http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/52555.htm<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>August 25, 2005 -- Few people were upset when the Jets let go widely unpopular offensive coordinator Paul Hackett this offseason. Tight end Chris Baker may have been at the top of the list of those who didn't mind seeing him leave. "Once Hackett was gone, I knew it couldn't get any worse," Baker said. "I mean, I wasn't used at all, so I couldn't be used any less. You can't go any lower than where I was." He was more pleased when he learned Hackett's replacement was going to be Mike Heimerdinger. "I didn't know that much about him, but I knew he was from Tennessee and that the tight ends got a lot of action there, so I figured that would be true here," Baker said. "So far, it's been everything I hoped for." It's not entirely that simple. Baker was placed in the starter's role when Anthony Becht signed with Tampa Bay as a free agent, and Herman Edwards said he thinks the fourth-year pro is adapting to his new role. The coach commended Baker on how well he's caught the ball in the preseason, hauling in nearly everything that has come his way during the team's training camp, which ended yesterday. The Jets have a walk-through today before playing the Giants at the Meadowlands tomorrow. "He understands that he's a starter now and he's picked up his game," Edwards said of Baker. "When Anthony decided to leave, [Baker]became the guy. He had been behind Anthony, and now it's his job to lose and he's keeping it." Baker has yet to start a regular-season game in his NFL career, which isn't what he envisioned when he came to the Jets out of Michigan State. He set school records with 133 career receptions, 1,705 yards and 13 touchdowns, but has caught 34 passes in his first three years here. "I've been extremely frustrated," Baker said. "It's disappointing when you can't even prove you belong. I didn't get to do anything with the other guy [Hackett], but I always thought I would get my chance at some point, whether it was here or somewhere else." As it turned out, he and new teammate Doug Jolley figure to play a more crucial role in the Jets' offense. "We're going downfield more," said Baker, a Queens native who attended Springfield Gardens before his family moved to Michigan while he was in high school. "I feel like I did when I was in college and they actually thought about me on the field. The past three years, we hardly did any of that, and I didn't feel like I had a point." He said the added responsibility would help his game. "It definitely affects you," Baker said. "You know you're being counted on, so you raise your own level. I'm going to get more in a rhythm now." The next test comes tomorrow against the Giants, but Baker is eyeing the season opener against the Chiefs on Sept. 11 even more. "I've been waiting for this for so long, there's no way I'm not going to take advantage of it," Baker said. "This has definitely breathed new life into me and into my career. I feel excited to play again, like I did when I first got here. I forgot how good it is."</div>
Im currently very happy with Baker he has started at TE in both Pre season games and i fully expect him to Start in the 3rd aswell! A Bit miffed that we went and got Jolley by moving down the draft board, but hopefully he can perform well this season and be worth the move
Im suprised as well to see Baker starting, but with Heimerdingers offense there is alot of 2 TE sets, so I expect to see both of them playing alot. Hopefully Baker wont have stonehands anymore.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V?n0m @ Aug 25 2005, 05:49 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Im suprised as well to see Baker starting, but with Heimerdingers offense there is alot of 2 TE sets, so I expect to see both of them playing alot. Hopefully Baker wont have stonehands anymore.</div> Haha, Heimerdingers...
