Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt speaks to the media before practice
Ahead of the divisional round playoff game versus the Detroit Lions this Saturday, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt met with local reporters on Wednesday morning before practice.
He spoke first about the win in Tampa, describing the energy from Washington fans at the game as ‘amazing’, saying that “they had a lot of juice”.
Whitt mentioned that the Commanders held the Bucs to their second-lowest point total of the season/postseason, repeating Dan Quinn’s description of the game plan as being “bold” and proclaiming the success of the team’s complimentary football, with a focus on Bobby Wagner’s fumble recovery.
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Moving onto the Lions, Whitt started out by mentioning that Detroit, like Tampa Bay, is a top-5 offense that plays ‘like they’re playing behind when they’re up’.
John Keim asked Whitt about reports that the Jets were interested in interviewing him for their vacant head coaching position. The defensive coordinator said that he didn’t want to ‘dodge the question’, and then went on to completely dodge the question by parroting the company line: I’m only focused on the Lions.
He then praised the skill of Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and talked about the need to stick to assignment football to succeed against them.
Asked about the performance of Marshon Lattimore on Sunday, Whitt talked about the DB’s lack of practice, but stressed that he has “full confidence” (a phrase he used twice) in Lattimore.
On “winning time moments”, Whitt gave some details about how the coaches work with players to prepare. Asked what he thinks when multiple games come down to the final play, Whitt responded, “We’re gonna win”.
He added that “it’s the way that we live” and recalled that he told us in his introductory press conference that “the way that we live is not for everybody”, then talked for a while about the focus on competition that has been installed since Day 1.
Discussing Jared Goff, Whitt said that “he has all the tools”, but again stressed the scheme and play-calling of Ben Johnson as added challenges.
Asked about Detroit’s interior run game, Joe Whitt said, “They know how to move people”, and focused again on the idea that defensive players need to play with discipline.
On Quan Martin, the DC called him “an ascending player”. He also said that the Commanders are top-10 in preventing explosive passes this season, and praised the 2nd year safety for “putting a cap on the defense over the top” and praised his tackling.
He mentioned that, against the Bucs, the coaches “changed a couple of techniques that really benefited us”, saying that they put players in different positions and then made adjustments to offer the opposing offense looks they hadn’t yet seen.
He talked briefly about Bobby Wagner, describing him as a “coach on the field” and “the ultimate leader”, referring to him as “the” Bobby Wagner.
He also addressed the use of belts, chains and towels to recognize outstanding defensive achievements, reminding us that it’s a kids game, adding that “we’re all kids at heart”.
Joe Whitt ended his press conference by describing a 4th down defensive stop as “another type of turnover” and adding, “We’re excited about it”.
We are too, coach; we are too.