Current San Diego Charger & MSU RB Edwin ‘Rock’ Baker Talks Being a Dad, NFL and More!
Current San Diego Charger & MSU RB Edwin ‘Rock’ Baker Talks Being a Dad, NFL and More!
Q: Edwin ‘Rock’ Baker out in San Diego, playing for the Chargers. Hello Rock.
A: How you doing? Thanks for having me.
Q: You came back for Pro Day. You made every person shaking your hand feel like they were the only person in the room. You still appreciate the love, don’t ya?
A: Absolutely, absolutely.
Q: What’s better…being called a running back or Dad?
A: I think they both go hand in hand because they’re both a big part of my life now. Running back was my first love, football’s my first love. Then came my son. When I got a scholarship to Michigan State that was one of the most happiest days of my life. Then my son came and that was more happier than that. So it’s just a process, it’s just a joyful moment. They just go hand in hand.
Q: Your reputation as a big tough football player doesn’t work when your son’s around, because you’re just like a melted piece of chocolate.
A: Absolutely, absolutely. On the field, that’s all business. But when I’m around my son, around people I love, I’m just a joyful guy. I’m just a guy that loves to be around people, loves to have fun. Enjoy life.
Q: You’re a great guy and a great football player. How were you able to always keep it in perspective?
A: Great parenting. I have great parents. They always instill in me that football is just a stepping stone to bigger things in life. You’re not gonna be able to play football forever. People will remember you when you’re done playing football about your character, the way you approach people, the way you treat people. You never wanna burn your bridges wherever you go, whoever you’re around. You never know who you’re around, you never know who you meet. There was a saying that I was told when I was in probably elementary school, middle school… my teachers told me that your attitude determines your altitude. That’s always stuck with me and I just carry that through my whole life.
Q: After you the Chargers picked you, Chargers San Diego sports radio asked me, “Tell me what you know about Edwin Baker.†I told them that you are more stubborn than any woman they’ve ever met. When you make up your mind, nothing’s ever gonna change it. You have just never wavered from your goals, have you?
A: No, not at all.
Q: Last year as you were a part of the Chargers organization, when you looked at all the stars on the field and realized you had made it, what kind of a moment was that like for you?
A: It's a humbling moment, it's a humbling moment. It really opened your eyes to really think about where you are and what have you done to get to this moment. All the hard work and all the sweat, all the tears. It shows you that it really doesn't come easy. We always say that it don't come easy, but as players we never look back and really look at all the things that we went through...if it was injuries, if it was family problems, all the things that help to push us and help to motivate us to get to this point where we are today. It's definitely a humbling moment. I just looked out on that field and really appreciated just being out there. I wasn't playing, but being out there and being a part of the atmosphere and really being a part of a dream that came true...it was absolutely beautiful.
Q: You're the kind of guy that can enjoy others' successes. Are you amazed sometimes to see the difference in what the guys can do in the NFL that they couldn't do in college?
A: Oh absolutely, absolutely. I get amazed every day that I'm in practice. One person in particular that really sticks out to me is Antonio Gates. I mean, this man....he's unbelievable. I'd say he is the best tight end in the NFL. You never know what route he's gonna run. Every route looks the same. He's just a great athlete, great player. Every time he's in I really watch him and study him and just see how he carries himself on the field. He works hard every day. Every day he comes to work. He's been in the league 10 years. It hasn't stopped. Every day he comes to work.
Q: How are you a better football player today than you were a year ago getting ready for your first mini camps?
A: Just being smarter. When I say that, I mean a smarter football player. Coming out of college I wouldn't say that my football IQ was where it should have been. Just by being in a league for a year and going into my second mini-camp, I'm much smarter. I'm more patient running the ball. I'm really seeing the play develop, reading the defense and just doing things to help me get that extra edge. Just becoming a student of the game.
Q: When they first handed you the San Diego Charger playbook, it's a little bit bigger than Michigan State isn't it?
A: Absolutely, absolutely.
Q: What was that moment like? Was that kind of your moment of, Oh wow. This is the NFL.
A: Yes, absolutely. The playbook I would say was three times bigger than Michigan State's. There's so many different concepts, so many different ways you can run the same play. You have to know in and out of the playbook. So that definitely was a challenge for me, trying to convert everything. I would try to convert what I learned at Michigan State to what I'm learning now. That seemed to help me a little bit but for the most part I really just had to memorize it, study it, understand it, know what I'm doing and produce it on the field.
Q: In mid-December you were moved up from the practice squad to the 53 man roster. When you were on the practice squad it was kind of a rest for your body from taking the weekly beating from carrying the ball so much at Michigan State. Am I reading that right?
A: Absolutely. It definitely gave me a chance to heal. It gave me a chance to really get used to the game. I took it as getting red-shirted. Getting red-shirted again and just really getting acclimated to the system, getting acclimated to the speed of the game and really understand that this is not college anymore. You can't outrun everybody. You can't do things that you were doing in college. You have to slow yourself down, let the play develop and let everyone do their job. By me being on the practice squad it definitely helped me understand that and made me a better football player.
Q: Let's set football aside for a minute. How do you enjoy San Diego? That place is beautiful, isn't it?
A: Oh my god, it's so beautiful. Especially coming from Michigan. It's definitely a change of atmosphere. It's very beautiful. Very expensive, but beautiful.
Q: How jealous were your mom and dad when you called back in January or February and it's 10 below and it's 75 out there?
A: Yeah, they were jealous. They were jealous. I'd rub it in their face every now and then, but not too much. I didn't want them getting mad at me.
Q: Did mom come out much?
A: She did. My parents and my sister came out for Christmas. They spent the week out here and celebrated Christmas with me.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Spartan?
A: Greatness, greatness. To be a Spartan, we don't accept nothing but greatness. We don't expect nothing but greatness. Just knowing that I came from a great tradition and a great coaching staff. I tell Coach Dantonio all the time...I text him...that I love him. And I really mean it. Because he helped me become not just a better football player but a better man. I tell him all the time. I thank him for that. I tell him that he's one of the best coaches in the game. So that's what it means to me.
Q: You and Mark Dantonio are very close. A lot of guys come in and struggle a little bit with that coach-player relationship. But you didn't. What is it about you and Mark Dantonio that you two gelled and even today are very close?
A: I would say just my commitment to the team. When he asked me to come to Michigan State... When I accepted and I said yes, he said that this is a commitment. This is somewhat like a marriage. You don't wanna say you're gonna do something and you don't do it. He's always been a man of his word. When he decided to put me on...well, not just him...but when the coaching staff decided to red-shirt me when I came in, he sat me down in his office and he told me why. He said, Do you have any problem with that? I said, No I don't, Coach. You know better than I do on what's better for me at this point. I've never played college football; you've been coaching at this for a very long time. If you see something in me that can help me in the long run to give me this red-shirt...that's what I took it as. He's just always understood me and we've just clicked from day one.
Q: Edwin, it's always great to catch up with you. God bless you my friend.
A: Thank you.
Add us as a preferred source on Google