WEBVTT - Drive Time - Jerome Baker's Value from Dolphins Coaches 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:10.080 Factortrick touchdown. What a win for this Miami Dolphin team. 0:00:10.840 --> 0:00:15.040 What is up, Dolphins? And Welcome to the Drive Time Podcast, 0:00:15.120 --> 0:00:19.200 part of the Miami Dolphins official podcast network, covering your 0:00:19.520 --> 0:00:23.400 Miami Dolphins each and every day. How's it going to everybody? 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:27.120 It is Wednesday. I am your host, Travis Wingfield, and 0:00:27.160 --> 0:00:29.440 I am here to bring you your daily dose that's 0:00:29.520 --> 0:00:32.519 right of Miami Dolphins football. And on today's show, we're 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:34.879 gonna hear from Coach Flores before the first day of 0:00:34.920 --> 0:00:39.559 practice and preparation for the Seattle Seahawks. He's gonna talk penalties, officials, 0:00:39.600 --> 0:00:43.120 Seattle's vertical passing game, and that scrambling quarterback and so 0:00:43.200 --> 0:00:45.960 much more. Plus we have our first injury report of 0:00:46.000 --> 0:00:48.400 the week. We'll hear from a few Dolphins players. We're 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:51.519 gonna talk about Jerome Baker, who is Leonardo DiCaprio in 0:00:51.560 --> 0:00:54.080 the Wolf of Wall Street because he's not freaking leaving. 0:00:54.280 --> 0:00:56.360 What do the coaches say about Jerome Baker and why 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.520 he never leaves the field. We'll talk offensive line overhaul 0:00:59.560 --> 0:01:03.680 and draft pick success. A busy, busy show. All of 0:01:03.720 --> 0:01:07.720 that and more on this Wednesday, September edition of the 0:01:07.840 --> 0:01:14.720 Drive Time podcast and support for drive Time is brought 0:01:14.720 --> 0:01:17.160 to you by Auto Nation. If you want to sell 0:01:17.200 --> 0:01:19.880 your car or truck, Auto Nation will buy it from 0:01:19.920 --> 0:01:23.560 you any year, any make, any model, They'll buy your 0:01:23.600 --> 0:01:25.720 car and you'll get a check on the spot and 0:01:25.760 --> 0:01:28.959 as fast as thirty minutes. Appraise your car now at 0:01:29.000 --> 0:01:31.679 auto nation dot com. And let's go ahead and jump 0:01:31.760 --> 0:01:34.880 into the injury report here for this Wednesday, and we'll 0:01:34.880 --> 0:01:37.440 have the Seahawks report available as soon as it becomes 0:01:37.480 --> 0:01:40.280 available up on the top news story and on tomorrow 0:01:40.360 --> 0:01:43.480 morning's blitz article. So keep their eyes out for that 0:01:43.560 --> 0:01:46.000 because they are a West Coast team, so they operate 0:01:46.040 --> 0:01:48.040 three hours behind us. So we're gonna get the podcast 0:01:48.080 --> 0:01:50.640 out and not wait on that injury report. But for 0:01:50.680 --> 0:01:54.640 your Miami Dolphins, six players on the injury report for Wednesday, 0:01:54.720 --> 0:01:58.080 three in limited capacities, safety Clayton Federland with the peck 0:01:58.120 --> 0:02:01.400 injury still limited, safety Cave Fraser has a shoulder, and 0:02:01.440 --> 0:02:04.160 cornerback Xavian Howard with a knee was on the injury report. 0:02:04.440 --> 0:02:06.480 One of the Dolphins players on the injury report was 0:02:06.480 --> 0:02:09.280 a full participant, safety Brandon Jones with the back, and 0:02:09.280 --> 0:02:11.919 the Dolphins had two players who did not practice on Wednesday. 0:02:12.080 --> 0:02:15.440 Cornerback Byron Jones with the growing slash Achilles and quarterback 0:02:15.480 --> 0:02:17.919 to a Tongue of Valoa listed with an illness did 0:02:17.960 --> 0:02:21.360 not practice on Wednesday, and so you heard the last 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:23.960 addition to the injury report. Their Dolphins quarterback to a 0:02:24.000 --> 0:02:26.280 tongue of Valoa will not be on the practice field 0:02:26.280 --> 0:02:29.040 on Wednesday, or rather was not on the field on Wednesday. 