BrownJuggernaut

January 6th, 2012 at 11:00 PM ^

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. 

snarling wolverine

January 6th, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^

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.

JT4104

January 6th, 2012 at 11:00 PM ^

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.

jtmc33

January 6th, 2012 at 11:00 PM ^

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

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 6th, 2012 at 11:08 PM ^

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.

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 7th, 2012 at 12:25 AM ^

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.

lukebunge131313

January 7th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^

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.

A2BeerLover

January 6th, 2012 at 11:29 PM ^

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.

snarling wolverine

January 6th, 2012 at 11:40 PM ^

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.  

LSAClassOf2000

January 6th, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^

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. 

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 6th, 2012 at 11:25 PM ^

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.

snoopblue

January 7th, 2012 at 12:38 AM ^

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.

switch26

January 7th, 2012 at 12:49 AM ^

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

Demonstrationhall

January 7th, 2012 at 5:19 AM ^

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.

 

 

allintime23

January 7th, 2012 at 5:50 AM ^

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.