RB Jerome Ford (12.6.23)
Just initial impressions of watching Joe Flacco and what he was able to do to kind of open up the offense on Sunday?
“It was fun to watch, you know, as a player and as a fan of his game, just seeing him able to make those throws and at times where we needed him, it was fun to watch.”
How different was it playing with him versus some of the other quarterbacks you’ve played with this season?
“It was a difference as far as, like, hearing a different voice and everybody got a different ball, that kind of stuff. Just getting used to them.”
Seeing the Bengals rush for 152 yards against that Jacksonville defense, did you watch the game at all and do you have confidence that you’re going to be able to have the same success?
“I haven’t watched the Bengals – didn’t watch the Bengals game and I’ve been watching tape of it and hopefully we are able to go out there and accomplish something against them.”
It was tough sledding in the running game on Sunday. What was kind of going on there? You didn’t get a ton of opportunities, but do you feel like what was going on there and do you feel like you can get it cranked up even more for this weekend?
“Just took a little bit too long for us to get our feet under us. We think we’ll be able to get it cranking up again.”
Jerome, does it help kind of being back at home this week to kind of bounce back from the two game losing streak that you guys had?
“Definitely being at home in front of our people, our fans, I feel like it’ll be great. It’ll be great for us and it’ll be great for them. I think it’ll be great.”
How about that touchdown catch you had to get the ball rolling? How’d you get so wide open?
“Just film, study. That was a play coach put in and they did everything that he said they were going to do. And wide open touchdown pass.”
How hard was it keeping your balance as you got closer to the goal line?
“It was very hard. You know those wide open passes they say are the hardest to catch. And in my head I’m just thinking, don’t drop the ball. So I make sure I secured the ball.”
What kind of passes does Joe throw? It seemed like for the most part you guys did a nice job of honing in and focusing in and catching passes.
“I really don’t know how to answer that. What kind of pass?”
Is it a really strong arm? Is it a pass with a ton of velocity on it? You guys have had to adjust to so many different kinds of quarterbacks this year, but he’s known for having a big arm, so just was wondering what that was like.”
“It’s smooth. I think they are smooth balls.”
How do you feel about just the bounce? I know it’s a passing league. But you’ve had spurts, Kareem’s (Hunt) had spurts, Pierre’s (Strong) had spurts, but it seems like the offense has been so pass heavy. Do you feel that as a player?
“I haven’t really paid attention to it. Like I said before, in the past, whenever I jersey call whatever play it is, we just go out there and run it and maybe at the end of the season or end of the game, we’ll look at the passes versus the runs, but I feel like we’re pretty balanced team.”
What do you feel like the mindset of you guys is going to be coming back home after losing those two games knowing that you kind of have to pull it back and get back on track? How do you feel the mindset will be this week?
“I think we just kind of go back to that same resilient mindset that we had in the past, dealing with injuries and losses and we come together and we work to get the job done.”
How tough is that Jacksonville defense, especially the front?
“It’s very tough. I think their number one rush defense and them, they’re going to be coming here and they got a good record and we got a decent record and we’re both looking to win.”
Might be sloppy on Sunday, windy and rainy. What do you think about that kind of game and a game where maybe it’s all runs?
“It’s going to be a physical and tough game. And with that run defense and the way we run the ball, we gonna have to get a job done often.”
Do you guys do the old fashioned wet ball drill?
“We usually do it when we’re preparing for a game where it’s going to be wet. I think we did a couple of times this season, I think the San Francisco game and also that Bengals game.”
How tough is it when that ball gets heavier and it’s wet? How much harder is it to hang on to? Especially when you know the defense is trying to hang on your arm and either punch it out or claw it out.
“It’s really tough. And coach preach on ball security and it’s going to be more beneficial to make sure in traffic you have two hands on the ball or catch the ball like you’re doing. Those little details of seeing it all the way in and tucking it after the catch.”
Jerome, you were able to come back one week after your high ankle sprain. Did you watch Trevor’s (Lawrence)? Did you see his injury and what are your thoughts on being able to make it back one week after suffering hiatus?
“I didn’t see his injury. I just heard about it. But pretty much the trainers and time pretty much only thing that helped me.
So it is possible?
“Definitely.”
Are you back to 100%?
“Yeah. Season going on, so there’s that.”
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