Colts' Darrell Baker Jr. 'Preparing as a Starter' in CB Race
The fight for starting reps at cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts has been one of the more interesting battles of training camp.
The only cornerback guaranteed to be a starter is Kenny Moore II. Moore has looked like his old self in camp, making plays on the ball and causing issues for the receiver he is matched up against.
The other two spots are up for grabs. Second-round pick JuJu Brents seemed to be penciled into a starting role but has only two NFL practices under his belt after dealing with wrist and hamstring injuries. The expected battle between Dallis Flowers and rookie Darius Rush has seen Flowers take control as Rush dealt with a shoulder injury to start camp.
But the surprise of training camp has been another cornerback that was never expected to compete for a starting role. Darrell Baker Jr. has been taking reps with the first-team defense for the duration of training camp. After spending all of 2022 on the Colts' practice squad, Baker has a legitimate shot to make the 53-man roster and have a contributing role on the team.
However, if you ask Baker, nothing has changed from a preparation standpoint. He has been preparing as a starter since joining the Colts' practice squad.
"Whether I'm on the practice squad or whatever, I'm always preparing as a starter," Baker explained. "So I'm just going to have that mindset no matter what."
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The preparation Baker does has allowed him to take the leap from fringe roster player to potential starter for the Colts. He has been aggressive in coverage and held his own against the top wide receivers for the Colts. Baker has even challenged Michael Pittman Jr. a few times in 1-on-1 and full-team periods.
While the rest of the football world may be surprised to see Baker playing at this level, this is not news to him.
"I feel like I've always been able to do this," Baker said. "All of the work that I've put in through this offseason, and then when I get those opportunities to step up for my brothers and my coaches give me that trust, you just come in, do the right thing, and make the right plays."
Baker's coaches and teammates have noticed the type of impact he is having on this defense. From making plays on the field to his competitive nature, Baker is making noise in a good way.
"Just his speed and his aggressiveness," head coach Shane Steichen said when asked what he likes about Baker. "He's been great in man-to-man coverage. He's got good vision, reading the quarterback's eyes. I like the way he works and he's improving every day."
"He's just a young player that's always in the right spot, man," linebacker Zaire Franklin noted. "Always knows what to do, always making plays. He doesn't shy away from that competition, whether that's him going against AP (Alec Pierce), him going up against Pitt (Pittman).
"Whoever he matches up against he doesn't shy away from that. Always making plays on the ball, it's good to see. I know there's a lot of competition right now at that spot so it's always great to see a young player embrace that, go after that, and just take advantage of his opportunities."
Baker has embraced going up against the Colts' best wide receivers. Going against Pittman and Pierce allows him to prove himself against two legitimate starters in the NFL. In fact, Baker revealed who he likes going up against the most in Colts Camp.
"I'll probably say Alec Pierce," Baker admitted. "I love going against him. He's a bigger body receiver that you're going to see almost every week in and out. So I love those type of matchups."
Through all the battles with Pittman and Pierce and continuing to stack days, Baker's stock has soared over the last few weeks. Even though he had the confidence he could perform at this level, Baker needed to prove it on the field. Earning the trust of his coaches and teammates has been imperative for the 25-year-old out of Georgia Southern.
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"That I can play in this system," Baker answered when asked what he wanted to prove to his coaches.. "That they can trust me alongside my brothers. It's not just really proving to the coaches, it's proving to my brothers that I'm going to be on the field as well."
Baker will have to continue his stellar camp to fend off the rookies coming for his job behind him. Brents and Rush are expected to improve with each practice as they get their feet under them and adjust to the speed of the NFL. Flowers is not going away anytime soon. For Baker, it is about making the most of his opportunities.
Baker will get even more chances to prove himself during the Colts' three preseason matchups. It is one thing to perform well in a practice setting. But when going up against another opponent in a game, it is a completely different animal.
Can Baker continue to prove he should be considered for a starting role on the Colts' defense? If the cornerback's confidence is any indication, this is only just the beginning of his journey.
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