0:02:29.080 --> 0:02:31.560 Coach Flores addressed that on his own accord at his 0:02:31.600 --> 0:02:34.680 Wednesday morning media availability. That's where we start with coach 0:02:34.880 --> 0:02:38.640 this morning injury not injury standpoint, so too will be 0:02:38.680 --> 0:02:41.760 out today. He will be on the injured poor with 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:46.080 an illness. Um, this is not COVID related. Um, this 0:02:46.200 --> 0:02:48.880 is not a false positive. We've been through the protocols 0:02:49.120 --> 0:02:53.359 we test every day, so UM confident saying that's not 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:56.320 COVID related. Won't being on the COVID I are. But 0:02:56.480 --> 0:02:58.160 just wanted to let you guys know, so you weren't 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:02.720 blindside at practice, so to A won't be a practice today. Illness, 0:03:03.600 --> 0:03:06.320 UM won't be on the COVID I are not COVID related. 0:03:07.320 --> 0:03:09.200 So that you have it straight from coach's mouth. There 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:11.240 onto a tongue of Baloa. Let's go back to the 0:03:11.280 --> 0:03:12.920 beginning of the press conference and get to some more 0:03:13.000 --> 0:03:16.480 questions for coach regarding this game, this matchup on Sunday 0:03:16.560 --> 0:03:19.480 against the Seattle Seahawks, and we're gonna go back to 0:03:19.520 --> 0:03:22.400 a topic that we're gonna cover heavily on tomorrow's podcast, 0:03:22.400 --> 0:03:25.480 talking about this Seahawks offense, the Seahawks approach, and that 0:03:25.560 --> 0:03:28.760 quarterback in Russell Wilson. Here is coach talking about the 0:03:28.880 --> 0:03:31.400 challenge of dealing with the quarterback who can extend plays 0:03:31.400 --> 0:03:34.600 and scramble. It's multifaceted when it comes to this quarterback, 0:03:34.639 --> 0:03:37.760 this guy, Russell Wilson in particular, according to coach, I 0:03:37.760 --> 0:03:40.040 mean there's a lot of challenges with a quarterback who 0:03:40.040 --> 0:03:43.360 can extend plays. You know, the coverage, the rush. You know, 0:03:43.360 --> 0:03:46.600 you've got some some guys who extend plays and they're 0:03:46.640 --> 0:03:49.320 looking to scramble. You have some guys will extend players 0:03:49.320 --> 0:03:54.600 are looking to throw. Um. With Russell Wilson, it's it 0:03:54.640 --> 0:03:56.840 can be either or and he's very good at both. 0:03:56.920 --> 0:03:59.920 So um, you know, you couple that with I mean 0:04:00.000 --> 0:04:02.560 we've got good receivers, they've got good backs, they've got 0:04:02.600 --> 0:04:05.520 a good old line. Uh, those receivers, I would say, 0:04:05.560 --> 0:04:08.880 in a scramble situation, they know where they want to 0:04:08.920 --> 0:04:11.520 go once he once they see him scramble, They've I 0:04:11.600 --> 0:04:14.000 mean they've kind of lived it for a number of years. 0:04:14.000 --> 0:04:16.680 I mean there's some some rapport that's been built. So 0:04:17.520 --> 0:04:20.240 I know it's you want to say it's just Russell, 0:04:20.320 --> 0:04:22.520 but I mean they kind of work all work together 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:25.920 in concert, create big plays or create positive plays when 0:04:25.960 --> 0:04:27.760 he does extend to play. It's not like guy's just 0:04:27.800 --> 0:04:29.560 standing around. I mean they're all they all work together 0:04:29.600 --> 0:04:31.479 and they do a good job of that. So you know, 0:04:31.560 --> 0:04:33.920 we we need we need good rush. We need to 0:04:33.960 --> 0:04:36.280 try to you know, limit those opportunities where he does 0:04:36.320 --> 0:04:39.599 extend plays um. But when he does get out, which 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:41.880 he will, I mean, good, he's a good player. We've 0:04:41.880 --> 0:04:43.120 got to do a good job in the back end 0:04:43.120 --> 0:04:46.760 of trying to plaster receivers um when they try to uncover. 