Tag: 2024 Commanders defense

NFL analyst predicts Eagles will sign away Commanders defensive leader

Could the Eagles attempt to steal one of the Commanders’ top defensive players from this season?

It’s the Commanders’ bye week, but earlier this week, speculation emerged that the Eagles would pursue and sign one of their top defensive players away from the Commanders.

It is no secret to Commanders fans that GM Adam Peters signed many players on one-year deals. You can’t blame him; he inherits a roster full of holes. Wisely, Peters put most of his free agents in contract years with one-year deals, and as a result, he has seen much benefit on the field.

Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. is one of those contract-year free agents who has performed well for the Commanders. Fowler was with head coach Dan Quinn in Atlanta in 2020 and then again with Quinn in Dallas for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In fact, their relationship dates back to when Quinn recruited Fowler to the University of Florida and coached him there.

With four games remaining this season, Fowler has already totaled his second-highest sack total in his nine-year career, with 8.5 in 2024. He will be a free agent next off-season.

Matt Holder of Bleacher Report has publicly stated that he sees the Eagles signing a pass-rushing defensive end, and he believes Fowler is one they will aggressively pursue.

Graham (Brandon) is expected to retire at the end of the year, and Josh Sweat is an impending free agent. While Nolan Smith could take over as the starter moving forward, the defense could still use some pass-rush help. That’s where Fowler comes in, as he’s been having a strong campaign with 8.5 sacks this fall heading into the weekend. While the 30-year-old who turns 31 in August has never been much of a run defender, he can get after the quarterback with over 50 career sacks.

In addition to Fowler generating 8.5 sacks, he also has 19 solo tackles, 11 assists, 11 tackles for a loss, and 10 quarterback hits. Fowler leads the Commanders in sacks and tackles for a loss.

Fowler could demand a pay raise from the Commanders next off-season. If the Commanders don’t aggressively sign him and grant him a good raise, other teams looking for one or two years could swoop in and steal him from them.

But again, this is clearly speculation by Holder of Bleacher Report, a result of his reporting on the Eagles. Commanders Wire is simply informing Commanders fans of what is being circulated about the team.

Commanders will ‘get a jolt in the arm’ vs. Saints

The Commanders will receive a “shot in the arm” after the bye when their defense gets some major help.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter Wednesday said the Commanders will soon get a shot in the arm.

During his weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter mentioned that the bye will do the Commanders well, and something else will help them, too. Here is some of what he had to say:

“Here’s a little headline. When they get back from their bye after this week, it sounds like Marshon Lattimore is going to make his Commanders’ debut in the first game back for Washington.”

“You saw that they released Emmanuel Forbes, their first-round draft pick, former first-round pick who was claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Rams. Part of the reason they released him was they had Lattimore coming back after the bye.”

“And it looks like he is tracking to play his first game for the Commanders; what six weeks after the trade deadline? Or five weeks after the trade deadline?”

“We’ve been waiting for Marshon Lattimore to make his debut, and this will be a little jolt in the arm for Washington, coming off of its bye, getting its Pro Bowl cornerback.”

“By the way, when they do bring back Lattimore for his first game as a Commander next week, guess where that game will be? In New Orleans against his former team.”

“What better way than to bring back Marshon Lattimore for his first game as a Commander, in New Orleans, against the Saints, the team that traded him away?”

Good to hear the Commanders being a subject of positive discussion on one of the national shows that brings much focus on the NFL.

Commanders release CB Emmanuel Forbes

Emmanuel Forbes is gone.

As expected,, the Commanders have made a couple of roster moves, two of which involve big names.

The Commanders released cornerback Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, determining to cut the cord now and move on from him despite his being a first-round draft selection just one year ago.

The Commanders have given Forbes every chance they can. But he simply hasn’t made any impact whatsoever. He doesn’t even contribute on special teams. So, Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have decided to do what they feel is best for the team and the overall roster.

Secondly, the Commanders placed RB Austin Ekeler on injured reserve. Suffering his second concussion this season, the Commanders apparently feel they should give Ekeler at least the four weeks with no contact and then see if he is ready to proceed further.

