Why Vrabel was encouraged by Baker in Patriots’ preseason opener

Javon Baker didn’t file a reception within the Patriots’ preseason opener towards the Commanders, however he nonetheless did one thing that his new coach favored on Friday.

The second-year vast receiver was part of the Patriots’ particular groups unit within the 48-18 win, which Baker later mentioned was the primary time he had ever performed particular groups in his soccer profession.

For a particular groups novice, Baker did properly in his debut in that space of the sport. He recorded a sort out on the Patriots’ first kickoff of the sport, taking down Commanders’ returner Demetric Felton. He made his second and remaining sort out within the second quarter, taking down Jaylin Lane on a Commanders punt return for only a one-yard achieve.

Whereas Baker was efficient in his particular groups debut, what actually stood out to Mike Vrabel was his willingness to contribute in that side of the sport.

“Yeah, I believe that’s unbelievable,” Vrabel instructed reporters about Baker’s particular groups efficiency. “When you will have gamers, particularly receivers, that may create a job, that may make it easier to, be massive, bodily, every little thing that we see out of Javon as a receiver, once they can embrace that as particular groups gamers, guys which are massive and bodily and quick and keen, that interprets to particular groups.”

Getting into camp, Baker was broadly seen as one of many receivers battling for a roster spot and a possible minimize candidate after recording only one catch in his rookie season. He’s primarily gotten reps with the second-team offense this summer time, with the Patriots persevering with so as to add expertise at vast receiver this offseason.

So, along with his path to creating the roster completely as a large receiver changing into slimmer, Baker is keen to do no matter it takes to make himself not expendable.

“I by no means performed particular groups till this yr — till that recreation,” Baker told MassLive’s Mark Daniels. “No matter coach needs me to do, I’ll simply do it. Simply create a job on this workforce. If it’s that, being a gunner, then I’ll be a gunner. No matter they need me to be.”

As Baker continues to learn to be a particular groups gunner, he’s drawing inspiration from an All-Professional teammate of his.

“One of the best within the league. Brenden Schooler,” Baker told reporters on who he’s studying to play the place from. “Why not? Each down, each play, he does 110 % going 100 miles per hour.”

At the moment final yr, Baker was seen as a attainable sleeper breakout candidate after the Patriots took him within the fourth spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft, due to his skill to make massive performs at UCF. However he struggled to see the sector, recording simply 79 snaps.

Baker didn’t make an affect at vast receiver on Friday, logging zero receptions on two targets. On one in all his targets, the ball slipped by means of his grasp. On the opposite, he appeared to mistime his leap on a again shoulder fade move from Josh Dobbs ultimately zone.

Nonetheless, Vrabel couldn’t assist however be “excited” for Baker following the Patriots’ win over the Commanders.

“Simply glad for Javon simply with the ability to go on the market and contribute,” Vrabel mentioned. “Once you do these issues, your teammates get excited. Hopefully, his confidence continues to develop.”