Joe Whitt is ready.
The Commanders defensive coordinator told the media Monday, "I just want to go compete against another group."
Whitt had been asked which player or players he was most interested in seeing play this week. He responded that there was not a player; it was the entire defense.
"I want to see if we can continue to do, what we're doing out here on a consistent basis against another opponent," added Whitt.
Whitt was asked about the Commanders' rookie draft pick (205th overall), LB Kain Medrano.
"Kain is one of those multi-positional players; we are carving out a role for him," he answered. "He's defining it himself. He's doing a better job of covering than he did in the spring on the tight ends. He's shown a level of physicality. Now, can he consistently do it? That's one thing that we need to see when we go to New England because we know how they are going to try to be bully-ball a little bit."
Whitt then suggested he they are still trying to figure out if Medrano might be slash between a Frankie Luvu (LB) and Jeremy Chinn (S).
Another rookie draft choice (61st overall), cornerback Trey Amos, made a couple of plays during Monday's practice. When Whitt was asked about Amos, the rookie from Ole Miss, making some plays, Whitt responded, "Trey has a good day every day." Well, that certainly reverberated positively throughout Commanders' nation.
The 2024 defense often was disappointing for Whitt, as he more than a few times through the season told the media, the team needed to force more turnovers (20th), get off the field quicker (19th in surrendering first downs), and stop the run better. Whitt was spot on as the Commanders were 28th in yards per rush on defense and 30th in overall rushing yards surrendered.
But it does sound like Whitt likes what he is seeing from his two defensive rookie draft choices thus far in training camp.
