Baker tells AP he is leaving for NFL and Lansing State Journal confirms. Detroit News reports the same.
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Edwin Baker leaving MSU for NFL
January 6th, 2012 at 11:50 PM
#1
Edwin Baker leaving MSU for NFL
January 6th, 2012 at 11:54 PM
#2
LOL whut?
Seriously. What? The guy had a horrible year, maybe he is scared of even less touches now that Bell has become a beast for them. Strange decision.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:00 AM
#3
Yeah
I don't think his draft stock is going to get helped any next year when he becomes more forgotten behind Bell. I mean look at their stats:
Baker: 170 rushes 665 yards 3.9 YPC 5 TD
Bell: 182 rushes 948 yards 5.2 YPC 13 TD
Bell seemed to get more carries as the year went on. It's probably the right decision for Baker. He's not a bad RB, but Bell is better. Coming for his senior year and sitting behind Bell doesn't make sense.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:06 AM
#4
Agreed
January 7th, 2012 at 12:12 AM
#5
Does he have his degree?
Does he have his degree?
January 7th, 2012 at 12:42 AM
#6
I don't think so. He didn't
I don't think so. He didn't redshirt, so he's probably a year away from a degree. I don't know if it's important to him.
January 7th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
#7
I thought that the fact that
I thought that the fact that he went to State was a pretty bold implication that a degree was not that important.
January 7th, 2012 at 2:09 AM
#8
Bah!
Would a degree from State even mean anything?
January 6th, 2012 at 11:55 PM
#9
OK
Thanks.
January 6th, 2012 at 11:57 PM
#10
Besta Luck
Besta Luck
January 7th, 2012 at 12:15 AM
#11
lol
Denard's picture in your sig made that comment seem real snarky.
January 7th, 2012 at 11:40 AM
#12
I think he was going for a
I think he was going for a Doug Karsh. ;)
January 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM
#13
bell is better. and he'll still be here. sux
January 7th, 2012 at 12:18 AM
#14
Maybe he's better overall,
Maybe he's better overall, but it was Baker who killed us this year. He had 167 yards on 26 carries. Bell had 20 on seven carries. It seems like we generally do okay against power backs. The speed guys tend to hurt us more.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:37 AM
#15
YEs, but can he handle 250 touches?
I have to thinkm half the reason bell was so good downt he touch is that both of them had 150+ touches.
January 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM
#16
OHHHHHHHH CYA!
OHHHHHHHH CYA!
January 7th, 2012 at 12:00 AM
#17
clearly a case of leaving
clearly a case of leaving because he lost his starting spot. Interested in what happens with Caper since he basicly didn't even sniff the field last year either. They better hope Bell is ready to carry the load.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:03 AM
#18
I'm shocked
I'm shocked that Caper did not transfer after last year. Looks like he will get the nod now when Bell needs to catch a breath.
January 7th, 2012 at 1:17 AM
#19
Also...
Nick Hill. Sparty will still have good power/speed balance without baker.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:00 AM
#20
He's had two games in his
He's had two games in his career that are draft-worthy. Both against UM. Every other game this year was Bell's show with Baker as the #2.
Glad to see him go
January 7th, 2012 at 12:02 AM
#21
Bell is a beast. He is a load
Bell is a beast. He is a load to bring down and he has one hell of a stiff arm.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:08 AM
#22
Not to mention that spin
Not to mention that spin move. I'll be glad to see him go as well. Which brings up an interesting discussion: after Bell leaves, they really only have small, fast backs as far as I know. Hill, the Tompkins kid from this year. Both small, both very fast, but not the power runners that Dantonio has relied upon during his recent good run. I wonder how that little transition is gonna work.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:12 AM
#23
posted from iPhone
Narduzzi is coming back. So their defense will still be solid.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:16 AM
#24
Their D would be solid with
Their D would be solid with or without Narduzzi. They have playmakers that fit their system and Dantonio is a very good DC in his own right.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:28 AM
#25
What was the deal will Bell
What was the deal will Bell as a recruit? How was he so overlooked? MSU was his best offer. Was it due to academics?
January 7th, 2012 at 12:34 AM
#26
Who knows? Why was Ryan so
Who knows? Why was Ryan so overlooked, especially on a team with other high profile recruits where he wouldn't be under-scouted? Sometimes these things happen. MSU capitalized.
January 7th, 2012 at 3:04 AM
#27
ryan
i believe i read that he was injured his senior year which may have scared some schools away.
January 7th, 2012 at 1:16 AM
#28
Bell not all that impressive in IMHO.
I don't think Bell had all that great of a bowl game. He looked slow and was easily tackled on several occasions.. Or may be I have been seeing SEC games a bit too much?
January 7th, 2012 at 1:25 AM
#29
He did not have a great bowl
He did not have a great bowl game, but neither offense in that game did. But he is not easily tackled. Not that fast, but he's the prototypical MANBALL RB: large, always falls forward for an extra yard or two, but also has some surprising moves while running. He didn't have the yards per carry that Fitz had this year, but he's still a very solid RB. And I don't like him for that.
January 7th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
#30
Bell was a LB in HS
He was a 2 star LB in high school that had offers from osu and obviously some lesser schools to play LB. I don't believe we ever targeted him. Coach Dantonio offered him the opportunity to run the football and if it failed switch back to LB, so a win win for Mr. Bell. And once he hit sparty's campus he literally hit the ground running and never looked back.
