2025 Washington Commanders- All Things Defense

[burgold]

I imagine it would be really tough to bring Whitt back. From afar, it looked like Whitt lost the defense so what good could he do. He'd just be a voice that no one listened to or believed in. Plus, in losing his DC role he lost even more face within the organization.

He probably is a good defensive position coach. I suspect he even can even draw up some good schemes, but I don't think his rep can be salvaged on this team.

 

[DWinzit]

I imagine it would be really tough to bring Whitt back. From afar, it looked like Whitt lost the defense so what good could he do. He'd just be a voice that no one listened to or believed in. Plus, in losing his DC role he lost even more face within the organization.

He probably is a good defensive position coach. I suspect he even can even draw up some good schemes, but I don't think his rep can be salvaged on this team.

Totally agree, I just hope DQ can see this. If he doesn't I can see DQ putting AP in a situation like he was in. AP does not want to make suggestions to the HC like DQ didn't want to with his DC. I think AP would need to nudge DQ to oust Whitt or somehow ask if it makes sense in keeping him (in the eyes of thee players). It would be a tightrope to walk for AP so I hope DQ does the right thing

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Whitt needs to be gone next year for all the obvious. If DQ decides to keep him around next year, that will be the beginning of the end for DQ.

 

[mcdonaldrw]

Whitt being kept on the books after this season would be an indicator that AP needs to find a new HC

 

[Riggo44]

I imagine it would be really tough to bring Whitt back. From afar, it looked like Whitt lost the defense so what good could he do. He'd just be a voice that no one listened to or believed in. Plus, in losing his DC role he lost even more face within the organization.

He probably is a good defensive position coach. I suspect he even can even draw up some good schemes, but I don't think his rep can be salvaged on this team.

I see no way Whitt is brought back. The defense looks night and day better. Now, granted, they aren't playing the Lions, Seahawks, or Cowboys offenses, the Broncos are still middle-ish of the pack and not terrible. We have a couple of "get right" games coming up against the Vikings and Giants; we still have the Eagles twice and the Cowboys left. Despite how bad the Eagles offense is right now, they're still dangerous in my eyes.

 

[Bulldog]

Peters has put himself in a precarious position, taking all those extra picks from the Sweat and Young trades before he arrived, and basically coming up with a MEDIOCRE at best draft in 2024.

After Jayden Daniels, the picks in 2024 rank in my mind among the least productive in the NFL.

Given the team had 9 picks you would expect to see more than we have seen from the group.

In part Peters had to sign veterans to fill holes left over from the Rivera regime, but this past offseason he had to acquire some additional players at positions we already drafted for but the players so far have been less than expected on the field.

Right now, given how the front office was jumping up and down after the draft, Johnny Newton should be a poor man's Warren Sapp, undersized but quick and strong inside rusher that causes havoc.

What have we seen? A player that had injury problems coming on board and then has shown he is not strong enough to be taking on the snaps of a regular starter on the DL. His showing against the run has been atrocious.

Perhaps Newton thinks the only thing that matters is getting to the quarterback (not that he has been a top producer there either) - Quinn if anything needs to convince Newton to get stronger and work harder to be a credible three down player.

 

[SkinsLife]

Whitt is good as gone.. no way they bring him back. I wouldnt mind Quinn calling D plays .. thats the only time he really had success in the NFL, but thats not realistic.They will look for a real DC.
The bigger issue i have is that Quinn MUST have seen all the D struggles and what Whitt was doing wrong that last year and a half and still let him continue for this long. Makes me question his general competence as a HC

 

[Boone]

Whitt is good as gone.. no way they bring him back. I wouldnt mind Quinn calling D plays .. thats the only time he really had success in the NFL, but thats not realistic.They will look for a real DC.
The bigger issue i have is that Quinn MUST have seen all the D struggles and what Whitt was doing wrong that last year and a half and still let him continue for this long. Makes me question his general competence as a HC

Only thing I can think of is, it's only Year 2 of Whitt's DC experience. Not like we were loaded with D talent in 2024. So he may have been giving a coach he knows well and has a lot of regard for a fair shot. It's not like there are world class DCs with a proven NFL track record just sitting around out there waiting for a call. I don't remember when Quinn was hired who might've been out there. Certainly looking like a blown opportunity at this point.