0:04:47.320 --> 0:04:49.760 I love I love coach referencing there the idea that 0:04:50.080 --> 0:04:53.560 you know, it's not just about the quarterback, it's about 0:04:53.560 --> 0:04:55.200 the players on the other end. They kind of connect 0:04:55.200 --> 0:04:57.120 and hook up with him on those broken plays, on 0:04:57.200 --> 0:04:59.120 those broken routes and It's been that way for the 0:04:59.120 --> 0:05:01.359 Seahawks team for all long time. They're so well coached 0:05:01.360 --> 0:05:04.640 and they execute so well that Doug Baldwin, for instance, 0:05:04.680 --> 0:05:07.040 was so so good at that and they lose him, 0:05:07.080 --> 0:05:09.880 and then DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and Will Distally 0:05:09.920 --> 0:05:12.000 and all these other guys in the passing game just 0:05:12.040 --> 0:05:14.240 step right up and fill in for that void. So 0:05:14.279 --> 0:05:16.599 the Seahawks are a a one of these blue blood 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:18.560 programs that just kind of seems to turn things over, 0:05:18.800 --> 0:05:20.680 or when they do turn things over, they pick up 0:05:20.720 --> 0:05:23.080 where they left off. Next question here for Coach Flores 0:05:23.160 --> 0:05:26.240 was in regards to the vertical passing game of the Seahawks, 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:29.440 speaking of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Doesn't get much 0:05:29.480 --> 0:05:31.560 better than that. Again, we'll talk about it on tomorrow's 0:05:31.560 --> 0:05:33.960 podcast more in depth, but here's coach on the vertical 0:05:34.000 --> 0:05:37.160 passing game and the challenges those guys present to your secondary. 0:05:37.279 --> 0:05:39.240 To your point, Adam, and they've got a lot of 0:05:39.400 --> 0:05:41.839 vertical threats. Obviously, the quarterback can get them the ball 0:05:41.880 --> 0:05:44.360 down the field. You're defending the run game, you're defending 0:05:44.400 --> 0:05:47.320 the screen game, you're defending the short passing game. But 0:05:47.400 --> 0:05:49.720 the big plays, you know that they're definitely looking for him. 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:52.400 Metcalf's obviously a big play guy. Lockett's obviously a big 0:05:52.600 --> 0:05:56.880 big play guys. So um, I mean, they've got multiple weapons. 0:05:57.360 --> 0:06:00.960 We got to do a good job, you know, defending 0:06:00.960 --> 0:06:03.080 they part of the field also, but also defending the 0:06:03.400 --> 0:06:05.520 intermediate part of the field and in the run game, 0:06:05.800 --> 0:06:09.440 in the screen game. So it's a big challenge. Um, 0:06:09.480 --> 0:06:12.080 I would say, those big players are the ones you 0:06:12.120 --> 0:06:14.760 need to limit those. If you don't, then you know, 0:06:15.080 --> 0:06:18.040 they just lead to scoring drives or scores on the play. 0:06:18.120 --> 0:06:22.279 So um, it's something that we we've obviously we we 0:06:22.360 --> 0:06:25.480 know and understand that we've got to try to limit 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:27.520 as many of those big plays as we can. And 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:31.080 DK Metcalf leads the NFL in deep passing yardage with 0:06:31.160 --> 0:06:33.599 throws over twenty yards. He's also second in the NFL 0:06:33.640 --> 0:06:36.600 behind Chase Claypool, who only has six pass targets. So 0:06:36.600 --> 0:06:38.920 I would say that technically Mattcalf is number one in 0:06:39.000 --> 0:06:42.640 average yards per reception at twenty four point eight yards 0:06:42.680 --> 0:06:45.320 per catch. Last year, Tyler Lockett was number eleven in 0:06:45.360 --> 0:06:48.560 the NFL in reception yardage on passes over twenty or 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:51.640 more yards, so these guys can get vertical. Another big 0:06:51.680 --> 0:06:54.560 element of this game, in any game, is being mistake free, 0:06:54.600 --> 0:06:57.400 playing a clean football game, having limited penalties. We're gonna 0:06:57.400 --> 0:06:59.599 talk more about this here on the offensive line segment. 0:06:59.640 --> 0:07:02.360 I have land later on in this episode, but here's 0:07:02.400 --> 0:07:05.640 coach talking about what goes in to being a team 0:07:05.640 --> 0:07:07.920 that does not commit penalties, a team that is disciplined 0:07:08.080 --> 0:07:10.560 and can keep that number low and keep you competitive 0:07:10.560 --> 0:07:13.160 and in ball games with mistake free football. I think 0:07:13.160 --> 0:07:16.000 our coaches do a good job of of talking through 0:07:16.040 --> 0:07:20.120 what a penalty is, you know how to avoid them, so, 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:23.800 you know, Chan Josh Danny in the kicking game, think 0:07:23.800 --> 0:07:26.400 those guys do a good job of of of coaching 0:07:26.400 --> 0:07:29.240 those coaching our players from that standpoint. You know how 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:31.120 to play with good fundamentals, or try to play with 0:07:31.120 --> 0:07:35.040 good fundamentals, good technique, a good communication, and penalty free. 0:07:35.120 --> 0:07:37.960 We you know, look, we understand that penalties, you know, 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:41.200 they they can only hurt us. We try to, you know, 0:07:41.200 --> 0:07:44.679 as a team, try to limit those penalties that they happen. 