January 7th, 2012 at 8:03 PM
#31
Except they have to take classes
At Michigan when they get here. And not the community college transfer courses they get at MSU.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:29 AM
#32
The bad part
The bad part is that 2012 will be the first time MSU has a deep and experienced offensive line. Bell gets a much better wall in front of him for 2 more years. Dantonio has always had to deal with scraps and shambles when it came to linemen. Not this time. He has an entire class that redshirted last year, which is something new for MSU. The transition for Maxwell might be much smoother than previous signal callers. Apparently Arnett has had prior exprience with Maxwell, and it played heavily in his decision to play at MSU. This is a whole different animal compared to the Williams and Slappy years. They actually have developed depth, while previous coaches were selling out, and played everything that could walk.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:40 AM
#33
Perhaps, but they've got the
Perhaps, but they've got the double hurdle of having a new QB and new WRs. It will take awhile for all those guys to get on the same page. (Arnett and Maxwell may have camped together or whatever, but that's not the same thing as being on the same team for years, like Cousins and Cunningham.) Until then, teams are going to load up to stop the run.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:11 AM
#34
I wonder how the 2000 yard
I wonder how the 2000 yard season he was hoping for worked out.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:12 AM
#35
Quitter!
Quitter!
January 7th, 2012 at 12:14 AM
#36
Baker wasn't an issue. Bell,
Baker wasn't an issue. Bell, however, is pretty good.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:14 AM
#37
draft
He should be good in the draft right? Since MSU puts more players in the NFL than UM.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:19 AM
#38
Career Advancement
Being the #2 (or in Baker's case perhaps, #3) RB on an NFL team is just that much more prestigious apparently. With Bell performing at the level he is right now, Baker's draft stock is basically at peak.
Seriously though, you hate to see people make the move for nothing, so good luck.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:16 AM
#39
He also has a baby momma, so
He also has a baby momma, so he needs the $$$
January 7th, 2012 at 12:18 AM
#40
Take Johnny Adams with you
Take Johnny Adams with you while you are at it Edwin.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
#41
Adams is still there? I
Adams is still there? I thought he was like a 5th year senior this year. Seems like he's been talking more ish than any player in the world during for like 6 years in East Lansing.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:25 AM
#42
I'm guessing he could see the
I'm guessing he could see the writing on the wall: Bell is the stater, and with Hill up and coming and Caper not injured anymore, his production would decline even more, more likely. He had a very productive sophomore season, so cash in on that while it's fresher in the scout's mind. Plus, he's got a good build for being a smaller back, and has good speed. NFL scouts like measurables like that.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:31 AM
#43
Works for me. More touches
Works for me. More touches for Caper = more turnovers :)
January 7th, 2012 at 12:35 AM
#44
Baker is the turnover prone back
Baker is the turnover prone machine for them. He was coughing that thing up all over the place this season.
January 7th, 2012 at 12:39 AM
#45
It was only a matter of time
It was only a matter of time before he got sick of playing in trash storms. also Donovan Warren anyone?
January 7th, 2012 at 1:38 AM
#46
It's a good decision for him.
It's a good decision for him. Looks like we can key in on stopping the run next season. As long we don't get beat to the edge, looks like the 4 year streak is going to hit a brick wall.
January 7th, 2012 at 1:49 AM
#47
Baker really stopped getting
Baker really stopped getting carries when he started fumbling every game after the game with us..
Good luck in the NFL, if he makes a roster
January 7th, 2012 at 6:19 AM
#48
Losing Baker hurts but
he wasn't gonna get more then 10-15 carries a game next year. He will be missed as I think Bells relief will be Caper (who tries to run through rather then avoid a lineman), and Hill that scares me with ball possesion.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:50 AM
#49
posted from iPhone
I can't understand why he would leave early but at the same time I dont care. The guy turned into a fumble machine and with coach D at the helm I'm almost positive he'll get Greg jones'ed. See ya walking around Lansing with smoker and the all stars.
January 7th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
#50
Jones is playing for the Giants
But don't let that derail your point.
January 7th, 2012 at 9:47 AM
#51
If there's one position I understand leaving early
it's the RB. One less year of pounding on his body may add up when he's 45 years old. I wish him luck.
January 7th, 2012 at 1:24 PM
#52
I rarely blame a RB for
I rarely blame a RB for leaving early. They have a shorter career due to the pounding. A 30 year old back is considered to be on his last leg.
January 7th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
#53
P.J. Hill'ed? John Clay'ed?
Living in Madison, I've witnessed two mega-backs get supplanted in their junior years. John Clay did it to P.J. Hill, then Montee Ball returned the favor and took advantage of a dinged up and out-of-shape Clay to capture the starting job (and hearts and minds of Madison). Both Hill and Clay bolted after their junior years, presumably because they saw the writing on the wall for their senior years. Must be the same situation with Baker. Seems to me like it would be to his advantage to solve the fumbling issues, work his butt off, and make Dantonio play him next year. Plenty of collegiate split-carry RB's have had great careers in the NFL.
January 7th, 2012 at 6:38 PM
#54
Surprising decision...
Surprising decision... doesn't seem to make any sense. I'd be surprised if he gets drafted.
