Football: Keepin' cool: Baker only has to fill Banjoman's shoes (08-31-06)
By Ryan Sonner (Daily Staff Writer)
FRONT ROYAL — Brandon Baker showed his value last season, even if it was in a backup role.
As a junior behind the record-setting H.B. Banjoman on the depth chart, Baker took advantage of limited playing time, rushing for 632 yards. He even was a second-team all-Northwestern District selection.
But he could barely bench press his weight.
"We've teased him a little bit," Warren County coach Heath Gilbert said, "[by] saying he has a Division I lower body but a middle-school upper body."
Baker participated in a football combine at James Wood in December, benching the standard 185 pounds just once. Earlier this summer, he tried again.
And he pushed out 12 reps.
"That's a great improvement," Gilbert said. "He's gotten himself ready, especially in his upper body."
With that problem out of the way, Baker can concentrate on football. He played on both sides of the ball last season, and by the end of the year was one of the team's best defensive backs.
His role on offense was more complicated, due to the presence of Banjoman, who shattered the school's single-season rushing record with 2,607 yards and 37 touchdowns. Banjoman has graduated, making Baker the heir apparent.
It's certainly an unenviable role, as far as expectations are concerned. But Baker has taken the promotion in stride.
"It's going smoothly," he said. "I'm really enjoying it."
Baker is fortunate to have garnered so much playing time behind Banjoman. Without it, the transition into the starring role would have been daunting.
"I learned a lot from him," Baker said. "He's very elusive; I learned how to move."
To help silence the fans who will try to draw comparisons — fairly or unfairly — between the two backs, Baker has put himself through a rigorous offseason training program aimed at improving his endurance.
Gilbert said Baker will again play offense and defense, meaning the opportunity to challenge Banjoman's records will be nearly impossible.
"It's just not going to happen because H.B. didn't play defense," Gilbert said, "If he wants to do something like H.B. did, maybe he can aim for the yards per carry."
Baker isn't concerned with Banjoman's records — it's hard enough just winning the starting job. It's even harder to keep it.
"If it was going to be easy, it wouldn't be fun," he said. "I study the playbook every night at home. You have to know what you're doing. That's part of the responsibility if you want a starting position; you have to work."
Having Baker in the backfield will make life a little easier for the offensive line. Senior tackle Matt Strickler said it was impossible to know what would happen when Banjoman tucked the ball under his arm.
"[Baker] can take a guy, hit him and leave him there," Strickler said. "H.B. would just leave all of us behind. We have to look at how [Baker] runs and how we need to adjust."
On defense, Baker's primary position will be free safety, but his role changes drastically when Gilbert sends in his nickel package. In that formation, Baker could be lined up anywhere from defensive end to outside linebacker.
Baker played just sparingly on defense in the first few games of last season, a decision Gilbert said he regrets.
"He's too valuable back there," said Gilbert, who is entering his fourth season at Warren County. "He makes so many plays, especially in our nickel package. He's important in our blitz schemes."
Because of his dual role, Baker will likely be on the field for just about every play. Following a recent practice, an assistant coach suggested that could mean up to 100 snaps every Friday night.
"A hundred snaps is a nice, round number," Baker said. "I can do a lot with that."
