Budda Baker: the “red dot” Cardinal

Will Budda’s teammates consistently have Budda’s back?

Yesterday, ESPN’s Mina Kimes conducted a fascinating session with the Arizona Cardinals’ “red dot” defender, Budda Baker. To see and hear what “red dot” means, check this out:

Here’s the entire video:

Commentary:

Being the Cardinals’ red dot (most targeted) defender is nothing new for Budda Baker. Back in 2021, when Budda was voted the 19th best player in the NFL by his peers, the common themes among his offensive opponents were:

• he’s probably the best defender we will play all year (Damien Harris)
• he’s the fastest, hardest hitting player on the field (George Kittle)
• every play you have to know where Budda is (Kyle Juszczyk)

Click here for short NFL #19 tribute to Budda Baker:

(18) #19 Budda Baker (S, Cardinals) | Top 100 Players in 2021 – YouTube

What was different for Budda Baker in 2024?

Nick Rallis, in his 2nd season as the Cardinals’ DC, after using Budda in a more traditional type of safety role in 2023, decided to, at Budda’s behest, incorporate the multiple, creative ways that Budda could be used in the defense, much in the manner that Vance Joseph used him.

Some of you may recall that Budda was hoping for Vance Joseph to be named as Kliff Kingsbury’s successor. Understandably for him because Budda was thriving in the creative roles that Vance was giving him.

Budda also surmised that if Vance were to become the next head coach, then he would receive the 3-year contract extension that Steve Keim had promised him. But for Budda, Kliff and Vance were now gone and so was Steve Keim.

That left Budda at the mercy of a new GM and head coach —- and when Budda asked for his contract extension in good faith, given what was promised to him by the old regime, Monti Ossenfort was not willing to go that far, but was willing to restructure Budda’s contract in 2023 in order to give him some added guaranteed money assurances.

It was a one-year compromise that eventually paid off for Monti and Budda after the new coaches saw first-hand how and why Budda is the heart and soul of the Cardinals’ defense and an alpha leader for the team. By virtue of Budda’s ability to prove his value to the team, one week before Christmas 2024, he was awarded a 3-year, $54M contract with $29M guaranteed.

Budda loves Nick Rallis’ offense, in part, because he is back to being the Cardinals’ “red dot” laser force from all angles of the game board.

Nick Rallis: “The Mad Scientist”

When Mina Kimes raved about Nick Rallis’ “crazy” ability to dial up creative looks and blitz packages, Budda Baker agreed that Rallis can be considered “the mad scientist.”

Elaborate, surprise-tactic schemes are good when the timing is exactly right, but a successful defense is always dependent on the players’ ability to diagnose plays quickly, shed blocks, tackle forcefully and cover fast and sticky.

Budda epitomizes all of these cornerstone abilities that are the bedrock of great defenses, Yet, alas, over the past few years, far too many of his teammates have not. While Budda so often has his teammates’ backs, he’s often had to deal with the pressure of knowing that if he doesn’t make the play on the ball, then who will?

Exotic schemes can be effective perhaps a handful of times a game. However, the bottom line is that defenses need to show they can win straight out of their primary alignments, particularly when showing man or zone coverage.

What’s encouraging for Nick Rallis, Budda Baker and the Cardinals’ defense this year is the significant talent and depth that has been added to the front seven. For the first time, since 2021, the Cardinals defense is likely going to be able to generate strong pressure on opposing QBs with a 4-man rush.

What this development calls for is a more disciplined continuity in pass coverages where technique and communication are of paramount importance.

One therefore has to hope that Nick Rallis can become a little less of a mad scientist this season, in favor of become more of a fine-tune mechanic.

Budda conceded to Mina Kimes that he likely will not be blitzing as much this season but will have a greater focus on trying to get his hands more frequently on the football.

Which, of course, harkens back to his #19 in the NFL video where he revealed that the favorite play of his career was his first interception where he perfectly jumped a slant route versus the Cowboys.

What Budda and his pass coverage teammates are priming for is a little more of this:

Such is often the case for defensive playmakers when they sense the ball is going to come out fast and hot —- and in Budda’s case, heading in the vicinity of the Cardinals’ red dot.