NY Post- Baker needs bigger role

[Kentucky Jet]

BAKER NEEDS BIGGER ROLE

September 30, 2007 -- ORCHARD PARK - Of course, Chris Baker wants the ball more. And, of course, Eric Mangini says that's not always prudent.

"The important thing is understanding where it needs to go based on the coverage or based on the play," said Mangini, who would not be the last coach to fail to make sure the ball most needs to go places where it will be caught.

Founded upon a small, spectacular, sample, visible to eyes both trained and otherwise during Sunday night highlights, the Jets tight end can catch it.

Last week at the Meadowlands, on third-and-goal at the Miami 4 with two seconds left in the half, Baker rose at the back of the end zone to tip the ball to himself, drag both feet inside the end line, and lengthen the Jets' lead to seven points. Fourteen days ago, down 20-6 in the fourth quarter at Baltimore, Kellen Clemens put the ball high and wide of the coverage, and Baker came down with the game again within the Jets' grasp.

Eleven months ago in Cleveland, Baker was descending with a spectacular game-tying touchdown in the dying seconds when he was forced out even more obviously than Terry Bradway had been forced out. The Jets didn't get the call, sort of like Baker most of the time in huddles. Until the last few yards of Jets drives, the show goes on without the guy making the circus catches.

"Chris is very unique," Chad Pennington said. "No. 1, he's an excellent run blocker, but he can also make big catches for you in the pass game. And he's a bigger threat and more valuable to our offense because we can keep him on the field at all times.

"I think he's been under the radar."

Oddly so for a receiver who can rise over defensive backs and drag his feet even longer than Leon Hess did before he dumped Rich Kotite. After catching 31 passes in 16 games in 2006, plus another five in the playoff loss at Foxborough, this season Baker has four receptions for 36 yards.

For this former Michigan State star, the numbers are pretty Spartan.

What you see on "SportsCenter" is pretty much all the Jets get, just like generalities are all you get from Mangenius and the house line all you get from his players.

"I feel like we've got a lot of people that can do things with the ball in their hands," said Mangini, giving a short answer that doesn't explain why his tight end isn't used in more short yardage. In one of four situations when the Jets were forced to kick last Sunday had third down been spent throwing the ball toward Baker, who at 6-3, 258, shouldn't be so hard to find.

Baker, in his sixth season of incognito work for a bright-lights, big-city team, may not be Alge Crumpler. Then again, given the opportunity, maybe Baker could be, starting today against a Bills team that has given up 281 passing yards per game starting 0-3. Most coaches, given a tight end who can block and catch, wouldn't check his teeth for cavities.

"Obviously I want to see the ball more, but I have to be professional and keep working for more opportunities, and when I do get opportunities, make the most of them," Baker said.

"Obviously in the red area I've gotten the ball a little bit more, but this is what the game plan dictates."

The plan is using Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith, plus Leon Washington coming out to the backfield, in addition to Justin McCareins for consecutive drops when the Jets could have gone to overtime in Baltimore.

You won't see Baker drop the ball once, let alone twice. So our argument that the guy is a too-well-kept secret, we're not going to drop that, either.

jay.greenberg@nypost.com

[CobraVerde]

damn skippy...

[BUM-KNEE]

Id love to see Baker get more receptions, he is clutch when his # gets called.

[lancemehl]

BAKER NEEDS BIGGER ROLE

September 30, 2007 -- ORCHARD PARK - Of course, Chris Baker wants the ball more. And, of course, Eric Mangini says that's not always prudent.

"The important thing is understanding where it needs to go based on the coverage or based on the play," said Mangini, who would not be the last coach to fail to make sure the ball most needs to go places where it will be caught.

Founded upon a small, spectacular, sample, visible to eyes both trained and otherwise during Sunday night highlights, the Jets tight end can catch it.

Last week at the Meadowlands, on third-and-goal at the Miami 4 with two seconds left in the half, Baker rose at the back of the end zone to tip the ball to himself, drag both feet inside the end line, and lengthen the Jets' lead to seven points. Fourteen days ago, down 20-6 in the fourth quarter at Baltimore, Kellen Clemens put the ball high and wide of the coverage, and Baker came down with the game again within the Jets' grasp.

Eleven months ago in Cleveland, Baker was descending with a spectacular game-tying touchdown in the dying seconds when he was forced out even more obviously than Terry Bradway had been forced out. The Jets didn't get the call, sort of like Baker most of the time in huddles. Until the last few yards of Jets drives, the show goes on without the guy making the circus catches.

"Chris is very unique," Chad Pennington said. "No. 1, he's an excellent run blocker, but he can also make big catches for you in the pass game. And he's a bigger threat and more valuable to our offense because we can keep him on the field at all times.

"I think he's been under the radar."

Oddly so for a receiver who can rise over defensive backs and drag his feet even longer than Leon Hess did before he dumped Rich Kotite. After catching 31 passes in 16 games in 2006, plus another five in the playoff loss at Foxborough, this season Baker has four receptions for 36 yards.

For this former Michigan State star, the numbers are pretty Spartan.

What you see on "SportsCenter" is pretty much all the Jets get, just like generalities are all you get from Mangenius and the house line all you get from his players.

"I feel like we've got a lot of people that can do things with the ball in their hands," said Mangini, giving a short answer that doesn't explain why his tight end isn't used in more short yardage. In one of four situations when the Jets were forced to kick last Sunday had third down been spent throwing the ball toward Baker, who at 6-3, 258, shouldn't be so hard to find.

Baker, in his sixth season of incognito work for a bright-lights, big-city team, may not be Alge Crumpler. Then again, given the opportunity, maybe Baker could be, starting today against a Bills team that has given up 281 passing yards per game starting 0-3. Most coaches, given a tight end who can block and catch, wouldn't check his teeth for cavities.

"Obviously I want to see the ball more, but I have to be professional and keep working for more opportunities, and when I do get opportunities, make the most of them," Baker said.

"Obviously in the red area I've gotten the ball a little bit more, but this is what the game plan dictates."

The plan is using Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Brad Smith, plus Leon Washington coming out to the backfield, in addition to Justin McCareins for consecutive drops when the Jets could have gone to overtime in Baltimore.

You won't see Baker drop the ball once, let alone twice. So our argument that the guy is a too-well-kept secret, we're not going to drop that, either.

jay.greenberg@nypost.com

This guy must've read my posts starting from about two weeks ago. Yeah, I agree.

[Damaged89]

Baker could probably be really good but we'll never know. This happens every year. I know its fall when Chris Baker is buried in blocking hell.

[NJ]

Baker could probably be really good but we'll never know. This happens every year. I know its fall when Chris Baker is buried in blocking hell.

Thats the deal - unfortunately. As much as I didn't like Becht, he did a nice job blocking and so does Baker. With the O line still in a "learning mode" - thats going to be a big part of his life here.