October 25, 2025 • 9 mins
DC Joe Whitt Jr. speaks to the media before today's practice.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, let's get to it. We just get finished
with the walkthrough, so I need to get back in there.
You know, the obvious statement, you know, the last game
wasn't what we wanted in any facet. You know, they
they were able to get explosives on plays that necessarily
they shouldn't have, but they did. And so while you know,
(00:21):
I know you guys taught the Q and we're parents
and things down to any calls that had layers to it.
You know, the main focus right now is to speed
up the play. Okay, if there's anything that's causing any hesitation,
let's speed up the play with you know, limiting the
layers on the calls. Or we looked at every call, okay,
which calls are giving up any explosives, which calls aren't,
(00:44):
even if a call might be better in certain situations,
how can we get them playing fast. So that's what
we're gonna do moving forward. Talking about Kansas City, just
a dynamic quarterback. You know, one of the best quarterbacks
since since I've been in the league. He can make
every throw off every platform. He has speed outside with
his eligibles. He has a tight end that is one
(01:05):
of the best tight ends to play the game also,
so running backs are running hard. They have a number
of different running backs that they use different ways, a
good compliment. And then the offensive line really good centers outstanding.
I know they have some pieces that they're moving around,
but they do a nice job of working in conjunction together.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So all right, any questions when you.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Talk about like removing some of the layers, are you
talking about like checks at the line checks or is
it the rules of the defense?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
What are you talking about with that?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Well, you know, if there's any calls that might be
formational base where Okay, if he's in the gun, we
might be in one thing, if he's underneath, we might
be in another thing. Taking those layers away and just
say okay, hey, this is what we're going to be in.
You know, the call might be better for those situations,
but if it's making people be a little bit slower,
we're going to take those those layers off.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Things like that. What more can you do as a
defensive quarter play caller?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Can you do to help this?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
We just we have to make sure that the communication
is what it is. The details. We're playing fast and
the main thing is if we can pick up the
play speed, the ball will come to life.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And so.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
As as a coach, you have to take doubt out
of the equation, any any doubt or any hesitation. And
that's what we're gonna do. You know, We're gonna pair
things back a little bit and allow the guys to
play fast upfront.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
You've lost Die Trick, you've lost lost now Drance.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
How do you fill those voids to keep the pass
rush going.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, that's that's that's you know, that's that's part of
the game. But that's that's hard when you lose you know,
three really good players. But you know, uh that that
that gives opportunities for other guys to step up. You know,
I go back to when lost our Harris and Tremont Williams.
He stiff stepped up and went to the Pro bowler
next year. You know, that's just part of the game
that we're in. You you lose a guy and this
(02:53):
guy steps up. But you know, losing d A that's
a big one. You know, he's he was playing as
as good as any defensive end in the in the league.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So but somebody will step up. And Quentin talked about
sort of refinding the identity of the team.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
What does that mean in your mind? Is that is
that a detail thing?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
What is that sort of.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Encompass from a defensive standpoint, I guess.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It is a detailed thing.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
But it's also of all right, we we said we
want to be a running hit team. We have to
be that, you know, And that's one reason that when
I started and DQ talked about it yesterday, I believe,
you know, let's pair back some things and let's allowed
of running and the hitting to really come to life
and the ability to separate the ball from people. So
(03:40):
defensively and as a team, you know, we just have
to play, you know, play fast and play complimentary ball.
When we do it, we look really good. When we don't,
we look like we did against the Cowboys.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
Hey, coach, I know one of the things that you've
all been talking about is I'm going back to your
point about communications. So what is your estimate thus far
through the seven games on how you all are doing
in that area and what are some things that you
could do if need be too correct that.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
You know, it's been a little bit like the play
it's been. You know, certain guys are have been really
good communicators, some haven't, you know, nobody really talks about
the loss of Will Harris, who was a really good
communicator and so but that's one reason that we will
you know, pair some things back to eliminate some communications
that that we might have in reduction plays. So but
(04:30):
it's been like we played, it's been not good enough,
you know, and how we've played hasn't been good enough.
