Inconsistency is a hallmark whenever I'm watching tape of underclassmen. It's just what I expect to see. It's usually ironed out a bit as a senior, if it's going to get ironed out at all. He came out early and so we don't get to see that.
But there are some things to keep in mind. He grew as a player in some ways from 2016 to 2017, but 2016 was a year where he had more favorable circumstances, and thus he was more able to allow his talents to shine, and not put in too many circumstances where his weaknesses showed.
By 2017 the Ohio State Buckeyes were operating a little bit different style of defense, with Greg Schiano no longer having to co-coordinate with Luke Fickell. They also lost Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore, and Gareon Conley from the back end, as well as his partner in crime Raekwon McMillan from the linebackers unit.
Trust me, that had an effect. There were times when a safety was supposed to be there and simply was not. There were other instances where some switch releases or pick routes could have gone better if the corner and linebacker had more chemistry and experience together.
There was a big touchdown by Ian Thomas of Indiana like that. Watch the secondary communication before the snap, watch what Jerome Baker tries to communicate to the boundary-side safety prior to the play, and the communication in the secondary on the field side. There's a reason Jerome Baker over-played the out on that out-and-up. He had far too much field to cover by himself. That he got there, and created a situation where Ian Thomas had to make a very impressive toe-dragging catch to score...is a credit to Jerome's athleticism. But that safety should've been there and he wasn't.
There were other plays where Jerome was late in relating to the receiver, peeking in the backfield, and tried to make up for it with his closing speed, didn't quite get there. This is all learning stuff, though.