“Once we get everybody healthy, then we can see where we are going to put Mikey (Sainristil).”
That was Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., talking with the media on Thursday.
The Commanders’ corners have struggled in coverage in their three games. They have the worst third-down defense (61.4%) and are tied for second worst in red zone defense when it comes to giving up touchdowns.
Whitt referred to Emmanuel Forbes’ thumb injury and their moving Sainristil outside for Forbes. With Forbes possibly playing Sunday, might Whitt move Sainristil back inside of corners Benjamin St-Juste and Forbes?
Then, he dropped this revelation. “It’s fluid. Nobody’s really said, ‘Hey, this is where I am going to be’. We’re waiting for a couple of guys to do that. Once that happens, it will solidify what we are going to do.”
Whitt was saying, he has played five corners and he hasn’t been satisfied with any of them. He is tired of this and he wants a couple of guys to step up, be agents of change and set the pace by being reliable and dependable.
When asked if he expects Forbes to play a significant role, Whitt did not respond in the affirmative. He expressed, “I expect each week it is going to be different people…I do expect whoever goes out there to play winning football. I do expect that.”
A second time, Whitt was asked about Forbes in particular. A second time, he replied about every corner. Whitt didn’t want to talk about Forbes. It’s his prerogative, and even more, no one knows that defense and their personnel better than Joe Whitt Jr.
Whitt then made a very important distinction. “I’ve been pleased with the safety group, their range and the way they have been playing.” He then complimented Quan Martin, Jeremy Chinn and Percy Butler. He made clear he also likes Darrick Forrest
Once again, the question was raised about the corners, and Whitt offered how they had disappointed.
“We haven’t found the group that is going to go out there. I’m still waiting on a couple of guys to say, ‘Hey, I am the guy that is going to do this each weekend.”
Whitt then emphatically added, “And I don’t care who it is.”
It sounds like Adam Peters will be looking for a couple of new corners in the next offseason.