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Jerome Baker – June 7, 2023 Download PDF version

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

LB Jerome Baker

(Your early impressions of being in this defense after being on the field now? CB Jalen Ramsey, and CB Xavien Howard were saying on the back end is not all zone, it’s not as much zone as people think. What do you think overall and different specifics of the defense, what are your thoughts?) – “You’ve got to be a smart player to play in this defense, but once you get it down and once you have an idea of what you’re doing it’s so fun playing. Just the different things we do, the different things we ask from guys, it’s definitely going to be fun so I’m excited.”

(What are your thoughts on the rookie LB Aubrey Miller and what he’s been able to do?) – “He’s a fun guy. He’s really just trying to learn. Every play he’s trying to figure out how he could get better. That’s all you can really ask for from rookies. They don’t know what they are doing yet, but just try to soak in all the information and he’s definitely trying to do that.”

(Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio… how are you getting along, and what have you noticed about him?) – “He’s a great guy. He really is. He’s one of those coaches that he will sit down and explain every guy’s role what they got to do on every play and that’s all you can ask for as a linebacker. You really just try to understand the defense and he really sits down and explains everybody’s role and how you can get better. Whether you do good or not he’s just coaching you up to get better. It’s definitely fun.”

(I was asking Head Coach Mike McDaniel about basically culture. How important is it to have guys that buy in and the window in the NFL is short because of free agency, and guys moving around. How important is that?) – “It is super important. That’s when you lean on the leaders and the guys that have been here and they know what we’re about. We have great leaders, we have guys that really buy in. We have young guys that are just willing to do anything to get on the field and help our team win and that’s all you can really ask for.”

(How big of a part of that is the head coach?) – “He sets the tone for everything. Even the first day we came in he set the tone of ‘all we’re going to do is try to win the offseason right now and worry about the season when it comes.’ I think we all have been doing that.”

(When it comes to QB Tua Tagovailoa we see a physical difference, he’s put on some weight. What are you seeing as far as his progression, and what’s different about him now?) – “He’s one of those guys that every year he’s trying to get better at every aspect. This year you can tell physically he looks different. Mentally he’s sharp, I don’t think he’s thrown a pick this offseason. Mentally he’s just sharp, and he’s on it. You can tell now that he’s on guys when they are not doing right and that’s just good to see.”

(Yesterday LB Jaelan Phillips talked about how this offense stresses the edge position and how tough it is to react. I’m curious from this second level position how this offense challenges you in that role?) – “The amount of speed we have is kind of crazy. Every day it feels like a track meet. Like I said, right now it is a track meet because there are no pads on. We got to keep pushing through this offseason and when the season comes we’ve got to just lock it in and see what we are about.”

(This is Year 6 for you, do you have any personal goals, or accolades that you want to accomplish this year?) – “Personally – I have my personal goals I keep to myself – but honestly I want to win some games in the playoffs and see what we can do. I think last year I got a taste of it and now I want more. That’s really my main goal, is to get to the playoffs and win some games.”

(Do you think with the South Florida teams winning in the postseason, do you think that will rub off on you guys?) – “Yeah, I hope so. Shout out to the Heat, shout out to the Panthers and everybody. I hope it rubs off on us we got to taste of it last year. When it’s our time to do it, hopefully we win some more games.”

(Does that Buffalo game stick in the back of your mind, or do you kind of wash it away and move on to the next season?) – “Personally of course I’m still thinking about that. I always think about plays that I could’ve done better, especially when it’s a close game like that you definitely think about the plays you could’ve done better. Of course I’m thinking about it. But as a team, it’s last year. We’ve got a new team so nobody really cares about it.”

(What do you think about the Heat and the way they’ve been able to do it as an eight-seed with a bunch of guys that hardly nobody knew?) – “That’s just a credit to their team. Their mentality is no matter what we’re going to go in there and fight, and as you see it’s working out for them and hopefully they get it done.”

(You’ve talked about the Heat, and the Panthers and it seems like Inter Miami is getting ready to make a move and bring Lionel Messi to South Florida. What do you think about that? It’s a big-time move right?) – “Yeah, it’s definitely big time. I guess you can say Miami is trying to win some ball games around here. That’s just the credit to the culture of Miami. We’re just trying to win in every aspect and it’s going to be a good one.”

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