Miami’s Baker garners big honor. Role grows for Dolphins veteran, and more Dolphins feats
Linebacker Jerome Baker — one of several key cogs instrumental to the Dolphins’ ongoing seven-game winning streak — was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month on Thursday.
In three games in December, Baker produced 16 tackles — including six for loss — as well as six quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks.
He also has been effective in pass coverage. He was targeted four times against the Saints but permitted only 3 yards in receptions, after allowing 16 yards on three targets against the Jets the previous week and just 21 yards in three targets against the Giants.
During this winning streak, Baker has been effective playing inside and outside linebacker. He has played more inside linebacker - his natural position - in December, but his work at outside linebacker was helpful early in the win streak, especially against Baltimore.
For the season, he has 79 tackles (8 for loss) and 4.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus rates him 27th among 81 linebackers.
He’s the first Dolphins defensive player to win the award since Cameron Wake in October 2012.
Baker is also the Dolphins’ candidate for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, which honors players for their work in the community.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
THIS AND THAT
Because meetings are being held virtually, players on the COVID list are getting the same level of preparation as others, Jevon Holland said. The one exception, of course, is that players not on the list can practice; those on the list cannot.
Both groups of players “are listening and understanding the game plan,” Holland said. “There’s no drop-off, no lack of communication and no need for extra communication” with those on the COVID list.
▪ With 288 yards in receptions, tight end Durham Smythe is nearing his combined total for the first three seasons of his career (323). His 29 receptions are 10 fewer than he had his first three seasons combined.
And he has been targeted 36 times, compared with 11, 14 and 29 in his first three seasons.
“I think that’s just the evolution of our offense this year and that’s kind of how it’s been,” Smythe said, adding he was never directly told that he would become more prominently featured in the passing game.
“ It is always nice every now and then to have something kind of show up from a statistical standpoint, but I’ve always just tried to do what’s asked whether that’s in the run game, pass protection, being a receiver — whatever it is — special teams.”
▪ Quick stuff: The Dolphins are the first team since 2017 to win seven consecutive games by at least seven points in the same season. New Orleans and New England did it that year....
Brandon Jones’ five sacks are the most by a Dolphins defensive back since at least 1982...
Jaylen Waddle this week joined Jarvis Landry (eight), Tony Nathan (five) and Brandon Marshall (four) as the only Dolphins with three or more 10-plus reception games in their careers. Waddle needs five receptions to match Anquan Boldin’s record for a rookie (101).
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 9:29 AM.