So we've been really diligent of looking at every aspect
of it and we got to get it turned, you know,
we got to get it turned.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
And we need to get a turned now.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
So you talk about Patrick Mahlmes being you know, the
quarterback that he is in terms of the past rush
getting to him, how important is it to kind of
get him off his spot and make them uncomfortable And
how do you balance kind of doing that without letting
him get outside the pocket and make plays off schedule.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, he's you know, that's that's what he does. He
can throw with anticipation from the pocket and also when
it gets out he doesn't have to be he doesn't
have to be and you know, have his feet said
or anything. He can make every throw from every way.
So we need to be able to get to him.
We need to be able to send him where we
want to send him where his percentage of throws us
(05:25):
down and and and control it from that way, you know,
make sure we keep eyes on him where he can't
just because if he sees it, he'll you know, he's
rushed for as many first downs as any quarterback in
the league, So we can't allow that. Also because that's
how they keep drives going, keep drives going. We have
to get the stops on third down. I'm doing good?
How you doing good?
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Explosives and takeaways for a defense obviously live on the
opposite ends of the spectrum where you want to operate.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Statistically, you're not where you want to be in either category.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
How confident are you that these changes are going to
help you bridge that gap?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You know, when you when you.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
To answer the question that you know, from a running
hit standpoint, I think will separate the ball maybe a
little bit more.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
There's some plays in this last game that should have
been intercepted, you know, and we just got to go
get them, you know, And.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And we're working every drill.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Trust and believe we're working every drill because I've, like
I said, I've been the league nineteen years and I've
never had a been in a defense where we haven't
produced the ball, you know, and we have to produce
the ball. I mean, that's what we've done for a
high clip, and it's just the confidence to go get
it and then once you go get you know, catch.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
It and go score with it.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So we're getting We're working every drill to get it done,
and it'll start the show. I have full confidence that
it will.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
How do you.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Envision replacing the guys that you lost at defensive end?
I guess I'm thinking specifically of guys like von Miller
who are maybe more of a pass rush type. Could
we see him get some more playing time? And how
do you balance I guess.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, we have a couple of things that we're going
to do this week that I can't say in this setting,
but we have a really good plan for for this week,
and then it'll be different next week because you know,
Seattle's different than how Kansas City is.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I guess I ask it a different way. Are you
comfortable with guys who are maybe a little bit not
as like, you know, six five, three hundred or whatever
on the edge or how does that change things for
you if you have kind of smaller build guys.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
We might not necessarily have smaller build guys, you know,
like in the game we kick Johnny outside.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
So you know, I'm not going to tell you exactly
what we're going to do, but I'm comfortable with what
our plan is for this game and how we're going
to be at the end position.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
Yes, Joe, as you try to make up for that,
you know, those injuries, you know at defensive end. You
know a lot of people say maybe you should blitz more.
How do you kind of balance as a coordinator between
you know, you guys are already blitching pretty often too
far into.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
We blitch probably like the third or fourth most.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
In the league.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
Yeah, so what's the fine line you have to balance
it between, you know, maybe blissing more but not wanting
to leave so successible to some of those bigger player
as well.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah, that's that's that's that's a key point. You know,
when you do blitz, when you do bring another element,
if it doesn't necessarily get there, you're putting the back
end and in harm's way. And so you know, you
got to mix it up with some simulators. And then
also our four man rush is pretty good, you know,
it has been, and so we have guys that can
get there off of four man and when the when
the coverage is all held up, our Russian covers work together.
(08:24):
So we've had the ability to pressure the quarterback and
I think that will continue.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, relative pretty successful. Mm hm.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Well, the the spacing of of the players and moving
certain guys in different positions that the targeting I think
for the offense has been a little bit more difficult,
and that's one thing that we're gonna you know, continue
to do.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Of the linebackers, I've been pleased with the backers. I
I think Bobby and Oosse Uh have played well. We're
gonna give Jordan Uh more looks and more opportunities. He's
came in and played with good speed. So I'm excited
to see him with with his nap camp going up.
And then you know, you'll see a little bit of
Kane as well, to see what what how he can
add to the party as well.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Do you guys look at all these changes coming up with.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
The thought to any personnel changes anywhere you could go.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, and and you'll probably see some of it uh
this week.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Yes, yep Ert, thank you, thank you,
All right, let's get to it. We just get finished
with the walkthrough, so I need to get back in there.
