Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is entering his third year in the NFL and already he is having to learn a third defensive system. As a rookie, he played safety in the box for defensive coordinator James Bettcher, entering the lineup after Tyvon Branch injured his knee.
Last year, he played in the slot and often as a linebacker in Steve Wilks’ defense.
This year, he will be doing what he prefers to do, play back at free safety.
What does he think of it?
“At free safety, I get to hopefully get my hand on some more footballs,” he said in a radio interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “The last two years, I’ve been in the box a lot. That’s definitely fun. I like blitzing and all that type of stuff, (but) just being the last line of defense is one of my favorite things to do.”
He is also very excited about playing in Vance Joseph’s defense.
“It gives playmakers time to make plays,” he said, referring to players like Chandler Jones and the guys who will cover receivers man-to-man.
Baker has already been a Pro Bowler, but that was as a special teams player. The Cardinals see him as a potential star.
Playing his natural position, maybe this is the season that happens.
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