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Jerome Baker – December 14, 2020 Download PDF version

Monday, December 14, 2020

LB Jerome Baker

(I asked Head Coach Brian Flores about you earlier today and he said that some of the things you did in this game was kind of take on a different role where you did more pass rushing. Obviously that worked out well. How much do you enjoy when you get the opportunity to stand up on the edge and sack the guy for a 30-yard loss?) – “I enjoy it a lot. It’s fun. It’s different. I mean, it’s football. Anything I can do football-related, I love to do it. It’s a little new to me, but I definitely had fun out there.”

(Have you ever had a 30-yard sack before and did you need oxygen after that play?) – “(laughter) No, I’ve never had a 30-yard sack or nothing like that. No, I didn’t need oxygen either. It was third down so we got off the field and I was good.”

(In the previous four games, you averaged 36 snaps on defense and then you played 61. What was going on? Were you practicing poorly? Was it just the role? Why were you playing so little during that stretch?) – “It’s a game plan thing. That’s really all it is. It’s game plans. In certain game plans, I’m not asked to do as much. For me, whenever I’m out there and I get the opportunity to play out there, I just try to take advantage of it. This game I got more snaps. So whenever coach feels like he wants me out there, I’m just going to go out there and do what I can do.”

(A 30-yard sack, what was the best reaction you got? Was it from your mom? Somebody had to give you a pretty good reaction to that.) – “For me, just hearing my teammates talk about it, that’s pretty cool to me. Kyle (Van Noy) called me after the game. I talked to him. It’s really just that. Just hearing from your teammates, it means a little bit more. I always appreciate that.”

(You mentioned the game plan specific role you had as a pass rusher. I’m curious how that changes the week of work for you. When LB Kyle Van Noy and LB Elandon Roberts are on the injury report as questionable and then you find out that you’re going to be playing more and have that more adjusted role like Head Coach Brian Flores had mentioned today, does that add an element of a challenge to the week for you or is it business as usual?) – “I’d say business as usual. I’m asked to do a lot of things. If it’s covering running backs, if it’s playing the middle of the field, if it’s pass rushing – whatever it is, I’ve been asked to do so much in my time here in Miami so I’m kind of used to it. If they throw something at me, I kind of take it as they trust me to do it and I go out there and do it.”

(The first time you guys played the Patriots this year, there were some issues with the run defense. I think they had over 200 yards rushing and QB Cam Newton had 75. Since then, it has been much better. As a team, what has changed? What has gotten better? What personally have you done better and how big of a challenge is that ground attack this week?) – “I think what changed is we just communicate better. We take pride in making sure teams don’t run on us. I think that’s the main thing. We have extra meetings just for players. We did pretty much all we can to get that under control. This week is going to be a big challenge, but it’s definitely going to work out.”

(Another thing that Head Coach Brian Flores said today that I didn’t know, but I probably should’ve known, is that you’re also the signal caller. Can you tell me what goes into being the signal caller for the defense and what kind of responsibility that is for you at this point in your career?) – “First, it’s a lot of communication. You have to communicate with the back end. You have to communicate with the d-line. You’ve got to be in constant communication throughout the play. Last year, I got quite a bit of doing that, so I have a little bit experience. Now this year, it’s not a big problem, it’s not a big thing. I kind of do what I have to do and communicate just to make sure we’re  all on the same page as a defense.”

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