Thirdly, after K Austin Seibert was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week, the Commanders elevated K Zane Gonzalez from the practice squad. The move was expected, as Gonzalez has performed well this season.

Finally, with Forbes released, the Commanders elevated DT Carl Davis off the practice squad.

It is amazing to think that just one year ago, Ron Rivera was filmed driving on his way to the Ashburn team facility. On the video, Rivera is seen and heard proclaiming he wants to draft Forbes that night.

When it was time for the 16th selection, Rivera and the Commanders chose Forbes to be their guy. He struggled all of 2023. This season, the Commanders wanted to have Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste starting as outside corners, but that never developed for the team.

On Friday, the Commanders declared CB Marshon Lattimore doubtful for Sunday vs. Tennessee. Lattimore came to Washington in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. He has missed all three of his games since the trade. In addition, the Commanders have lost all three of those games to the Steelers, Eagles, and Cowboys, respectively.

On Friday, the Commanders distinguished between RT Andrew Wylie and RB Austin Ekeler, who are both recovering from concussions, and ruled them out of Sunday’s game against the Titans.

Commanders’ Joe Whitt is honest about playoff chances

Joe Whitt Jr. is focused on winning the next game only.

Experienced leadership is important in any organization.

So why would it be any different in the NFL? Less experienced players can learn from the knowledge of more experienced players. With the Commanders now losing their last three games, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt was asked about the older players counseling, the younger players through the losing streak.

“You know, not necessarily, just, when we were winning four games in a row, or now that we’ve lost three, it’s the same,” replied Whitt. “You lean on it and the thing that you have to do, and I know you’re going to say this is coach talk, but it’s the way that we live and the fact that you take a win and a loss the same way. You take four wins and four losses the same way. You have to just go back and figure out how you’re going to win the next game?”

When a team is declining in their performance, coaches have to work at assessing the performance and then determining how they are going to change some things to bring about progress.

Whitt then brought up the concept of improving as a defensive unit.

“What do you have to do to improve? There’s good in every loss, and there’s some bad in every win. And so, we have to make sure that we lean on the brotherhood that we have, win or lose and continue to know that everything is in our hands.”

In coaching, there are always things that are under your control and things where you do not have control. Recognizing the difference is always crucial to the success of the team. Washington is 7-5 and can still control their destiny, but another loss this Sunday would result in no longer having complete control and needing the help of other teams.

“We control what we control, and if we handle business, we’ll get the results that we want. If we don’t, all right, we’ll be at home. So, that’s just it.”

Commanders DC Joe Whitt sums up his unit’s performance in Week 12 loss

Joe Whitt Jr. evaluated his team’s defensive performance vs. Dallas.

Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt was not happy with his unit’s performance Sunday against Dallas.

“It wasn’t a winning one,” Whitt said.

“I mean, we’re here to win. I sound sort like a broken record from the week before. I thought we played three really good quarters. And I don’t think we played a really poor fourth quarter. We had the third-down touchdown that happened. And it was a situation that shouldn’t have happened, but it did. And again, it gave them the life that they needed. But we’re looking to play 60 minutes of disciplined football and we’re starting every game, really, the right way. Like I said, I think we’re top three or four in the league in the first quarter with points, but when it gets to the fourth quarter, we’re giving up too many points. And so, we have to make sure we sure that up.”

Whitt has been around long enough to know that if he doesn’t address the issues, they will not correct themselves. He also knows the Titans will spend time in the film room, attempting to reproduce what Dallas did to Washington.

“I was with [Tennessee Titans RB] Tony [Pollard] in Dallas. He can run the ball really well,” Whitt said.

“He can make people miss with not necessarily just running through him, but he can make his feet disappear, he can get on the edge. They’re doing a very nice job with the quarterback [Will Levis], moving him, sending his reads a certain way, giving him the ability to get the ball out outside and vertical. He has some vertical threats. They have a receiving tight end that’s pretty good. And [Tennessee Titans WR] Calvin [Ridley], he’s a guy that is as good as anybody in the league. So, when you have him and Tony Pollard, the screen game comes to life with both of those players. So, they did a nice job this last game.”