I don't know why Quinn can't be both the HC and the defensive playcaller, but I think what you probably hinting at is that the only reason for a HC to do double duty like that is because you don't have a competent DC capable of doing it with success. Maybe it's time to look for college coaching talent. AI gave me these names as top college DCs (but I'm not a college football guy, so can't speak to how legit these guys might be)...

Phil Parker: Iowa's defensive coordinator is often cited as one of the best in the college game and could be a prime candidate for an NFL job.
Glenn Schumann: As the defensive coordinator at Georgia, Schumann has been instrumental in the Bulldogs' recent success and might receive NFL interest.
Jon Heacock: Iowa State's defensive coordinator has built strong units and could be a candidate for an NFL position.
Bryant Haines: Haines has been a successful defensive coordinator at Indiana and could be considered by NFL teams.
Tony White: White's work at Florida State could lead to an NFL opportunity.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Two years is enough time to determine if Whitt can cut it. It looked like the players were starting to quit on him too.

 

[Boone]

Two years is enough time to determine if Whitt can cut it. It looked like the players were starting to quit on him too.

Yeah, I wasn't implying otherwise. I think the question raised was why Quinn let him go on so long. I'm not sure for a first time DC a season and a half is an excessively long tryout. I would be more inclined to agree Quinn waited too long in 2025 to make the change.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I think we all want Joe Whitt fired. But DQ is loyal and they've been together for a long time. I'm not sure he is going to bring in a new DC with a different system when he feels that his current defense works. I can see Whitt returning with DQ continuing to call the plays. Not my preference but I can see him doing this.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

It's tough firing a friend which is why it's not a good practice to hire them. I have no idea how close they are either other than what I've read here.

 

[Boone]

I think Peters has likely already discussed with Quinn that they may need to make a change. Quinn might be inclined to do exactly what you described. He's also a veteran NFL coach and when his young GM (a guy who is catching the first real heat of his GM career already in season 2) verbalizes a desired outcome, it's probably going to happen.

Just a gut feeling it won't be entirely up to Dan Quinn.

 

[Boone]

It's tough firing a friend which is why it's not a good practice to hire them. I have no idea how close they are either other than what I've read here.

True. But having already immasculated him by removing him as defensive leader, it's a lot less distance to get there. I'm sure Whitt Jr. is well aware he may be job hunting very soon.

 

[Conn]

You very rarely see college DC’s move directly to the NFL level. It’s more common with OC’s (especially now that NFL offenses are incorporating more and more traditionally “college” concepts to make things easier for younger players to develop and contribute earlier on their cheap rookie contracts)

I have to think there’s a reason for that. A stud college coordinator can make more as the HC of a program with lots of money to burn, first of all. More than most coordinators in the NFL make, and the buyouts are absurd if you stink it up.

But most importantly I have to think with less practice and film room time, more of a talent disparity, and less complex concepts on both sides of the ball…most great college DC’s are exploiting elite talent (or at least a talent gap) rather than scheming their way to success.

College also has such higher average scoring that I also imagine it’s tough to get a read on the average college DC’s ability.

 

[Conn]

Savage asked for and was granted his release. I’m guessing because Will Harris is back, he’s unlikely to get on the field much. He was inactive last week. Still would assume he’d rather be getting paid than not…strange, considering he was a street FA when we signed him earlier this season. Not like teams were knocking down his door.

 

[method man]

Savage asked for and was granted his release. I’m guessing because Will Harris is back, he’s unlikely to get on the field much. He was inactive last week. Still would assume he’d rather be getting paid than not…strange, considering he was a street FA when we signed him earlier this season. Not like teams were knocking down his door.

Isn’t his salary guaranteed by the Jags because he was on their Week 1 roster?

 

[Conn]

Isn’t his salary guaranteed by the Jags because he was on their Week 1 roster?

Ah so whatever we were paying him was just offsetting that? That would make more sense