0:07:44.880 --> 0:07:47.360 We we we understand that's like not like we have none. 0:07:48.120 --> 0:07:50.760 They happen, but we try to, you know, as best 0:07:50.800 --> 0:07:55.560 we can um use the techniques or understand what's gonna 0:07:55.560 --> 0:07:57.840 get called, how it's gonna get called, try to play 0:07:57.880 --> 0:08:00.440 in a way that we can be competitive. We can 0:08:01.040 --> 0:08:04.680 do ourselves an opportunity to play well but not commit penalties. 0:08:04.720 --> 0:08:07.240 It's you know, we try to stress that, but we 0:08:07.280 --> 0:08:09.000 stress a lot of things. We tell these guys a lot, 0:08:09.120 --> 0:08:11.600 you know, offensively, defensively in the kicking game. You know, 0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:14.480 whether it's communication, where it's tackling, whether it's a fundamental 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:18.080 whether it's you know, um and they think they do 0:08:18.120 --> 0:08:20.480 a good job of or or we're getting better at 0:08:20.920 --> 0:08:24.320 taking everything we tell them and trying to uh apply 0:08:24.440 --> 0:08:28.120 it applied in game and excuse me, in practice and 0:08:28.160 --> 0:08:31.040 then in the game. So our players work hard at it, 0:08:31.560 --> 0:08:34.880 um our coaches work hard at it from a penalty standpoint, 0:08:34.960 --> 0:08:39.160 and again hopefully and just jinxes a little joke there 0:08:39.160 --> 0:08:40.800 at the end with a big rye smile from coach 0:08:40.840 --> 0:08:43.800 Flora's talking about jinxing us on the penalties. Somebody would 0:08:43.840 --> 0:08:46.640 later ask coach about whether or not he studies the 0:08:46.679 --> 0:08:49.199 officials pregame or studies the officials that are going to 0:08:49.200 --> 0:08:51.880 be officiating that particular game. He said, yeah, I do. 0:08:51.920 --> 0:08:53.920 I try to study as much as I can about everything. 0:08:54.240 --> 0:08:56.240 And really, I mean, these guys have X amount of 0:08:56.280 --> 0:08:58.520 hours to get this game plan, to get everything ready 0:08:58.559 --> 0:09:01.040 for Sunday. It's just it's wild to be how much 0:09:01.040 --> 0:09:02.880 goes into this how much we really don't see out 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:05.640 there on the outside as football fans with you know, 0:09:05.679 --> 0:09:07.400 what goes into the NFL game, what goes into a 0:09:07.440 --> 0:09:10.000 Sunday Coach Flores talked about a little bit. They're good 0:09:10.000 --> 0:09:12.720 stuff from coach and so we talked about the vertical 0:09:12.760 --> 0:09:15.199 passing game of the Seahawks. How about since you're on 0:09:15.240 --> 0:09:18.280 the Miami Dolphins podcast talking about how we can combat 0:09:18.360 --> 0:09:21.000 that vertical passing game with the secondary we have. Here's 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:23.719 coach Well, I mean, we're we're getting guys ready, and 0:09:23.760 --> 0:09:26.000 we're getting everyone ready. I think our guys are in 0:09:26.040 --> 0:09:30.120 today and they've been working um to prepare against a 0:09:30.160 --> 0:09:33.160 really good opponent. And they're working together. And the group 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:38.000 of guys that we have, um, you know, corners, safeties, uh, 0:09:38.080 --> 0:09:43.320 you know, Nichols, they're working together trying to get a 0:09:43.360 --> 0:09:45.680 good graphs of what they do offensively, who they're key 0:09:45.679 --> 0:09:48.000 players are, how they're getting in the ball. The guys 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:50.480 who are out there. UM. I think they're gonna do 0:09:50.559 --> 0:09:53.400 everything they can to try to, uh play a competitive 0:09:53.440 --> 0:09:56.000 ball game and limit what these guys do offensively, which 0:09:56.040 --> 0:09:57.800 they do a lot, and they've got good players, so 0:09:58.559 --> 0:10:00.240 it'll be a tough challenge. I think they they No 0:10:00.320 --> 0:10:06.920 one understand that, UM, no specific to who's in who's not. Um, 0:10:06.960 --> 0:10:09.720 you know, injuries, you know, we we have the guys 0:10:09.760 --> 0:10:12.280 we have. You know, it may not be what we 0:10:12.360 --> 0:10:14.480 had on you know, Week one, but that's it's that 0:10:14.520 --> 0:10:16.880 way for every team. You know, everyone's dealing with something. 