The Titans may be 3-8, but they upset the Houston Texans on the road last week.

What do the Commanders love the most about CB Mike Sainristil?

The Commanders found a star in Mike Sainristil.

On Thursday, Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. was asked what has impressed him the most about rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil.

Whitt didn’t waste anytime answering the question.
“Mikey is just a high-level competitor. That’s what’s impressed me the most. He doesn’t shy away from anybody that’s in front of him.”


Sure enough, Sainristil was lined up outside against the likes of A.J. Brown in Washington’s 26-18 loss to Philadelphia in their Week 11 contest.

In the game, Sainristil not only provided good coverage on most of his assignments but also, for the first game this season, knocked down two passes intended for the receiver to whom he was assigned.

Whitt likes the former Michigan Wolverine’s flexibility and desire to adapt to whatever circumstances the Commanders need that week.

“We ask the young man to play inside and outside early and for the betterment of the defense and say, ‘Okay, we’re going to put you to the field, all right, and you’re going to stay there.’ And he’s made it at home.”

Coaches are always concerned with how well a rookie will adapt to the pro game. Some adapt well, and some seem to have difficulty with the upgrade in talent and complexity of schemes each week.

Whitt is confident in Sainristil’s ability to listen carefully and communicate clearly. Whitt likes Sainristil’s maturity.

“He’s not playing like a rookie, and he doesn’t communicate like a rookie. If you’ve talked to the young man, he’s very polished, he’s very mature. And so, but just the way his competitive spirit is what I’m most impressed with.”

Commanders’ Joe Whitt stresses the most important thing for his defense

Washington’s defensive coordinator has one primary focus.

The Washington Commanders run defense is simply not good enough.

Though the Commanders are currently in the number seven playoff spot with a 7-4 record, that is an area from which defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is not backing away from facing it.

In fact, when asked Thursday at his weekly press conference, Whitt called the run defense “the main thing that we have to do.”

“Well, the main thing that we have to do, the two things that we have to do on defense to get to where we want to be in December, January football, February hopefully, it’s we gotta stop the run. Like that’s the number one thing that we have to do. Not shying away from it.”

Whitt then elaborated that coaches have even been discussing how to improve their run defense. In their last game, the Commanders surrendered 228 rushing yards on 40 Eagle carries.

In fact, the Commanders have surrendered the most rushing yards in the NFL through 11 weeks. It is worth remembering that the Commanders have yet to have a bye week. Consequently, they have played one more game than many NFL teams right now.

Unfortunately, that stat is confirmed by the fact the Commanders are second worst in the NFL yielding 5.0 yards per rushing attempt. They are also giving up the third-highest rushing yards per game: 150.5 yards per contest.

“We looked at the process over these last couple days of, ‘Alright, how can we be better with it?’ What do we need to do from a coaching standpoint, player standpoint, from a practice? How we’re implementing the techniques, just back to the basics because you can’t give up, I think we’re at what, 150 yards a game? You can’t do that and think that you’re going to win in December football. That’s just not how it happen.”

The Commanders face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, one of the NFL’s worst rushing offenses.

Commanders did not collapse in the final quarter……it was worse

Breaking down the Commanders’ Week 11 collapse.

How did the Commanders collapse like they did against the Eagles?

Washington entered the final quarter up 10-6 but was thoroughly outplayed in the final 15 minutes. The Eagles scored 20 consecutive points for a 26-10 clinching lead before Washington scored on their last possession, making the final margin 26-18.

However, did you realize the Eagles actually scored on five consecutive possessions? The problem was not merely the final quarter.

Some background reminds us that the Commanders led 7-0 and could have gone into the locker room up by seven. This is where the game changed, not the failed 4th & 2 in the final quarter.

When the Commanders could have made a statement, the Eagles rose up and drove 87 yards in 15 plays, settling for a field goal to close the half, down only 7-3.

