination of Processing Speed, Field Vision, Fluidity, and Speed are awesome, as his to rapidly and effectively read the Tactical Landscape adds an enormous extension to what is already outstanding natural Range. And as a ferocious, compact, and efficient Tackler, his Potential as the Last Line of Defense against Runs and Passes and as a TurnOver Machine PlayMaker is flat out phenomenal.
Now, I ask myself: Should I apply an Injury Discount to'is Rank and Grade? I'm finding myself operating with an increased mindfulness about Age and Health Discounts, this Year, because it seems to me that the more important a Player becomes to a Team, the more injurious to the Team's Prospects it'd be to lose them for long stretches.
Let's look at some'f the Players that Baker's been compared to...
Earl Thomas: 5103/208 ~ Extraordinary Reliability.
Tyrann Mathieu: 5085/185 ~ Marginal Reliability.
Eric Berry: 5115/210 ~ Marginal Reliability.
Bob Sanders: 5084/204 ~ Horrible Reliability.
Sanders has a very compact Frame, but the shorter you are, the more difficult it is to keep your Head out'f Harm's Way when you're making Tackles. Yet it may well be that Berry is a bit too tall for'is own Good.
In fact: Looking at these Numbers, I'm persuaded to drop my Optimal Frame from 6000/200 to 5110/200.
And I'm not sure that it shouldn't be about 5010/200.
Thomas's Height/Weight Ratio for the Job is magnificent. He is indeed both mentally and athletically awesome, of course, thus his Greatness...but I don't believe for a Second that his astonishing Reliability is a Coincidence.
So we come to Budda Baker...At 5095/195, I'd give'm a good Grade for Compactness, but his Short Height, exacerbated by Short Arms, is a Liability to his Reliability, so I'm gonna back off my Grade and Rank 2 Measures.
Based on Talent, Drive, and Intelligence, with no regard to Reliability Risk, I'd consider this Prospect's Prospects elite.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the invaluable Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Beast ~ Par Value
| Market Value #36 | Yankee Grade 1st/2nd Round |
Please do Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men and women of Good Will!! I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!!
None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!
None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!
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