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The Washington Commanders have been busy during the offseason, adding players, letting some go, and are now working on solidifying its roster for the 2025 season. One of those additions was defensive end Deatrich Wise, who previously played eight seasons with the New England Patriots. Wise brings a plethora of knowledge to the Commanders’ defensive line, and adds a new dynamic to last year’s lackluster defensive performance.
Okay, to be fair, last year’s defensive performance wasn’t lackluster. The Commanders wouldn’t have made it as far as they did if it was, however, the defensive line was its weakest link. This year, though, don’t expect the same look from the defensive line. Dante Fowler Jr. is gone, and while he led the team in sacks in 2024, there are new faces who are capable of getting the job done.
Wise is one of those players, and I had the pleasure of speaking with him a few days ago. After spending eight years with the Patriots, Wise brings veteran experience and leadership to a defensive line that must play better in 2025.
Aside from his physical prowess and ability to line up anywhere on the defensive line, Wise has an instinctive nose for the ball. I asked him if he felt that ability came to him naturally, or if it was a learned trait through training.
“I really I think it came from training,” he said. “I think training was with my brothers, my father, who played the game at a very high level. He always taught me just how to take on blocks, how to play the game, how to make plays, things of that nature. And I've always taken that with me, even when I've had many coaches, many D-line coaches, high school, college to the pros. And I've always learned from people around me how they do things, teammates, coaches, I have had really good teammates in the past.”
Sure, training is definitely a big part of having a nose for the ball, but I’ll give him the credit he deserves. He definitely has a natural talent, a knack, the ability to anticipate where the ball is going to go and he gets there first. It’s a combination, which Wise acknowledged in our conversation.
So, having played for Bill Belichick for several seasons before his departure in 2023, everyone wants to know how Dan Quinn stacks up. Wise said that while their approach is different, many things are similar. Quinn sets the tone and sets the standard every day before practice. And it’s not just him, but the other coaches and players who buy into what Quinn is doing. Players show up early and stay late. There’s no one thing that has everyone buying-in, it’s an unspoken feeling, an aura around the locker room that has everyone on the same page.
“I don't think, I know everybody in that organization feels it. When I first walked into the door and got the Commanders’ welcome, you feel it. It's something in the air. It's something amongst the people, the staff members. We're all on the same page. We're all like, whatever it takes to be great, we're going to do it. And no one says we're doing this to be great, we're just doing it right.”
An eight-year veteran who finds himself on a new team for the first time in his career, Wise is taking it all in and figuring out where he fits in. As a leader on the Patriots' defense, Wise will be leaned upon by the Commanders in the same sense. He’s not much for lecture, preferring to lead by example and share his knowledge with those around him.
“I always tell myself, if I was on a new team, how will I be? Like? How does all this go? And I realized the main thing you do is be yourself. So then my leadership qualities are lead by example. Might pull guys, one-on-one, stir up the knowledge that I've attained with them and be an open book. Treat everybody with humility. And when people come to you for questions or concerns or thoughts, just talk to them about your experience and what you see has happened to you or those around you.”
Wise will find his place among his teammates, and his impact on the field will be felt early and often by opposing teams.
In his spare time, Deatrich Wise spends his time working on his Wise Up Foundation with his parents and siblings. Their mission is to Provide educational resources, Unite communities, Support students and student-athletes, and Honor America’s veterans (PUSH). They have events, provide resources and training to students, provide hot meals to veterans, and focus on underserved communities. There’s an annual Block Party to bring the people of the community together as well. With the initial location in Dallas, Texas, Wise added some events in Boston when he was with the Patriots, and plans to add more in Washington.
Deatrich Wise is poised to make an impact both on and off the field in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Can Deatrich Wise help Commanders improve defense in 2025?
Continue reading...
Okay, to be fair, last year’s defensive performance wasn’t lackluster. The Commanders wouldn’t have made it as far as they did if it was, however, the defensive line was its weakest link. This year, though, don’t expect the same look from the defensive line. Dante Fowler Jr. is gone, and while he led the team in sacks in 2024, there are new faces who are capable of getting the job done.
Wise is one of those players, and I had the pleasure of speaking with him a few days ago. After spending eight years with the Patriots, Wise brings veteran experience and leadership to a defensive line that must play better in 2025.
Aside from his physical prowess and ability to line up anywhere on the defensive line, Wise has an instinctive nose for the ball. I asked him if he felt that ability came to him naturally, or if it was a learned trait through training.
“I really I think it came from training,” he said. “I think training was with my brothers, my father, who played the game at a very high level. He always taught me just how to take on blocks, how to play the game, how to make plays, things of that nature. And I've always taken that with me, even when I've had many coaches, many D-line coaches, high school, college to the pros. And I've always learned from people around me how they do things, teammates, coaches, I have had really good teammates in the past.”
Sure, training is definitely a big part of having a nose for the ball, but I’ll give him the credit he deserves. He definitely has a natural talent, a knack, the ability to anticipate where the ball is going to go and he gets there first. It’s a combination, which Wise acknowledged in our conversation.
So, having played for Bill Belichick for several seasons before his departure in 2023, everyone wants to know how Dan Quinn stacks up. Wise said that while their approach is different, many things are similar. Quinn sets the tone and sets the standard every day before practice. And it’s not just him, but the other coaches and players who buy into what Quinn is doing. Players show up early and stay late. There’s no one thing that has everyone buying-in, it’s an unspoken feeling, an aura around the locker room that has everyone on the same page.
“I don't think, I know everybody in that organization feels it. When I first walked into the door and got the Commanders’ welcome, you feel it. It's something in the air. It's something amongst the people, the staff members. We're all on the same page. We're all like, whatever it takes to be great, we're going to do it. And no one says we're doing this to be great, we're just doing it right.”
An eight-year veteran who finds himself on a new team for the first time in his career, Wise is taking it all in and figuring out where he fits in. As a leader on the Patriots' defense, Wise will be leaned upon by the Commanders in the same sense. He’s not much for lecture, preferring to lead by example and share his knowledge with those around him.
“I always tell myself, if I was on a new team, how will I be? Like? How does all this go? And I realized the main thing you do is be yourself. So then my leadership qualities are lead by example. Might pull guys, one-on-one, stir up the knowledge that I've attained with them and be an open book. Treat everybody with humility. And when people come to you for questions or concerns or thoughts, just talk to them about your experience and what you see has happened to you or those around you.”
Wise will find his place among his teammates, and his impact on the field will be felt early and often by opposing teams.
In his spare time, Deatrich Wise spends his time working on his Wise Up Foundation with his parents and siblings. Their mission is to Provide educational resources, Unite communities, Support students and student-athletes, and Honor America’s veterans (PUSH). They have events, provide resources and training to students, provide hot meals to veterans, and focus on underserved communities. There’s an annual Block Party to bring the people of the community together as well. With the initial location in Dallas, Texas, Wise added some events in Boston when he was with the Patriots, and plans to add more in Washington.
Deatrich Wise is poised to make an impact both on and off the field in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Can Deatrich Wise help Commanders improve defense in 2025?
Continue reading...