Jerome Baker received a text message from his friend and former teammate Raekwon McMillan after Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Army on Saturday.
It wasn’t a message of congratulations, but rather a reminder of the high standards that Ohio State linebackers hold each other to.
"Right after the game, I get a text from him and I’m like ‘Kwon texted me? Why did he text me?’ and it was two videos," Baker said. "Nothing to say, just two videos. And it was the two plays that I missed tackles. And that was it."
Baker made nine total tackles, a tackle for loss and forced an incomplete pass with a quarterback hit as the Buckeyes defense held Army’s offense to just one touchdown in Saturday’s game. Yet Baker said the plays that most stood out in his mind after the game were the plays he didn’t make.
"All I could think of was the plays I messed up on," said Baker, who said he actually missed three tackles despite receiving only two clips from McMillan, who now plays for the NFL's Miami Dolphins. "Made plays and made tackles, but you always remember the ones you mess up on. So if I played good or not, I definitely missed three tackles."
Baker has 19 total tackles and two pass breakups this season, ranks second among all Ohio State players in snaps played (226) and was named as one of the Ohio State defense’s "champions" after the Army game. But the junior linebacker, who was named as a preseason All-American by multiple media outlets after his breakout season last year, has also had some noticeable misplays in tackling and coverage.
So as Baker and the Buckeyes prepare for their fourth game of the season against UNLV on Saturday, Baker believes he still needs to raise his level of play.
"To my standard, I haven’t been playing as well (as last year)," Baker said Wednesday. "I’ve missed way too many tackles. Just to my standard, I haven’t been playing good. I might grade a champion here, but to my standard, I haven’t been playing to my ability."
Baker and linebackers coach Bill Davis were confident entering the season that Baker would play better this season because he had an improved understanding of the defense, which meant he would be in better positions to make plays rather than relying on his athleticism to make up for mental errors. Although he hasn’t been satisfied with his play overall, Baker believes he has been better in that facet of the game.
"A lot of the things I still have to improve on, just keep going and just keep fighting every play. But definitely lining up right, it helps a long way," Baker said. "Sometimes, (the play) don’t even come my way just because I lined up right. So I definitely feel like I’m doing the right thing."
Baker said he enjoyed playing against the triple option offense of Army last week, but is excited to play against a more regular offense against UNLV on Saturday, and wants to take advantage of the opportunity to get back to playing up to his personal standard.
"You just got to keep going hard, keep going at it. This week is just another chance to show that you got to go out there and perform," Baker said. "This year, it’s a journey, so every week I just take it as that week and go out there and perform, so I’m excited for Saturday."
“I might grade a champion here, but to my standard, I haven’t been playing to my ability.”– Jerome Baker
It could be especially important to the Ohio State defense for Baker to be at his best this week because Chris Worley, the Buckeyes’ starting middle linebacker, is questionable to play in Saturday’s game due to a sprained foot. While Tuf Borland earned defensive player of the game honors for his performance filling in for the injured Worley against Army, Worley’s absence would leave Baker as the only healthy Ohio State linebacker with more than one career start.
Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said it’s possible that Baker could see playing time at the middle linebacker spot if Worley misses Saturday’s game. Baker said he worked on learning all three linebacker spots in Ohio State’s defense this offseason, so he’d feel comfortable moving to that spot and calling the defense if necessary.
Schiano said he is not worried about Baker needing to step up as a leader if Worley is out, however, because of the players he has around him.
"I think we got a lot of leaders out there," Schiano said. "That defensive line is filled with leaders, and Damon Webb in the back end."
Despite his dissatisfaction with his play in the first three games, Baker does not feel as though he has additional pressure on his shoulders this week.
"To the outside world, yeah," Baker said. "But to me, I go out there and just do what I do. I know what I can do. Every week, I just try to do my job. You do too much, that’s when you mess up a little bit. So I just go out there and just do what I do and just have fun."
