Tag: Joe Whitt Jr.

Michael Davis believes Commanders defensive staff can ‘elevate’ his game

MIchael Davis has been around, but believes his best is yet to come under this staff.

Despite entering his eighth season, cornerback Michael Davis believes he still has his best football ahead of him. When the 29-year-old was asked what enticed him to join the Commanders after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, he mentioned how Washington’s defensive staff have developed cornerbacks in the past.

Specifically head coach Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, and defensive passing game coordinator Jason Simmons.

“I know that I have an extra level to reach, and I thought that with them being teamed up with them, I could reach that level,” Davis said.

Under Quinn and Whitt’s tutelage in Dallas, cornerback Daron Bland broke the NFL single-season record for pick-sixes with five, and cornerback Trevon Diggs led the NFL in interceptions in 2021 after an up-and-down rookie season. Davis said he could see that extra level being brought out of him because of the coach’s persistence in putting him in “uncomfortable situations.”

“So, every day I practice, they are like Michael, like we want you to go press, like you got to consistently go out and perfect your craft, keep pressing,” Davis said. “No matter the situation… in my head, it might feel like I don’t wanna go press, but in the back of my mind, it’s like if I go up and press and challenge myself, it’ll make me better”

Davis was reliable for the Chargers starting nearly every game since signing a three-year $25.2 million extension in 2021. However, he fell out of the team’s plans after a shaky season and head coaching turnover with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh.

Davis’ presence has been out of the limelight since signing a one-year $3.2 million contract in March. But with 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes Jr. still adapting to physical receivers, Davis could be the starter opposite Benjamin St-Juste in week 1. It’s just a matter of which cornerback can find a foothold within Whitt’s and Quinn’s scheme first.

“All I can do is control what I can control,” Davis said. “I mean, all I can do is focus on myself and let everything else play out.”

Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is having a good start to training camp

A good start to training camp for Emmanuel Forbes.

If one player on the Washington Commanders’ current roster could use a strong 2024 season, it’s second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

The No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Forbes had a rough rookie season that saw him benched multiple times. Forbes, who didn’t receive any help from the previous coaching staff, lost his confidence after Eagles star A.J. Brown embarrassed him early in the season.

Forbes never recovered. So, when the Commanders made a coaching change this offseason, it was both a scary and exciting time for Forbes. While the new regime didn’t draft him, they wouldn’t give up on last year’s first-round pick so soon.

However, Washington’s new coach was Dan Quinn. Quinn helped lead the Cowboys in turnovers for the past three years, and Dallas was a consistent top-five unit. Coming with Quinn was his former secondary coach with the Cowboys, Joe Whitt Jr., as the new defensive coordinator. Quinn and Whitt have done outstanding work developing several of Dallas’ defensive backs.

Upon their hiring, they admitted to liking Forbes out of college. Could they help him turn around his fortunes in 2024?

Through the first two days of training camp, Forbes has worked with the first-team defense, often matching up with star wide receiver Terry McLaurin. According to those in Ashburn, he has more than held his own.

This is excellent news for Washington. A Forbes’ bounce-back season would answer many questions about the secondary.

Forbes’s true test this summer will be the joint practices. How will he react if he makes a bad play?

Jokes were made at Forbes’ expense this offseason when someone shared a photo of him with a high school football player who looked much bigger than Forbes. However, he insisted he worked on adding weight in the offseason, and the early indications were that he had added some weight.

While it’s a small sample size, training camp could not have started any better for Forbes.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn talks the importance of a strong pass rush

Dan Quinn stresses the importance of a strong pass rush.

The Washington Commanders struggled to rush the quarterback last season after trading away Montez Sweat and Chase Young. While the trades gave Washington some excellent selections in the 2024 NFL draft, they left them extremely thin at a critical position.

This offseason, the Commanders started over. The changes began with the coaching staff. Dan Quinn took over as head coach. Quinn, one of the NFL’s best defensive coordinators, gets his second shot as a head coach. Coming with him from Dallas is new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.

