The Buccaneers have added a huge piece to their defensive line in Chris Baker. and the ex-Washington Redskin will help solidify an already stout defensive line. Coach Koetter and GM Jason Licht have nothing but high praise to give to the 29-year-old run stopper. He will be able to step in and contribute right away in Coach Smith’s defense.
A dominant defensive line has been a hallmark for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the years. Warren Sapp, Anthony McFarland, Gerald McCoy, Lee Roy Selmon, and Simeon Rice are just some of the names that Chris Baker will be associated with in the upcoming years. McCoy and Baker will be the two defensive linemen that quarterbacks and opposing offenses have nightmares over. Baker joined the Buccaneers with hopes of taking them from great to elite.
Chris Baker has quickly emerged as one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the NFL. Since 2012, Baker has had 11.5 sacks and 181 combined tackles. He will join a group that is headed by Gerald McCoy, Robert Ayers, Noah Spence, and William Gholston. Baker will take some of the double-teams and extra offensive lineman off of McCoy and the rest of the defensive line.
Chris Baker will also take some of the pressure off of the secondary. The safety and cornerback positions were somewhat of a weakness for the Buccaneers early in the 2016 season. They came together towards the end of the year after communication and signals were cleared up by the coaching staff. A better pass rush should lead to more interceptions and less breakdowns in the secondary. We will see how Baker impacts the Buccaneers defense next year. Go Bucs!
Contributing writer : Kevin Curry
