Jerome Baker – October 17, 2021 (Postgame)
Sunday, 17 October 2021
Postgame – Jacksonville (London)
LB Jerome Baker (transcribed by NFL Communications)
Q: Anything work especially for you today?
JEROME BAKER: You saying did anything work?
Q: That fourth-and-one stop, were you expecting them to run?
JEROME BAKER: Yeah, they have a great back. So definitely was keyed in for they was going to run the ball. Yeah, I had an idea that they were running.
Q: Spreading out, guarding the sideline, as a whole, you guys were trying to guard the sideline; is that right? Did you expect them to go inside?
JEROME BAKER: They could have did either one. We line up outside, they would have thrown a slant and get a quick timeout. If we would have lined up inside, they would have threw it right to the sideline, get out quick. It was just a football play and just didn’t go in our favor.
Q: Did you think that the Jaguars had enough time on the clock to complete a play in the middle of the field, call time out and set up for a field goal?
JEROME BAKER: Me personally, I had a good idea they had enough time. I think we could have played it better, but at the end of the day, it didn’t go in our favor. If we would have just did a few things different throughout the game, could have came up with a win but disappointed we lost. At the end of the day, it is what it is.
Q: Gesicki on the field for a Hail Mary.
JEROME BAKER: Yeah, the first thing, of course we think of Hail Mary, but after we saw what they were doing, we had a good idea they wasn’t doing that. But Gesicki, he’s definitely out there.
Q: I’m assuming you didn’t think the team would be in this position 1-5. Why and how do you think the team is in this position?
JEROME BAKER: I will say one thing about this team: Every day we come in there, we go hard. We lock in and go as hard as we can and we work as hard as we can. We all trust Flo and we all try to do the right thing. It’s football. It’s the NFL. It’s kind of unfortunate that we are 1-5 but it is what it is and we can’t look back in the past and try to change anything. All we can really do now is just focus on next week, whoever we play and just lock in and get it done.
This is the National Football League. And did I expect us to be 1-5? No. Anybody in this league, you don’t expect to lose games. It is what it is. National Football League, at the end of the day, still early, but you just got to turn it around and we got to turn it around quick.
Q: You got three hits on Trevor today. Did you see anything different or anything you didn’t expect or what was your perception from the defense side?
JEROME BAKER: I’ve been a fan of him since he was in college and you could just tell early on, he’s smart and he got the arm, and I think a lot of people don’t understand that he’s actually athletic. You know, he’s a young quarterback, but you could tell he’s definitely getting better every week and all praise to him. He’s definitely going to be one of the great quarterbacks in this league, and today, he got one on me. So you know, next few years, I’m definitely going to see him again.
Q: As a team, how do you think Tua played today and how good to see him back out on the field?
JEROME BAKER: I was excited to see him back out there, I mean, just to see the work he put in when he was out, he was still locked in. He was still trying to get healthy. He was still trying to get guys better. I was definitely happy to see him out there. I definitely think he made some great throws and great plays. That’s what we all expect of him. I’m definitely happy for him. At the end of the day, you’ve got to close this chapter and focus on next week, and I’m definitely excited for that.
Q: What’s your sense for how Noah and Justin filled in for the two Pro Bowlers?
JEROME BAKER: They did what they supposed to do, and that’s when the guy in front of them is down and they have to step in and do just as good. I’m definitely happy for Noah, he’s been through some challenges, and just to see him push through, push through and he definitely made some plays for us. I’m definitely to see them two out there and make some plays for us.
Q: What was the atmosphere like in London?
JEROME BAKER: Yeah, the atmosphere was lit. It was one of those places, just to see the love for football in another country, it’s nothing like that. It was definitely a cool experience and hopefully I get the chance to come back out here and play again. But honestly, the people here were beautiful. They were nice. They were everything you expected of London and I’m definitely happy I was here and got the opportunity to play here.
Q: What do you take from that, by the atmosphere, that obviously the NFL is big here?
JEROME BAKER: Yeah, honestly, I didn’t expect football to be this big out here. But it surely was a great site to see, the different jerseys, the different teams, the different people rooting for different teams. Just to see the football as a sport out here, it was just cool to see. For me just to get the opportunity to play in another country, I think that’s something a lot of guys can’t say. So I’m definitely happy that we are here. It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the win.
Q: It was clear on the scoreboard replay, but what was your opinion of whether or not the Jaguar guy touched the ball?
JEROME BAKER: My opinion, I’m sure it’s different angles, but I’m one of those guys that if he touched it, great, we got a touchdown. If he didn’t, just come out there and play some defense. I’m one of those guys. I don’t really care if he touched it or not. I just know that it’s our time to go out there on defense. I have to go out there and perform. I haven’t seen it. I haven’t seen the TV or anything, but it is what it is.
Q: Team is on a five-game losing streak. What’s your message to the fans?
JEROME BAKER: The fans? The Miami Dolphins, we come in every day, we work hard, we’re young, we’re hungry and that’s never going to change. When we come in the next day, we truly put our pads on and we look to work and get better. Is it disappointing that we’re 1-5? Yes.
But it’s still early. This team is hungry and I’m definitely excited for the rest of the year, and we definitely need our fans to support us and back us and we’re definitely going to come for the rest of the games and do the best we definitely can. Don’t count us out yet. We are going to be good. We are going to learn from it but at the end of the day, it’s still early. We just got to come out and lock in and we’ve got to pick up some wins.