Quinn and general manager Adam Peters knew changes were needed on the roster, particularly at defensive end. Following Quinn and Whitt from Dallas were Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. The Commanders also signed Clelin Ferrell, formerly of the 49ers.

Quinn’s teams have always been successful rushing the passer and he expects that to continue with Washington, regardless of who is coming off the edge.

Ahead of Wednesday’s first training camp practice, Quinn explained the importance of a strong pass rush.

“Affecting the quarterback is, has to be at the top of what you wanna do defensively, right behind taking the ball away and tackling well,” Quinn said.

“You don’t always want to be able to have to bring five or six to generate pressure and pass rush. So, when you can get there with four and affect the quarterback and get him out of the pocket, or, you know, change where he has to go, set his feet, that’s what we’re looking for.”

It didn’t matter how many pass rushers the Commanders sent last season; they couldn’t get near opposing quarterbacks. That will change under Quinn. A strong pass rush goes hand in hand with taking the ball away.

While Washington may not have an elite pass rusher, Quinn couldn’t be more excited to coach defensive tackles Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Johnny Newton. Those three will play a key role in the Commanders’ ability to rush the passer in 2024.

Frankie Luvu predicted to be Commanders’ non-QB MVP for 2024 season

Everyone believes Frankie Luvu will have a big season in 2024.

The Washington Commanders signed several players in free agency this offseason. General manager Adam Peters had a tall task in front of him: upgrading a 4-13 roster. He used free agency to raise Washington’s floor without sacrificing any future long-term flexibility.

Peters handed out mostly one-year contracts this offseason. A select few did receive multi-year deals, including linebacker Frankie Luvu.

Luvu, 27, is coming off back-to-back impressive seasons for the Carolina Panthers, where he recorded a combined 12.5 sacks. In addition to being an every-down linebacker, Luvu also served in a pass-rushing role for the Panthers, which is similar to how he’ll be used by Washington head coach Dan Quinn.

Expectations are high for Luvu, with some predicting he’ll make his first Pro Bowl in 2024.

Ben Standig of The Athletic believes Luvu will have a big season, too. The Athletic recently named one non-quarterback MVP for all 32 NFL teams, and Standig chose Luvu for Washington.

Micah Parsons wasn’t one of the several familiar faces head coach Dan Quinn brought over from his three-year stint with the Cowboys. Bummer. However, the three-time All-Pro is mentioned frequently in Washington because his linebacker/edge rusher role did travel with Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Luvu, one of the Commanders’ primary free-agent signings this offseason, arrived with the versatility required to play multiple spots. At 27, Luvu is an ascending talent coming off back-to-back 100-tackle seasons with 12 1/2 combined sacks. He will play every down, and the defensive personnel will shift depending on where the coaches deploy this aggressive playmaker.

While Parsons didn’t follow Quinn to Washington, the head coach and defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr., have an idea of how they want to use Luvu. With Bobby Wagner signed to play middle linebacker, that frees up Luvu to be in a more playmaking role for Washington’s defense in 2024.

If Luvu plays in every game, he could put up the best numbers of his career, which would make him a reasonable choice for non-QB MVP.

Commanders secondary one of the worst in the NFL according to new positional rankings

Washington’s secondary has a lot of question marks ahead of the 2024 season.

The Washington Commanders were dreadful on defense in 2023. It was a surprise, as many believed Washington’s defense was a team strength after coming off a consensus top-10 finish in 2022.

While the defense had problems throughout, Washington’s biggest problem was its inability to stop the big play. There were breakdowns in coverage and younger players regressed after secondary coach Chris Harris departed.

Part of the issue was coaching. The Commanders used the buddy system to replace Harris, promoting Brent Vieselmeyer to secondary coach. To say that didn’t work would be an understatement.

The two best players in Washington’s secondary last year were Kendall Fuller and Kam Curl. The Commanders let them both walk. Among the newcomers in Washington’s secondary are safety Jeremy Chinn, cornerback Michael Davis and rookie corner Mike Sainristil.

Washington’s most significant addition to the defense this offseason was the coaching staff. Head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. have a history of getting the most out of defensive backs. Check out their history with the Dallas secondary over the past three seasons.