You know, the obvious statement, you know, the last game
wasn't what we wanted in any facet. You know, they
they were able to get explosives on plays that necessarily
they shouldn't have, but they did. And so while you know,
(00:21):
I know you guys taught the Q and we're parents
and things down to any calls that had layers to it.
You know, the main focus right now is to speed
up the play. Okay, if there's anything that's causing any hesitation,
let's speed up the play with you know, limiting the
layers on the calls. Or we looked at every call, okay,
which calls are giving up any explosives, which calls aren't,
(00:44):
even if a call might be better in certain situations,
how can we get them playing fast. So that's what
we're gonna do moving forward. Talking about Kansas City, just
a dynamic quarterback. You know, one of the best quarterbacks
since since I've been in the league. He can make
every throw off every platform. He has speed outside with
his eligibles. He has a tight end that is one
(01:05):
of the best tight ends to play the game also,
so running backs are running hard. They have a number
of different running backs that they use different ways, a
good compliment. And then the offensive line really good centers outstanding.
I know they have some pieces that they're moving around,
but they do a nice job of working in conjunction together.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So all right, any questions when you.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Talk about like removing some of the layers, are you
talking about like checks at the line checks or is
it the rules of the defense?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
What are you talking about with that?
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Well, you know, if there's any calls that might be
formational base where Okay, if he's in the gun, we
might be in one thing, if he's underneath, we might
be in another thing. Taking those layers away and just
say okay, hey, this is what we're going to be in.
You know, the call might be better for those situations,
but if it's making people be a little bit slower,
we're going to take those those layers off.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Things like that. What more can you do as a
defensive quarter play caller?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Can you do to help this?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
We just we have to make sure that the communication
is what it is. The details. We're playing fast and
the main thing is if we can pick up the
play speed, the ball will come to life.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And so.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
As as a coach, you have to take doubt out
of the equation, any any doubt or any hesitation. And
that's what we're gonna do. You know, We're gonna pair
things back a little bit and allow the guys to
play fast upfront.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
You've lost Die Trick, you've lost lost now Drance.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
How do you fill those voids to keep the pass
rush going.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, that's that's that's you know, that's that's part of
the game. But that's that's hard when you lose you know,
three really good players. But you know, uh that that
that gives opportunities for other guys to step up. You know,
I go back to when lost our Harris and Tremont Williams.
He stiff stepped up and went to the Pro bowler
next year. You know, that's just part of the game
that we're in. You you lose a guy and this
(02:53):
guy steps up. But you know, losing d A that's
a big one. You know, he's he was playing as
as good as any defensive end in the in the league.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So but somebody will step up. And Quentin talked about
sort of refinding the identity of the team.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
What does that mean in your mind? Is that is
that a detail thing?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
What is that sort of.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Encompass from a defensive standpoint, I guess.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It is a detailed thing.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
But it's also of all right, we we said we
want to be a running hit team. We have to
be that, you know, And that's one reason that when
I started and DQ talked about it yesterday, I believe,
you know, let's pair back some things and let's allowed
of running and the hitting to really come to life
and the ability to separate the ball from people. So
(03:40):
defensively and as a team, you know, we just have
to play, you know, play fast and play complimentary ball.
When we do it, we look really good. When we don't,
we look like we did against the Cowboys.
Speaker 5 (03:53):
Hey, coach, I know one of the things that you've
all been talking about is I'm going back to your
point about communications. So what is your estimate thus far
through the seven games on how you all are doing
in that area and what are some things that you
could do if need be too correct that.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
You know, it's been a little bit like the play
it's been. You know, certain guys are have been really
good communicators, some haven't, you know, nobody really talks about
the loss of Will Harris, who was a really good
communicator and so but that's one reason that we will
you know, pair some things back to eliminate some communications
that that we might have in reduction plays. So but
(04:30):
it's been like we played, it's been not good enough,
you know, and how we've played hasn't been good enough.
