ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Seahawks have inked New England free agent tight end Chris Baker to a two-year, $4.75 million deal that includes $2.75 million in the first year with team. I haven’t got confirmation from the team yet.
It’s the first free agent deal the Seahawks have done this season.
Baker appears to be the second tight end Seattle was looking for, after watching the Cleveland Browns sign Ben Watson.
Tight ends John Owens and Cameron Morrah are still under contract for 2010, so it will be interesting to see what happens in terms of depth at the position, but offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes to use two tight-end sets offensively.
Wooohooo! I think this is a really good, high value signing.
× Flag comment
Owens, you’re done.
× Flag comment
No word on this guy except from a Jets fan on another forum. He has not nice things to say about Baker’s toughness. Any stats or writeups on him?
× Flag comment
If Cam Morrah could shed about 15-20 lbs he could easily be ( inexpensive ) option as a WR. He had good hands in college and is smart enough to run good routs.
He did have a lot of problems last season …. I don’t think he can be blocking TE in the pros anyway ( but, if used as a blocking WR , he would excel ).. With the right coaching and some patience on Seahawks part, he has a good shot at being an asset for us. The points to keeping him are : he is tall, nimble for his size,intelligent and has soft hands….. If we can fix our OL to the point that our TEs do mostly catching the ball , than this kid will be fine .
I hope he stays.
× Flag comment
Hawks making some serious noise in Free Agency!!!
× Flag comment
“blocking WR” (?). I don’t think this came out right. What I meant to say is a WR that can block CBs and safeties for the ball-carrier behind the defensive line…… ?
I like the guy, I know his story,I like his character and “drive”. That is it. I really hope he makes it in our uniform.
× Flag comment
Duke, thanks for your post on Ryan Lilja. I had time to quickly read it but, couldn’t thank you sooner.I feel better now about that situation.
For whatever it is worth , I still think he should be looked into. Seems like good player and character, that has had a string of bad luck. If his health problems could be fixed, he will be good player to have. He doesn’t strike me as a bum that only wants to cash his pay-check.
× Flag comment
I agree about Morrah. He’s a terrific receiver, it’s his blocking that really needs work. John Owens is the odd man out. Morrah simply has too much up side to dump. He’ll at worst find himself on the PS.
SL2 – No sweat.
× Flag comment
I think Morrah played 4 snaps at TE last season. Thrown to once, hecaught it and made 3 yds. Middlin blocker.
John Owens played 190 snaps at TE last season, thrown to 6 times, caught 3, for 16 yds, 5.3 yds/att, 14 YAC yds, dropped 2 passes, no TDs, and didn’t shed any tackles. No penalties. Middlin blocker.
John Carlson played 970 snaps at TE in ’09. Was thrown to 79 times, caught 50 (63.3 C%) for 532 yds (10.6 yds/rec), 242 yds were YAC, 7 TDs, 2 ints, 4 dropped passes, and shed 1 tackler. 5 penalties. Poor blocker.
Chris Baker played 714 snaps at TE for NE in ’09. Was thrown to 18 times, caught 14 (77.8 C%) for 142 yds (10.1 yds/rec), 33 yds YAC, 2 TDs, no picks, no dropped passes, and made 2 tacklers miss.
http://profootballfocus.com/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2009&pos=TE&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=0&numgames=1
× Flag comment
I like this move but wish it had come a year earlier. I have been a Baker fan for awhile. I was watching a Jets game a couple years ago and he just stood out to me. I also like Owens. But with Morrah, it will be interesting to see what happens with him because he was a Pac10 guy and someone Carroll should have a good feel for.
× Flag comment
Seahawkfan12,
Anything Jets fans say about Baker I’d take pretty casually–he left there on pretty sour terms after holding out for more money the after they took Dustin Keller in the 1st round.
I thought he would be a big asset for the Patriots last year, wish I knew why that didn’t work out better and they let him go. I remember him looking great in the preseason last year. I would’ve thought he could’ve been a big part of their offense, particularly after Welker was hurt.