Regardless, Pro Football Focus isn’t too impressed with the Commanders secondary ahead of the 2024 season, ranking them 30th in the latest positional rankings.

The Commanders’ highest-graded returning coverage player from 2023 is cornerback Jartavius Martin, who produced a 58.8 grade. The team lost safety Kamren Curl and cornerback Kendall Fuller and hopes that new head coach Dan Quinn can coach up a secondary that does not look great on paper. They selected cornerback Mike Sainristil out of Michigan, and Michael Davis arrives from Los Angeles, but it’ll take great coaching to elevate this group.

It’s easy to understand the pessimism surrounding this group. There is some talent, though. Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste each had their struggles last season, but this staff believes new voices could be exactly what they need. If you looked at how multiple Dallas defensive backs progressed in recent seasons, you can almost guarantee that the Commanders will be a much better secondary in 2024.

Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes confident ahead of 2nd season

Emmanuel Forbes confident ahead of training camp.

It’s hard to call your second NFL season make or break, especially when you’re a first-round pick, but that’s what Washington cornerback Emmanuel Forbes faces in 2024.

The No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft appeared in 12 games as a rookie with 10 starts. He finished his rookie season with 27 tackles, 10 passes defended and one interception. On the surface, those aren’t bad numbers, but Forbes’ performance in a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles is what everyone remembers.

Forbes was matched up one-on-one against Eagles star A.J. Brown, who finished the game with nine receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The next week, in a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football, Forbes was matched up with Bears star D.J. Moore.

Moore caught eight passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Forbes wasn’t covering Moore the entire game, but it was enough for Washington coaches to bench him.

Forbes did not play the following week and played only 5% of the defensive snaps in the following two games. So, the coaching staff who chose him lost confidence in him after five games.

Remember the post-draft video of the previous staff smiling as if they pulled one over on the rest of the NFL by choosing Forbes?

That tells you all you need to know about the former staff. Washington had an overmatched secondary coach last season, and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio had no answers. Both were fired after a Thanksgiving blowout loss in Dallas.

Head coach Ron Rivera was fired in January, and the Commanders hired Dan Quinn to replace him. Quinn’s new defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr., followed him from the Cowboys, where the duo led the Dallas defense to a top-five finish in each of the last three seasons. The Cowboys also led the NFL in forced turnovers.

So, when Quinn and Whitt came aboard, Forbes was excited.

In a recent social media post, Forbes expressed confidence ahead of a critical season for him.

Forbes and the Commanders report to training camp in three weeks. Fans need to see more from the second-year cornerback than social media posts. The new coaching staff did not draft him. Quinn stresses competition and Forbes must earn his spot in 2024.

The secondary struggled badly last season. Washington needs Forbes. And if Forbes resembles the same player from last season, general manager Adam Peters will not hesitate to move on from him. The pressure is on Forbes, something he understands. A fresh start could be exactly what Forbes needs.

How bad was the Commanders defense in 2023? This 1st quarter stat reveals how bad

Some really ugly numbers here.

During his four seasons as head coach of the Washington Commanders, Ron Rivera’s teams always seemed to get off to a slow start. Without elite quarterback play, it was always difficult for the Commanders to climb out of an early deficit.

In 2023, the defense was supposed to be a team strength. With four former first-round picks in the starting lineup on the defensive front, the Commanders defense should have made life easier for the offense.

Not only did that not happen, but Washington’s defense was even worse than the offense.

Here are the ugly numbers:

Those are some ugly numbers. Last season’s performance led Rivera to fire defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer after a blowout loss to the Cowboys.

If you think those numbers are bad, Warren Sharp had another that showed Washington’s defensive ineptitude.

Insanity is the correct word. Quarterback Sam Howell never had a chance. It’s remarkable that the Commanders allowed so many first-quarter points, and that stat alone tells the complete story of the 2023 Washington Commanders.

Washington’s defense will be better under head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in 2024. While the Commanders have some question marks, namely at edge rusher and cornerback, Quinn’s defenses always find a way. If nothing else, Washington will force turnovers — another thing it could not do last season.