0:10:17.440 --> 0:10:20.360 And uh, I think the guys were confident the guys 0:10:20.360 --> 0:10:23.960 we're gonna play on Sunday, and um, you know, if 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:27.600 we prepare the correct way, UM, we compete and we'll 0:10:27.600 --> 0:10:30.719 give ourselves a chance. Um, but we're not have to 0:10:30.720 --> 0:10:33.320 play well against a very very good, good team. And 0:10:33.320 --> 0:10:35.080 now you have it. That's basically what it comes down to. 0:10:35.200 --> 0:10:37.240 Playing well against the Seahawks team. You're gonna have to 0:10:37.240 --> 0:10:39.559 play a clean football game. You're gonna have to execute 0:10:39.559 --> 0:10:40.800 in the red zone, you might have to take some 0:10:40.880 --> 0:10:43.000 chances on fourth down. This is a team you have 0:10:43.080 --> 0:10:45.120 to execute and play well against a beat and the 0:10:45.160 --> 0:10:48.600 Dolphins know that Brian Flores obviously knows that. Next question 0:10:48.640 --> 0:10:51.720 for coach was about he's referred to the idea that 0:10:51.800 --> 0:10:54.400 the way players performing practice and how they get themselves 0:10:54.440 --> 0:10:56.960 prepared throughout the course of the week determines their playing time. 0:10:57.160 --> 0:10:59.600 He was asked about that. What goes into that here's 0:10:59.600 --> 0:11:02.280 coach and how he decides who gets the snaps on Sundays. 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:05.640 I think there's a combination of performance on the field 0:11:05.679 --> 0:11:10.120 and practice, whether it's individuals to UM any kind of 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:13.000 group or seven on seven or not on seven, to 0:11:13.320 --> 0:11:18.400 the team periods. Uh So the performance in those uh 0:11:18.960 --> 0:11:23.040 areas of practice. UM, there's we feel like they're performing 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:25.000 well and they have a good understanding of what we're 0:11:25.000 --> 0:11:27.840 trying to do, you know, this particular week, and I 0:11:27.880 --> 0:11:30.679 think that may may lend give a little bit more 0:11:30.720 --> 0:11:32.640 inside O mar. Every week is a little bit different, 0:11:33.160 --> 0:11:37.240 UM as far as who we may be trying to attack, 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:41.200 what we're trying to do, UM game plan wise, and 0:11:41.240 --> 0:11:45.440 that's offensively defensively, are in the kicking the game? UM. 0:11:45.760 --> 0:11:48.040 Some matchups are better than others. I don't think I 0:11:48.080 --> 0:11:52.360 can't say there's one specific thing, UM that that that 0:11:52.360 --> 0:11:56.000 will elevate someone. Uh but if we like a matchup 0:11:56.160 --> 0:12:00.600 or we feel like someone can handle uh a position, 0:12:00.640 --> 0:12:03.080 that's going to entail them doing two, three, four or 0:12:03.080 --> 0:12:07.880 five different things um versus one thing um that could 0:12:07.880 --> 0:12:11.200 elevate someone in a particular game plan. So attention to 0:12:11.320 --> 0:12:15.720 detail definitely a main area of focus in this football team. 0:12:15.720 --> 0:12:17.959 Speaking of attention to detail, let's go ahead and spend 0:12:17.960 --> 0:12:20.280 this thing forward now to a piece on Jerome Baker. 