So we've been really diligent of looking at every aspect
of it and we got to get it turned, you know,
we got to get it turned.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
And we need to get a turned now.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
So you talk about Patrick Mahlmes being you know, the
quarterback that he is in terms of the past rush
getting to him, how important is it to kind of
get him off his spot and make them uncomfortable And
how do you balance kind of doing that without letting
him get outside the pocket and make plays off schedule.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, he's you know, that's that's what he does. He
can throw with anticipation from the pocket and also when
it gets out he doesn't have to be he doesn't
have to be and you know, have his feet said
or anything. He can make every throw from every way.
So we need to be able to get to him.
We need to be able to send him where we
want to send him where his percentage of throws us
(05:25):
down and and and control it from that way, you know,
make sure we keep eyes on him where he can't
just because if he sees it, he'll you know, he's
rushed for as many first downs as any quarterback in
the league, So we can't allow that. Also because that's
how they keep drives going, keep drives going. We have
to get the stops on third down. I'm doing good?
How you doing good?
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Explosives and takeaways for a defense obviously live on the
opposite ends of the spectrum where you want to operate.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Statistically, you're not where you want to be in either category.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
How confident are you that these changes are going to
help you bridge that gap?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You know, when you when you.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
To answer the question that you know, from a running
hit standpoint, I think will separate the ball maybe a
little bit more.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
There's some plays in this last game that should have
been intercepted, you know, and we just got to go
get them, you know, And.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And we're working every drill.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Trust and believe we're working every drill because I've, like
I said, I've been the league nineteen years and I've
never had a been in a defense where we haven't
produced the ball, you know, and we have to produce
the ball. I mean, that's what we've done for a
high clip, and it's just the confidence to go get
it and then once you go get you know, catch.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
It and go score with it.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So we're getting We're working every drill to get it done,
and it'll start the show. I have full confidence that
it will.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
How do you.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Envision replacing the guys that you lost at defensive end?
I guess I'm thinking specifically of guys like von Miller
who are maybe more of a pass rush type. Could
we see him get some more playing time? And how
do you balance I guess.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, we have a couple of things that we're going
to do this week that I can't say in this setting,
but we have a really good plan for for this week,
and then it'll be different next week because you know,
Seattle's different than how Kansas City is.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I guess I ask it a different way. Are you
comfortable with guys who are maybe a little bit not
as like, you know, six five, three hundred or whatever
on the edge or how does that change things for
you if you have kind of smaller build guys.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
We might not necessarily have smaller build guys, you know,
like in the game we kick Johnny outside.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
So you know, I'm not going to tell you exactly
what we're going to do, but I'm comfortable with what
our plan is for this game and how we're going
to be at the end position.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
Yes, Joe, as you try to make up for that,
you know, those injuries, you know at defensive end. You
know a lot of people say maybe you should blitz more.
How do you kind of balance as a coordinator between
you know, you guys are already blitching pretty often too
far into.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
We blitch probably like the third or fourth most.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
In the league.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
Yeah, so what's the fine line you have to balance
it between, you know, maybe blissing more but not wanting
to leave so successible to some of those bigger player
as well.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah, that's that's that's that's a key point. You know,
when you do blitz, when you do bring another element,
if it doesn't necessarily get there, you're putting the back
end and in harm's way. And so you know, you
got to mix it up with some simulators. And then
also our four man rush is pretty good, you know,
it has been, and so we have guys that can
get there off of four man and when the when
the coverage is all held up, our Russian covers work together.
(08:24):
So we've had the ability to pressure the quarterback and
I think that will continue.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, relative pretty successful. Mm hm.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Well, the the spacing of of the players and moving
certain guys in different positions that the targeting I think
for the offense has been a little bit more difficult,
and that's one thing that we're gonna you know, continue
to do.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Of the linebackers, I've been pleased with the backers. I
I think Bobby and Oosse Uh have played well. We're
gonna give Jordan Uh more looks and more opportunities. He's
came in and played with good speed. So I'm excited
to see him with with his nap camp going up.
And then you know, you'll see a little bit of
Kane as well, to see what what how he can
add to the party as well.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Do you guys look at all these changes coming up with.
Speaker 5 (09:29):
The thought to any personnel changes anywhere you could go.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, and and you'll probably see some of it uh
this week.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Yes, yep Ert, thank you, thank you,
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