An embarrassing statistic for the Commanders defense

It’s been a long time since Washington shut out someone.

The then-Washington Redskins were so good in 1991 that they shut out three different teams. That was Washington’s last Super Bowl season, and the team featured one of the best offenses and defenses in the NFL.

It was Sept. 30, 1991, the last time Washington pitched a shutout — a 23-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

You read that correctly: Washington hasn’t shut down an opponent in 33 years. Washington has had some excellent defensive teams over the years, including when Gregg Williams coached the defense. But the Commanders haven’t shut out anyone.

Warren Sharp posted a graphic this week showing the number of years since all 32 NFL teams last had a shutout.

The Commanders were last at 33 years.

The most amazing part of this graphic is all the blank space between Washington and the next-closest team. It has been 15 years since the Jets and Giants have shut out someone. That means the Commanders’ streak is 18 years longer than the next teams.

Pitching a shutout in the NFL isn’t easy. Even great defenses allow points, whether it’s a field goal or short fields leading to a score. But at some point, you’d think Washington would get lucky and play someone worse. The Commanders have played worse teams over the past 33 years and still found ways to allow points and lose.

Even more remarkable is the assets Washington has used on its defense. From 2017-21, the Commanders used a first-round pick on a defensive player — four defensive linemen.

There have been ugly games over the years, but no shutouts.

Could that change in 2024 under new head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr? The Commanders should be better defensively in 2024. Quinn and Whitt have a track record of getting the most out of their players, and Washington has added some impact defenders this offseason.

While they will be better, Washington’s streak will likely increase to 34 years next season.

WATCH: Commanders DB Quan Martin with a behind-the-back interception during minicamp

Quan Martin with a spectacular interception during Wednesday’s practice.

The Washington Commanders were on the field for the second day of the mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, and while all eyes were on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, one defensive player stole the show.

Second-year defensive back Quan Martin, a second-round pick in 2023, is known for his versatility. Martin can play slot cornerback or outside cornerback or line up at either safety spot. Under new head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., Martin will likely start at safety in 2024.

On Wednesday, Martin showed off his skills. Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota was looking for running back Chris Rodriguez when Martin flew into the picture to break up the pass, tip it in the air, and catch it behind his back.

Here’s the play:

It’s a ridiculous play from Martin. Not only did he have a great read on the play, but his catch will certainly make Quinn and Whitt happy. Quinn and Whitt were known for coaching a defense that forced the most turnovers in the NFL in Dallas.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn explains what he wants to see from LB Jamin Davis

Dan Quinn discusses what he wants to see from Jamin Davis.

This is a make-or-break season for Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis. The 2021 first-round pick has had an up-and-down career through three seasons. Davis has shown flashes of solid play but nothing spectacular.

Washington turned down Davis’ fifth-year option for 2025 this spring, which meant Davis would need a strong 2024 season to earn a new contract from the Commanders. The bad news for Davis is that Washington signed linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu in free agency. That means an altered role for Davis in 2024, which is something he is looking forward to.

Davis is excited about playing for head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. His altered role could be more in the role of situational pass rusher.

Last week, Quinn spoke of what he wanted to see from Davis.

“Yeah, I think that’s a natural question,” Quinn told reporters last week. “At the end of a contract, or you’re in a contract year and what does that look like? But more important, even more than that is like this improvement. And we’re trying to really push him specifically on the versatility. So you’ll see him working some with the defensive line, you’ll see him working with (pass rush specialist) Ryan Kerrigan on the side, and we’re adding parts to his game that maybe we didn’t use and we’re certainly trying to explore that. And so, if that’s something that he can add value for himself and for the team, then we’ll dig in and that’ll take a while as well. That’s not something that’s in one practice or in one week to say, ‘OK, it’s there.’ Let’s take the time and work through it. I’ve been very impressed by his work ethic.”

Those are certainly some positive comments from Quinn. He sees something in Davis, and this goes back to his previous comments about finding the things players do well and putting them in positions to succeed. Davis is athletic and could thrive as a situational pass rusher.