Wednesday, August 25, 2021
LB Jerome Baker
(I wanted to ask you what it meant to you to partner up with North Miami PD for the Haiti earthquake relief.) – “It meant everything. Tomorrow is the last day to get donations in. They need supplies as far as paper towels, women products, toothpaste, toothbrushes. All the little things we take for granted; they need it. Tomorrow is the last day. And it meant so much for me to partner up and just be a part of that.”
(The defense had a really strong day today. It seemed like you guys were really communicating pre-snap. What’s the communication like pre-snap and for you as an inside linebacker, what are you looking at and trying to get to your players?) – “It’s a lot that goes into it. First it’s the call. Then it’s you see what the offense is giving you. Then you make your checks. You kind of just – you want to communicate as much as possible because you never know if you’re reminding somebody else what they got or you’re reminding somebody to look out for this. You’ve got to have anticipation. That’s how you make plays and just that communication – that’s the key to a great defense so we definitely put an emphasis on that.”
(What was it like getting some first-team reps again with LB Elandon Roberts? Having him back there.) – “It was amazing. ‘E’ (Elandon Roberts) always brings the energy so he definitely brought that and I’m just happy for him to be back and be back healthy. It’s definitely great to have him back.”
(What’s the same and what’s different when he’s in there next to you as opposed to LB Benardrick McKinney?) – “’B. Mac,’ this is his first year really in the system so it’s just communication of what to look for and things like that. ‘E. Rob’ – he’s been in the system for a long time so I guess you could say he’s more of a veteran in the system. That’s really pretty much the difference. They both are great players. They’re great to be next to, so that’s really the only difference they have with each other.”
(Where do you see the defense now? You’ve been a month working with these guys. It seems like there’s more depth between DL Adam Butler and LB Jaelan Phillips and guys like CB Nik Needham making plays. Do you like where the defense is overall?) – “Our defense is definitely in a great spot, but one thing about the NFL – you can’t just get complacent and just say you got it all. I love this team as far as we really come out every day and we truly try to get better and we try to get each other better. If that’s defense going against offense, if that’s special teams, if that’s scout guys; we all truly want to get better and we definitely push each other now.”
(LB Sam Eguavoen played 38 snaps and had four sacks the other night. What’d you think?) – “What’s funny is nobody is surprised at what Sam (Eguavoen) can do. He’s one of those players that he puts his head down and he works every day. He comes in and works, works, works and that was just a glimpse of what he really can do. We’re always happy for him. We’re always excited. So yeah, we just want him to continue doing that throughout the year.”
(He said he wanted to stop making plays because everybody was punching him after he made a play.) – “Yeah, we’re always excited for him. He does it in practice so much and just to see him do it on a game day situation; we’re always just happy for him. So I hope he just keeps getting them. We’re going to punch him all he wants. (laughter) So I’m definitely happy for him.”
QB Tua Tagovailoa
(Dan Marino did an interview yesterday and was asked about you of course, and he said Tua has a better understanding of where he wants to go with the football and how to deal with protections. Can you talk about what has been the key to developing in those areas?) – “I think just being with our guys. Being able to sit down and talk with the linemen. Having meetings with the linemen. Being able to talk with the running backs. Overall, just communication with our guys. And it’s not just with me. It’s with our quarterback room. And us hearing what they have to say about what they see and then us kind of helping them with what we see in the back end.”
(Head Coach Brian Flores hasn’t really announced what the plans are for playing time but if you don’t play, do you feel comfortable with the body of the work that you and the offense have put out in training camp and the preseason?) – “Honestly, I would say we’re still putting in work. That’s why we’re all out here competing against each other. Regardless of what happens, we’re just focused right now on taking it a practice at a time, a day at a time. We’re really just focused on the things we need to get right right now.”
(Do you plan to play?) – “I would say every week I’m planning to play, but that’s a question for ‘Coach Flo’ (Brian Flores).”
(Last week we talked about you feeling pressure in the pocket and adjusting as needed. One of the best guys ever to do that was Marino because of how he would side-step pass rushers. Do you and he ever work together and talk about that?) – “I’ve never got the chance to work with Dan, but Dan will have some input with what he feels we could do better. He sits down in our meetings and he helps us as quarterbacks, so I think that’s really cool.”
(Is there anything specific you’re working on today? I know everybody says they’re trying to get better…) – “Yeah, I think overall just the communication, the operation with us offensively. It still needs some cleanup. But really that’s what it’s been today.”
(Does the wind change your approach at all as far as like location on throws or just anything about your game?) – “Well, I think the wind plays a factor. When you’re throwing into the wind, you’ve got to be able to cut it. If not, the wind is going to take it. But I think it’s good work to be able to throw with and against the wind.”
(So you get WR Will Fuller back out here, what is that like, just having the whole group out for at least a little bit of practice?) – “It’s good to have all of our guys back out here, to be able to work some timing and to be able to get some work in with them. I think just them being able to get back into the huddle, hear calls, get out, know where they’re lining up at and then executing with them, I think that’s very important.”
(On if moving the pocket is a point of emphasis) – “I think we’re trying to work all aspects of our game in the quarterback room. To get the defense moving – we don’t want to just be a drop-back quarterback. We want to be able to move the pocket and have them see different things, different looks. That’s really what it is.”
(What separates Nick Saban from the rest of college football coaches? Why do you guys always seem so ready for big-time games at Alabama?) – “I mean growing up, you hear Nick Saban and you’re like, ‘that’s Nick Saban!’ (laughter) I don’t know. You see him in movies. He’s just big time. I don’t know. It’s just something about his demeanor and the way he coaches his players and what he expects out of his coaches. I think that’s what makes him successful.”
(What does Atlanta, the city, playing there mean to you guys? Since 2008, Alabama is 13-2 in games played in Atlanta. Is there an emphasis on Atlanta for you guys, the fact that SEC Championship games are held there?) – “Really, I’ve never put any thought into that. I just tried to do everything that I could for the program when I was there and I had my time there. I do understand how important Alabama football is in general being that I played there. Whatever happens, it happens over there.”
(Any predictions for September 4th?) – “(laughter) It’s tough. I don’t know what Alabama looks like. I don’t know what the Hurricanes look like. You just always hope that when you see two teams go against each other, that it’s a good game.”
(What is leadership to you? Or is there somebody who has been an especially good leader that can define leadership? Or someone who has been a good example?) – “I think a lot of our coaches, a lot of the older players in the locker room, they show glimpses of their leadership. You listen. You can take some of the things that you hear from them and implement it to your style of leadership. I would say that’s a learning process that I’m still going through as well.”
(It seems like Mac Jones is doing pretty good at Patriots camp. I’m curious if you ever look for the highlights and if it’s game action? I don’t know if you ever text with him or anything.) – “I haven’t texted Mac. I haven’t been able to talk to him since he’s been drafted. But I’ve seen them play. He’s doing pretty good. I hope when he does get his opportunity, he makes the best of it. But you can’t wish him too much luck because we’re rivals in the same division. (laughter) I wish him the best of luck, for sure.”