0:12:20.320 --> 0:12:23.480 I'm working on looking at why the Dolphins linebacker never 0:12:23.559 --> 0:12:25.880 leaves the football field. I asked the question to a 0:12:25.920 --> 0:12:28.600 few of the coaches on Tuesday about Jerome Baker, about 0:12:28.640 --> 0:12:32.120 his prowess as far as knowing the defense, knowing the communication, 0:12:32.200 --> 0:12:35.120 knowing the calls, the versatility that he displays. And that's 0:12:35.160 --> 0:12:37.720 why a big reason why I should say he's been 0:12:37.760 --> 0:12:41.360 on the field for one hundred and seventy seven of 0:12:41.440 --> 0:12:44.839 the one two snaps played by this Dolphins defense through 0:12:44.920 --> 0:12:47.560 three games. And this comes one year after he played 0:12:47.600 --> 0:12:50.760 a combined twelve hundred and eight snaps on defense and 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:55.200 special teams combined. Coach Flores talks about leaders, communicators, versatile 0:12:55.200 --> 0:12:58.319 players who prioritize the game. Those hallmarks we have all 0:12:58.320 --> 0:13:01.800 come to know and love about Flora's the requisite traits 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:04.600 for Chris Greer and Brian Flores to consider bring you 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:07.640 in to this Miami Dolphins football team. Now, Baker was 0:13:07.679 --> 0:13:11.199 an incumbent, a player here, a rookie in ten before 0:13:11.240 --> 0:13:13.880 Flora has arrived. But he gets here, recognizes the talent, 0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:17.720 recognizes the leadership, recognizes the versatility in Baker right away. 0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:20.720 And Baker has thirty tackles this season that's tied for 0:13:20.880 --> 0:13:23.880 sixth most in the National Football League. He saved that 0:13:23.920 --> 0:13:26.839 touchdown Week one with a great hustle play that led 0:13:26.880 --> 0:13:29.040 to a forced fumble and really got the Dolphins back 0:13:29.080 --> 0:13:31.520 into the game. An eight yard marched down the field 0:13:31.520 --> 0:13:34.200 from Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offense would ensue. So he 0:13:34.320 --> 0:13:37.680 definitely the complimentary football aspect of that play. Was there 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:41.320 a game changer, a momentum swinger. He leads by example 0:13:41.520 --> 0:13:45.559 and proudly carries multiple responsibilities on this Dolphins defense. Now, 0:13:45.600 --> 0:13:49.079 I asked Josh Bowyer, what is it that allows Jerome 0:13:49.120 --> 0:13:52.040 Baker to be a guy that plays nineties percented your 0:13:52.040 --> 0:13:55.480 snaps here's coach on just that? Well, I would I 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:58.240 would say that the first thing is he's in good 0:13:58.240 --> 0:14:02.640 physical condition. UM. So he's he's able to take his 0:14:02.640 --> 0:14:05.920 his many reps as we can give him. Um, you know, 0:14:06.360 --> 0:14:10.920 and he's he's been productive for us. Uh. He works hard. Uh. 0:14:11.320 --> 0:14:13.160 You know, he's been all over the field. We've asked 0:14:13.240 --> 0:14:15.760 him and you know, he's got the mental capacity that 0:14:15.840 --> 0:14:20.720 he can handle multiple rules. UM. So you know that 0:14:21.000 --> 0:14:24.080 with the physical condition, we think we're putting him in 0:14:24.160 --> 0:14:28.000 positions to succeed. Um. And he's shown the ability to 0:14:28.040 --> 0:14:30.400 make plays. So that kind of that's all of a 0:14:30.440 --> 0:14:33.040 culmination of him being out there as much as he is. 0:14:33.640 --> 0:14:36.600 And you just go back over the messaging of Brian 0:14:36.640 --> 0:14:39.280 Flores throughout the course of his two years here so 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:41.760 far in Miami. It's not just about consistency on the 0:14:41.800 --> 0:14:44.840 football field, but being consistent in the playbook and the 0:14:44.880 --> 0:14:47.960 weights on the practice field, the fundamentals, the technique, you 0:14:48.000 --> 0:14:50.680 need stretches of games of consistency. Coaches said before to 0:14:50.720 --> 0:14:53.160 feel good that they understand how to be a professional 0:14:53.400 --> 0:14:56.440 and that complacency does not set in. So it's been 0:14:56.480 --> 0:14:59.480 a big message. Jerome Baker really embodies that message. And 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:01.560 this is a guy who's been on an upward trajectory 0:15:01.640 --> 0:15:05.520 since his arrival. That rookie season, a third round draft pick. 0:15:05.520 --> 0:15:07.680 We're gonna talk more about draft picks later