On their first possession of the second half, the Eagles drove 74 yards before again settling for another Jake Elliott field goal, making it 10-6. After a Tress Way punt, it was another long drive, this one 76 yards in 11 plays, which gave the Eagles the lead for good at 12-10.

When the Commanders turned the ball over on downs, the Eagles exploded down the field 74 yards in only five plays for a 19-10 lead. At this point, the Commanders’ defense was absolutely gassed, worn down, and beaten up.

Following Jayden Daniels’s interception, the Eagles only needed two plays to go another 46 yards for their 26-10 lead.

So there it is: dating back to the second quarter, the Eagles drove 87, 74, 76, 74, and 46 yards in five consecutive possessions.

So, Commanders fans can stop talking about the fourth-quarter collapse. The Eagles manhandled the Commanders’ defense on five consecutive possessions, dominating them.

No wonder Dan Quinn decided to go for it on 4th-and-2. He could see what was going down and knew it was not good for the Commanders.

 

How are Commanders proceeding with Marshon Lattimore’s injury?

How are the Commanders proceeding with Marshon Lattimore’s injury?

Marshon Lattimore was considered a can’t-miss draft choice, being taken 11th overall by the Saints in 2017.

In addition, he has been a Pro-Bowler for four seasons; however, Lattimore only played seven games in 2022 and ten games in 2023 and has missed two of nine games this season.

Consequently, how did Lattimore’s injury affect an assessment by Adam Peters and Dan Quinn?

“He has a hamstring injury right now and just got in today. So, we’re just evaluating that.”

Peters then disclosed that before a deal was made, his medical team was permitted access to Lattimore’s injury history and records with the Saints.

“In terms of due diligence, when you’re doing a trade like this and there is a player that could be injured, our trainer will talk to their trainer, they’ll allow us to get the medical records and all that, so we understand the full picture, the full scope of the injury or just their injury history really.”

Apparently, there were no alarms scaring off the Commanders, as the deal was completed on Tuesday. So, when will Lattimore be on the field practicing and playing for the Burgundy and Gold?

“We got all that information and really (are) just taking it day-to-day and he won’t practice today, so you won’t see him out there today. But we’ll just take it day-by-day and put him out there when he is ready.”

Could Lattimore be making his debut with the Commanders in a Thursday Night divisional game in Philadelphia?

Commanders DC understands challenge of facing Caleb Williams

Commanders DC knows Caleb Williams presents a big challenge.

Joe Whitt Jr. is aware that Caleb Williams’s play is improving.

It was no secret that the Chicago Bears rookie quarterback struggled the first two weeks of the season. However, after seven weeks (six games), Williams has gotten more comfortable and gained confidence, and the Bears are now 4-2.

“Caleb, he’s a very talented young man,” Whitt said. “You see why he was regarded the way that he’s regarded coming out. I have the same respect for him.”

Last week, the Washington defense could dial up blitzes and come after the Panthers’ Andy Dalton and pretty much know where he was going to be. Dalton simply does not possess the mobility of Williams. Whitt knows his challenge is much greater this week.

“He can throw the ball from the pocket; he can throw it on a move. His arm contortion, where he can get the ball out from different angles, is really impressive. He can escape inside and outside. When he sets his feet, he can make any throw in the book. So, he’s a talented young player that’s going to be good for a long time in this league.”

The Bears certainly have the weapons for Williams and the offense to excel. The receivers group is loaded with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Also, Whitt knows what running back D’Andre Swift is accomplishing, averaging rushing for 54 yards per game and receiving 32 yards a game.

“Well, every game you’re going to have eligibles that are premium players, and they have a number of them…a lot of respect for those eligibles. And so, we have to just do a good job…they run the screens as good as anybody in football. So, we have to make sure that we do a great job of leveraging the screens play by 11 men. We have to set the edges inside, out.”

Seeing the Washington offense will most likely be without Jayden Daniels, if Whitt’s defense could generate two or three turnovers that would be very helpful as well.