FAB 3. BAKER, GHOLSTON BRING SIZE TO BUCS’ D-LINE
One of the things that Bucs general manager Jason Licht and defensive coordinator Mike Smith wanted to do this offseason is get bigger along the defensive line.

Tampa Bay defensive line coach Jay Hayes, who is a mammoth man himself, is used to big defensive linemen from his days in Cincinnati when he had defensive ends like Carlos Dunlap (6-6, 280), Will Clarke (6-6, 280), Michael Johnson (6-7, 272) and Margus Hunt (6-8, 295). In his days as a defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, Smith had a pair of huge Pro Bowl defensive tackles in John Henderson (6-7, 335) and Marcus Stroud (6-6, 310).

Bucs DT Chris Baker – Photo by: Getty Images

The addition of 6-foot-2, 320-pound defensive tackle Chris “Swaggy” Baker and the re-signing of 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end Will Gholston gives the Bucs some added beef upfront. The Bucs will need bigger bodies to battle in the NFC South.

The Panthers just added 6-foot-7, 317-pound left tackle Matt Kalil and could draft 240-pound LSU running back Leonard Fournette or 213-pound Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. The Saints signed 6-foot-6, 332-pound Larry Warford to play opposite 6-foot-4, 315-pound guard Jahri Evans on a line that also features two big tackles in 6-foot-7, 320-pound Zach Strief and 6-foot-7, 315-pound Andrus Peat.

In four years the Bucs have increased the size of their defensive line by an average of 14 pounds.

2014 Bucs’ Starting Defensive Line – Avg. Size 6-4, 281
DE Michael Johnson – 6-7, 272
NT Clinton McDonald – 6-2, 295
DT Gerald McCoy – 6-4, 300
DE Jacquies Smith – 6-2, 260

2015 Bucs’ Starting Defensive Line – Avg. Size 6-3, 280
DE George Johnson – 6-4, 265
NT Clinton McDonald – 6-2, 295
DT Gerald McCoy – 6-4, 300
DE Jacquies Smith – 6-2, 260

2016 Bucs’ Starting Defensive Line – Avg. Size 6-4, 289
DE Robert Ayers, Jr. – 6-3, 275
NT Clinton McDonald – 6-2, 295
DT Gerald McCoy – 6-4, 300
DE Will Gholston – 6-6, 285

2017 Bucs’ Starting Defensive Line – Avg. Size 6-4, 295
DE Robert Ayers, Jr. – 6-3, 275
NT Chris Baker – 6-2, 320
DT Gerald McCoy – 6-4, 300
DE Will Gholston – 6-6, 285

“Heading into free agency, Chris was one of our priority targets on the defensive side of the ball,” said Bucs general manager Jason Licht. “He is a big, athletic player who has developed into a disruptive interior lineman over the past three years. He will be a great addition to our defensive line and a solid fit in Mike Smith’s defensive system.”

The reason why the Bucs preferred Baker instead of re-signing Akeem Spence or Sealver Siliga, who is also 320 pounds, is his ability to rush the passer. Baker has 11.5 career sacks, including 9.5 over the last two years. Spence has 5.5 career sacks, including 1.5 in the past two seasons. Siliga has 6.5 sacks in his career, with just one in the past two years.

In 2015, Baker earned the Sam Huff Defensive Player of the Year award from the Washington Redskins Alumni Association after recording career highs in sacks (six), quarterback hits (17), tackles for loss (10), forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two).
 
Per Stats, Inc., Baker has 64.5 combined QB knockdowns and hurries over the past two years. Since 2015, Baker is one of six NFL defenders to post 100+ tackles, 9+ sacks, and 5+ forced fumbles, joining Oakland’s Khalil Mack, Denver’s Von Miller, Cincinnati’s Carlos Dunlap, San Diego’s Melvin Ingram and Philadelphia’s Brandon Graham.
 
“Chris has excellent size and what really jumps out at you is his ability to flash dominance at times during games and his explosive quickness,” said Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter. “His versatility will make him a great complementary player alongside Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald on our interior defensive line.”

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy and DE Will Gholston – Photo by: Getty Images

Without Gholston in the lineup due to a dislocated elbow in a crucial 31-24 Week 16 loss at New Orleans, Saints running back Mark Ingram rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Three weeks earlier in a 16-11 victory over New Orleans in Tampa Bay, Gholston was in the lineup and helped hold Ingram to 14 yards on seven carries. Gholston is a difference-maker up front in the run game and his absence in the Bucs’ Week 16 defeat proved how valuable he is in a loss that cost Tampa Bay a shot at the playoffs.

The addition of Baker and the return Gholston, the Bucs’ leading tackler among defensive linemen for the last two years, not only helps the team’s run defense. Baker and Gholston are improving pass rushers that can also contribute on passing downs. While the signing of DeSean Jackson headlines Tampa Bay’s free agent activity, having Baker and Gholston start along the Bucs defensive line is also “big” news.