on in 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:10.720 this podcast. A third round draft pick playing nineties your 0:15:10.720 --> 0:15:13.480 snaps on defense, that's not too bad. Baker worked his 0:15:13.480 --> 0:15:15.880 way up from a sub package linebacker as a rookie 0:15:16.000 --> 0:15:18.040 to the centerpiece of the middle of the Dolphins defense, 0:15:18.080 --> 0:15:21.800 again leading the Dolphins in defensive snaps besides Bobby McCain 0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:24.040 at safety, who's played just a few more snaps than 0:15:24.120 --> 0:15:26.720 Jerome Baker. But his arrival in this position is not 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:28.560 just a mid round feather in the cap of the 0:15:28.600 --> 0:15:31.640 Dolphins scouting department. It shows that the way a player 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:34.680 arrives does not determine their playing time or their role 0:15:34.920 --> 0:15:37.200 on this football team. Because coach Flores gets here, he 0:15:37.240 --> 0:15:40.160 sees a player on tape with exceptional closing speed and 0:15:40.280 --> 0:15:43.080 versatility and made him the focal point of the defense 0:15:43.160 --> 0:15:46.400 last year, again leading this defense in snaps taken in 0:15:46.880 --> 0:15:50.720 nineteen and now just behind McCain. In and I had 0:15:50.760 --> 0:15:54.080 former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder back on the podcast on 0:15:54.160 --> 0:15:57.320 March sixteenth, and he talked then about the job that 0:15:57.360 --> 0:15:59.720 Flora's and Baker do together on this defense and the 0:15:59.800 --> 0:16:02.400 role he gives Jerome Baker in the middle of this defense. 0:16:02.560 --> 0:16:05.600 He put Jerome Baker in the middle of everything and 0:16:05.640 --> 0:16:07.560 try to keep him unblocked to let the Rome run 0:16:07.560 --> 0:16:09.880 because the Roome fans. He slid him to the tight 0:16:09.960 --> 0:16:12.200 end pool guys down in the box, and I think 0:16:12.200 --> 0:16:15.000 the result of that is a pretty tangible aspect of 0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:17.520 where Jerome Baker is. He was tied for six last 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:20.680 year and quarterback pressures for off ball linebackers that does 0:16:20.720 --> 0:16:23.080 not include guys down off the edge like a Von Miller. 0:16:23.240 --> 0:16:25.800 Courtesy of Pro Football Focus, he had six team pressures 0:16:25.840 --> 0:16:28.040 on the quarterback last year. His ball production in the 0:16:28.040 --> 0:16:31.200 passing game produced more interceptions and pass breakups four of 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:34.520 those combined than touchdowns allowed, and coverage just two of those. 0:16:34.800 --> 0:16:37.520 His forty six run stops those are tackles within two 0:16:37.600 --> 0:16:40.760 yards of the line of scrimmage for second among all 0:16:41.120 --> 0:16:43.840 off linebackers in the NFL or off ball linebackers. I 0:16:43.840 --> 0:16:46.480 should say, and on the topic of rushing the quarterback 0:16:46.560 --> 0:16:48.760 and those six team pressures he had a season ago, 0:16:49.040 --> 0:16:51.160 how about talking to Mary and Hobby, the guy who 0:16:51.200 --> 0:16:53.760 coaches the defensive lineman up front and the pass rushers. 0:16:53.880 --> 0:16:55.400 I wanted to get his take on what he sees 0:16:55.400 --> 0:16:57.800 from Jerome Baker as a pass prushure in that off 0:16:57.840 --> 0:17:00.840 ball linebacker position that they gave. Everybody knows that Baker 0:17:00.880 --> 0:17:03.040 has been a playmaker around here for a long time. 0:17:03.120 --> 0:17:06.240 And uh and in the offensive line to see Baker 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:07.880 on a line of screamers, they all know he can 0:17:07.920 --> 0:17:10.600 really run. So it's a lot of times he's you know, 0:17:10.680 --> 0:17:14.160 he's stretching the offensive linement out and getting better every 0:17:14.200 --> 0:17:17.560 day with his pass rush um and sometimes he's calling 0:17:17.600 --> 0:17:20.879 the play forwards. So he is like a coach on 0:17:20.920 --> 0:17:25.119 the field force in the situations without his speeding is 0:17:25.200 --> 0:17:28.359 evidence in those situations as a pass rusher and a penetrator. 