Can Ronald Fields keep Chris Baker at bay?

Denver Broncos rookie defensive lineman Chris Baker attacks a dummy during drills at the NFL football team's training camp in Englewood, Colo., on Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

We continue our look at the 2009 preseason with another unanswered question pressing our Denver Broncos. The Broncos kick off their exhibition games at San Francisco on Friday at 8pm MT.

If the nose tackle position is the gateway to success in a 3-4 defense, Ronald Fields is holding the key. But just as Head Coach Josh McDaniels has said several times now, no one is guaranteed a starting spot at this point in camp. And a certain undrafted rookie is nipping at Fields’ heels.

Chris Baker was heralded by some as the second best nose tackle in the entire 2009 draft. Yet off-field issues left him suspended and ultimately expelled from Penn State in 2007. After playing (and dominating) for Hampton University in 2008, Baker declared for the NFL draft, where some considered him a second-or-third round talent. It wasn’t to be, though; Baker fell out of the draft completely and signed a free agent contract with the Broncos shortly thereafter.

Baker’s past is complicated, and you can read more about it here. But, just as Baker has asked, we’re going to look beyond the events of two years ago and judge him on the football field. There, Baker is proving to be a powerhouse and is deservedly generating some buzz.

Denver Broncos rookie defensive lineman Chris Baker walks onto the practice field on August 3, 2009. (BroncoTalk/Kyle Montgomery)

Josh McDaniels after Sunday’s practice: “Chris has shown the ability to knock people back. That is something that you hear (Defensive Line) Coach (Wayne) Nunnely say a lot is that if we can change the line of scrimmage, then you can certainly help our run defense in some areas and push the pocket in the pass rush. Chris has done some good things in this camp. It is going to be really an interesting deal to see how a lot of these rookies play in the preseason and see how much they can do within our scheme against somebody else’s scheme that they are not used to seeing every day. Chris is one of many that we are looking forward to seeing.”

Ross Tucker on SI.com: “Broncos second-string nose guard Chris Baker, an undrafted free agent, certainly appears to look and play the part…. He has the natural power to play the nose in a 3-4 defense; he made a number of plays at the practice I attended.”

BroncoTalk: The BT Staffers are on the Chris Baker bandwagon as well. Jonathan listed him as his top “favorite lesser-known Bronco” of 2009. During my visit to Broncos training camp, I mentioned Baker in my very first practice report as one of the unknowns who made a play and was worth keeping an eye on. The preseason is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

For the time being, though, Fields is the man. The coaches know it and give him extra attention before and after every snap and drill. Fields hasn’t done anything to lose the starting job, but he really hasn’t done anything to win it, either. His career resume certainly wouldn’t imply “starting nose tackle” to any other NFL team. He hasn’t started a game since 2006 and has only registered one sack in 49 professional games.

Physicality
Both players are 6-2 and over 300 lbs., but Baker has a solid 15 lbs. on the veteran. With the nose tackle expected to eat up double teams and disrupt the line of scrimmage (especially in running plays), Baker has the edge physically.

Experience
This one’s huge, as Baker has the rookie woes to deal with. Nearly every defensive tackle in the league struggles in Year One, almost without exception and certainly more than any other position on the field. Fields is a veteran. He may not have been stellar in San Francisco, but Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan saw enough to bring him here, and he certainly has more experience than Baker.

The experience factor gives Fields a huge edge, and he’ll be given every chance to earn and keep the starting job. But if the defense struggles with Fields up front and Baker continues to impress, don’t be surprised if the Broncos switch their gatekeeper to the promising rookie. It’s one of the most interesting and important competitions to watch this preseason.