× Flag comment
This guy will be a good stopgap until Morrah is able to learn the position. We’re going to build this team in the draft and add good value, complimentary guys in free agency. That strategy takes longer to implement, however is the long run, its the best route to take.
I’m hoping McCoy falls to us in the draft. If not we draft LT, QB or DLine. Build a good core foundation, let them gel for a couple years then add the skill positions next year. We can be SB contenders in 2-3 years…Go Hawks!
× Flag comment
Thank you, boucherm. Great points.
× Flag comment
BFD. The news I’m waiting for is a commitment to get John Carlson involved in the offense. Carlson should be a star, but MORON & Knapp had no clue how to run a pro offense.
× Flag comment
Moo, that’s not really fair.
John Carlson is a pass catching TE and was being held in to block. Was that bad coaching? If JC doesn’t block #8 gets dismembered. What are ya going to do when your left tackle is the forth string guy? Mora didn’t set up the draft two, three or four years ago.
× Flag comment
Woo hoo? About what what? I don’t get it, I’ve seen Baker play his whole career and he was nothing. He still is nothing. Now he’s just a washed up has been nothing. What a waste of money and a roster space.
× Flag comment
Good blocking TE – something the Hawks didn’t have on the roster.
× Flag comment
Actually, that’s exactly what he isn’t. Seattle ranked last in 2 TE sets last year and Bates’ Denver teams led the league. He’ll be in to run routes with Carlson, not stay in and block.
× Flag comment
In ’08 for the Jets, TE Chris Baker (6-3/270) played 571 snaps, went into pass routes 223 times, run blocked 316 times, and pass-blocked 32 times. He was thrown at 29 times and caught 21 (72.4 C%) for 194 yds (9.2 yds/rec) with 68 YAC (3.2 YAC/rec), and dropped 1 pass. He was rated the 2nd best run-blocker on the Jets, next to Nick Mangold. http://profootballfocus.com/cstats.php?tab=by_team&season=2008&teamid=22&stats=o&stype=r&playerid=
Last season with the Pats, Baker played a total of 714 reg season snaps. He went into a pass route 198 times. Baker blocked for the run 398 times, and pass-blocked 118 times. Baker was the 7th best run-blocker, 6th best screen blocker, and 5th best pass-blocker on the Pats offense. He was thrown to 18 times and caught 14 (77.8 C%) for 142 yds (10.1 yds/rec), made 33 YAC (2.4/rec), 36 long, & 2 TDs. The only pass-catchers his performance was better than were Galloway, Aiken, Stanback, and BenJarvus Gree-Ellis. 9 players were better receivers on the Pats offense. http://profootballfocus.com/cstats.php?tab=by_team&season=2009&teamid=19&stype=a&stats=o
Compare to receiving TE John Carlson the last two seasons:
’08: Played 716 snaps, ran once, went into pass routes 360 times, run blocked 324 times, pass blocked 31 times. Thrown to 77 times, caught 55 (71.4 C%) for 627 yds (11.4 yds/rec), 242 YAC (4.4 YAC/rec) 6 TDs, 3 picks, 5 dropped passes, and shed one tackle. http://profootballfocus.com/cstats.php?tab=by_team&season=2008&teamid=29&stats=o&stype=r&playerid=
’09: Played 970 snaps, went into pass routes 542 times, run blocked 355 times, pass blocked 73 times. John was thrown at 79 times, caught 50 (63.3 C%) for 532 yds (10.6 yds/rec), 242 YAC (4.8 YAC/rec) 7 TDs, 2 picks, 4 dropped passes, and shed one tackle.
http://profootballfocus.com/cstats.php?tab=by_team&season=2009&teamid=29&stype=a&stats=o
Chris Baker is gonna be a receiving TE in Bates 2 TE passing sets, but he has also been a much better run-blocking TE than any of the Hawks current TEs. He also is a much better pass-blocker than Carlson, especially downfield after the WR makes the catch.
× Flag comment