Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. addressed the media before practice on Jan. 9. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"So, it's good to get into the playoffs. We finished this season against Dallas the right way. We're talking about winning moments and the two plays that I really think about, they run the quarterback keeper on third and one, we stop it, give the of offense the ball. We get into the same situation and [QB] Marcus [Mariota] runs it for a long way and gives us the opportunity to win the game. And that's winning moments, all sides of the ball. And so, we have to keep doing that. We're going against Tampa, where we started this journey. And so, it's going to be fun going down there and going against those guys, really good football team. Been really impressed with [Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB] Baker Mayfield. I mean, this guy has played at a really, really high level. He can escape the pocket as good as anybody in the league. We missed five sacks on him the first time, but we weren't the only ones. There've been plenty of teams that go in there and try to hit him. He has the ability to step up and keep his eyes down the field and he's just been playing, he's a competitive player. So, I take my hat off to him. [Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR] Mike [Evans] is back, another thousand yards. He does it every year, so that's always going to be a challenge. They have a really good offensive line, young running backs that run hard. Their screen game is very good, so they're a dual threat, fast paced. When I say fast paced, they get to their spaces, fast in the pass game, and then they get vertical, good run after catch, and they're good after contact with the backs. So, it's going to be a good game. Gonna be a challenging game, but it'll be a fun one. Any questions?"
On Mayfield's career-high rushing yards this season and on why he's had such a good year in that category:
"I think he is just doing a good job of making people miss. I mean, he's been hard to tackle in the pocket across every team that goes in there. So, you have to hit him as if you're going to hit a running back. If you go in there like you're going to hit a quarterback, normal quarterbacks, you're going to probably come off."
On Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving and on how he's changed their offense:
"Well, he can make you missing space. He's fast, he's quick, he's a slasher. So, I just think they use not just him, but all the eligibles in a very unique way of, when I say fast paced, they want to get the ball in their hands right now. They have close to a thousand yards with the ball behind the line of scrims on throws where them now they're going. And so, they want to get those guys in space and then let them have run after catch opportunities."
On the key to sacking Mayfield:
"Just like I said, you have to treat him and hit him like he's a running back while he's in the pocket, understanding that all right, when he is outside the pocket, he doesn't get the protection, but when he is in the pocket, we got to stay shoulders to thighs. But we have to go in there and hit him like he's a running back. If we go in there and hit him like he's a little quarterback, you're going to come off. And then he does a good job of sliding up and out and he's keeping his eyes down field. I know he does scramble, but he's scrambling to throw. He's just playing high level ball. And so, we just got to get him on the ground."
On how much different the defense looks compared to Week 1:
"Totally different. Totally different, that was from a game, I think we played hard. I didn't have them ready to go. Most of that was my fault, the play was what it was that game. But that was a long time ago."
On Tampa Bay's screen game and on what makes it so effective:
'Well, they have [a] really good offensive line that gets out right now, so when they get out, they get their big's on people's littles and they create voids for people to go. They have a number of different type of screens. You have the play action screen, the slip screen, the cross screen, all those to the backs. And then you have the ones that the tunnel screen, tear screen from the outside. So, they have just a variety of different screens and different ways to get into it. And then they get in and they go with it."
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On the biggest transition for the defense from Week 1 to now:
*"Well, if you look at the first three games, right? We were, what, 31st in pass defense? We finished third. We were probably 31st in percentage, we finished third. Third down, we've been up and down, right before this last game we were teetering in the top 10. We were horrible then, so the defense has really trended in the right direction. So, the points have been down. So, the defense, it's just different."
On the key to stopping Irving:
"Well, really the key is handling the screen game because that's how they like to use him a lot. And then in the run game, making sure that we take care of the C gap in the run game."
On what has stood out about Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury this season:
"I didn't know I was going to be asked about Kliff [laughs]. He gets here very early in the morning. I mean, he's probably gets here around three o'clock in the morning. Kliff is going to do it Kliff's way, so I've been really impressed with his conviction and belief in, 'All right, this is the way that we're going to do it.' And they go do it that way. His connection with [QB] Jayden [Daniels] is really, really good. You can see Jayden believes in what Kliff is teaching him. But I'm not trying to dodge your question, but my mind's on Tampa. Kliff has done a really nice job, so I'm glad we're working together."
On Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan:
"Well, like I said, the thing that stands out in all these guys is just really the way that they're utilizing them in space. And so, I don't want to get into pitching out each guy, but the [Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive] Coordinator Liam [Coen], he's done just a nice job of using these guys and getting them in space and getting the guys up vertical up the field as a group."
On what the defense is doing well at this point in the season:
"Well, the times that we've gone out there, like we dropped the punt in the last game. We went out there and held them to a field goal. The way we played in the red zone this last game, the sudden change situation of football, we're playing much better. The thing that we have to do is get the ball. We have to do that, and I know everybody wants to talk about the run game, but if we can get the ball and get some of those turnovers, that controls a lot of the game as well. But the way we run and hit and the violence and the connection that we play with, really pleased with that."
On the team motto "Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime" and on if it resonates more in the playoffs:
"I think it resonates all the time, because that's just what we stand for. We'll get down anywhere, anytime, it doesn't matter. So, playoffs, everything counts a little bit more now, but we're ready to get down. And I like our matchups. I like our players against their players and I'm sure they like their players against our players, but the matchups are going to be good. They're going to be fun. It's going to be a little bit of a chess match, but it'll be fun. I'm looking forward to it."
On how he handles the matchup between Evans and CB Marshon Lattimore:
"Well, we're just focused about winning the game, hopefully Marshon will be available and once we get that word we'll handle that from that standpoint. But there's nothing wrong with having two competitive players go out there and compete against each other. And both guys, they do it the right way for the most part. So, if they get lined up across from each other, they'll go at it which they should."
On Lattimore approach for this game:
"He stays the same. He gets ready, he studies film. He's always watching film, he's not a very vocal man, but you can tell that he's into what he's doing. I mean, he's very serious. And so, even the other night, I guess it was Tuesday night, Coach Simmons [Defensive Pass Game Coordinator Jason Simmons] sent out their assignments, their homework assignments that they have. And so, he called back and, 'Hey, what exactly do you want me to look at here, here, and here?' So, he's very dialed into what he's supposed to be doing."