0:17:28.560 --> 0:17:30.600 You hear him talk there about calling the defense that 0:17:30.680 --> 0:17:32.919 leadership role in the middle of this Dolphins defense. Just 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:35.120 twenty three years old, and this guy is so advanced 0:17:35.119 --> 0:17:37.520 in the mental aspect of the game. It's a product 0:17:37.520 --> 0:17:40.280 of the way Baker works, the coaching staff, his teammates, 0:17:40.280 --> 0:17:43.359 personnel people, everybody lodged the way Baker goes about his 0:17:43.440 --> 0:17:46.760 professional approach and the example he sets for the younger guys. 0:17:46.800 --> 0:17:48.520 The type of player that you want to kind of 0:17:48.720 --> 0:17:52.159 emulate this roster and players behind him after because of 0:17:52.200 --> 0:17:54.800 the way he approaches the game in this rebel aspect. 0:17:54.880 --> 0:17:58.119 Speaking of cerebral aspect, how about his linebackers? Coach Anthony 0:17:58.119 --> 0:18:02.120 Campanelli on just that, Yeah, Bake Um is a very 0:18:02.160 --> 0:18:06.520 cerebral guy. Um, very high football i Q. I think 0:18:06.560 --> 0:18:09.359 sees things pretty well. I think he's done a very 0:18:09.359 --> 0:18:12.399 good job communicating through the summer h and through the 0:18:12.400 --> 0:18:14.320 beginning of this season. And went back and pull up 0:18:14.320 --> 0:18:16.320 an old quote from Kyle Van Noyd from the summer 0:18:16.359 --> 0:18:19.000 who said, me and Jerome have a great relationship. We 0:18:19.040 --> 0:18:21.399 talked about the game plan each and every day. So 0:18:21.480 --> 0:18:23.960 coach Campa only talking about the linebackers in his room 0:18:24.000 --> 0:18:26.280 there and the game plan. For a player like Baker, 0:18:26.440 --> 0:18:28.639 it's going to be extensive because his involvement has a 0:18:28.720 --> 0:18:32.080 ripple effect on all three levels of the defense. Defensive 0:18:32.080 --> 0:18:35.280 backs coach Jeral Alexander complimented Jerome Baker for his ability 0:18:35.440 --> 0:18:37.560 to reduce stress in the middle of the field, whether 0:18:37.600 --> 0:18:39.840 it's stone coverage or in man and the way they 0:18:39.880 --> 0:18:42.919 match up in that man coverage. Here's Alexander on how 0:18:43.040 --> 0:18:46.160 Jerome Baker helps the defensive backs in coverage I think 0:18:46.160 --> 0:18:49.080 it helps us in coverage with with a guy like you, Bake, 0:18:49.440 --> 0:18:51.680 who has the flo suddenly get the depth in his 0:18:51.720 --> 0:18:54.680 own coverage and have the speed to really break down 0:18:55.160 --> 0:18:57.800 Um on checkdowns, to be able to make open field tackles, 0:18:57.840 --> 0:18:59.240 as well as be able to do some things that 0:18:59.320 --> 0:19:01.560 poetically when want to place a man a man matching 0:19:01.640 --> 0:19:03.720 up on certain guys um, I think that that's a 0:19:03.760 --> 0:19:06.520 weapon force defensively, being able to utilize his skill set. 0:19:06.760 --> 0:19:09.199 So you talk about the preparation, the film room, the 0:19:09.200 --> 0:19:12.359 weight room, everything that comes with being an accomplished football player. 0:19:12.560 --> 0:19:15.840 Baker's production on Sundays continues to make him shine out 0:19:15.880 --> 0:19:19.000 amongst his peers. With two and thirty career tackles, Baker 0:19:19.119 --> 0:19:22.560 is fifth among players in his teen draft class. All 0:19:22.600 --> 0:19:24.639 four of the players drafted ahead of him or that 0:19:24.760 --> 0:19:27.040 have more tackles than him rather were drafted ahead of 0:19:27.119 --> 0:19:30.119 him in that year's draft. Again, Brian Flores demands smart, 0:19:30.200 --> 0:19:33.960 tough football players. He wants communicators that can execute a 0:19:34.080 --> 0:19:36.520 variety of roles on the field. These are the traits 0:19:36.520 --> 0:19:39.120 that Jerome Baker embodies, both as a player and as 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:42.320 a leader. To quote Brian Flores here from earlier this offseason. 0:19:42.520 --> 0:19:45.879 He's got good speed, good athleticism. He's got good timing 0:19:45.920 --> 0:19:48.159 as well. He does a good job studying cadence and 0:19:48.200 --> 0:19:50.439 timing things pretty well. He's a guy that's taken on 0:19:50.480 --> 0:19:53.000