Atlanta Falcons
Connections: Baker to play in front of college coach
By D. Orlando Ledbetter
Oct 2, 2011Falcons left tackle Sam Baker starred as a three-time All-Pac 10 performer for Seattle coach Pete Carroll at USC from 2003-07.
Baker and his line mates are off to a slow start. Maybe seeing Carroll will help him.
“I mean, it’s been a rough year so far,” Baker said. “We definitely haven’t been protecting as well, so right now all we can do is focus on fixing it.”
Other connections include:
- Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder coached Seattle defensive end Chris Clemons at Georgia from 2001-02.
- Seattle's assistant offensive line coach Pat Ruel was Baker's position coach from 2005-07.
- Seattle's offensive line coach Tom Cable was with the Falcons for the 2006 season and was the offensive line coach at California while Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez was there. Cable had recent back surgery and may not be at the game.
- Seattle quarterbacks coach Carl Smith was the offensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 2005-06 when Falcons coach Mike Smith was the defensive coordinator.
- Seattle right tackle James Carpenter, the team's first-round draft pick, is an Augusta native and played at Hephzibah High.
- Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka was with the Falcons, but was cut in August 2010 after losing a battle with Matt Bryant.
- Seattle rookie wide receiver Kris Durham played at Georgia and Calhoun High. He had three catches in his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 18.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
