September 4, 2025 • 11 mins
DC Joe Whitt Jr. speaks to the media before today's practice.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, all right, new season. So it's always good to
start off in the division, in my opinion. You know,
start off the right way playing New York. You know,
it starts with the you know, the play caller. You
know Mike is gonna call it, and and you know
(00:21):
he has flavor from you know, Kansas City. But what
they've been doing there, I know he's been a trusted
guy for Dave Ball for for a while, So I
don't anticipate too much being different, but we're gonna do
our due diligency there. The quarterback, Russ has experience of
being one of the best deep ball throwers in the
league since he's been in the league, and so with
(00:42):
the weapons that he has outside, that makes it a challenge.
I think Tracy is a really good runner. He has patience,
he can he has really good contact balance, he can
find the cutback, really good patients, and the lines working
together from this preseason to create those hose for the runners.
So it's gonna be a good fun challenge for us.
(01:05):
And we're excited. We're excited to finally get into football
and and games that that that that matter. Not saying
the preseason doesn't, because it does in its own right,
but these games start counting for what we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So with that, having any questions.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
With Malik Neighbors, what one what makes him so dangerous
as a receiver? And do you feel you're better equipped
to defend a guy like that this year?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
What made some dangerous is he's a he's a really
good athlete. Okay, to run after the catch is what
he probably does best. Once he gets the ball in
his hands, he is very dangerous. He can he can
lead people. He has power to run through arm tackles
so that that makes them dynamic. He can catch the
ball in different planes as well. He's one of the
better young receivers in the league. Are we better equipped
(01:55):
to cover him this year? We'll see on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Along those What do you like about that secondary from
what you've seen in this summer?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
You know, if you've been out there at practice and
we have to bring our practice to the game, Feeld,
you know we've been really sticky, all right, We've we've
we've challenged press, been more of what I envision of
our secondary being than what we were necessarily last year
from a standpoint of just being very aggressive and getting
(02:26):
up and so I've been pleased with the way that
those guys have challenged routes and turned the ball over
and communicating and doing those things.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
What have you seen from Vaughn in your limited time
with him? And is there at all a time for
you and sort of balancing where he's at in his
career with you know what he's capable of doing.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Well.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You know, Vaughn, he first he's a professional. He's he's
come in and and really helped all the guys with
all the knowledge that he's had over the years. You know,
I was with Julius Peppers later in his career when
he came Green Bay, and they're very similar with you know,
very good pass rushers. They're different guys, but very good
pass rushers. And so Vaughn still has a very very
(03:09):
fast first step, he can ben, he's quick, and so
all those athletic ability things he still has. And then
with his knowledge, I'm excited to watch him play on
Sunday and Durance.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
He seemed to have a really good camp and what
ways did you see him take another step this year?
Speaker 1 (03:26):
A complete football player. You know, he's not just a rusher.
He's not guy that just can play the run.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
He can do it all.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
He can play on first and second down, outside, on
third down, you can kick him inside, you can play
you know, a six technique, nine technique with them three technique.
He's just a complete football player. He's a really smart man.
I know he doesn't say a lot, but he can
communicate and when we're running games and when we're changing
things up front, he can communicate that with the other
D lineman. So he's one of the leaders on this
(03:57):
defense and he's had it, like you said, he's had
a hell of account.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So it's going to show.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
Up when you look at the defense as a whole
and going into the regular season. What has pleased you
most about this defense.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
From practice and practice is practice, it's just the play style, right.
We've been very aggressive, very intentional with what we've been doing.
The communication is light time, just better than what it
was at any point last year. And so I've been
just pleased with how the guys are connected and playing
(04:36):
as one and playing with the aggression in the downhill
mentality that we want to play with.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Could you talk a little bit about your run defense
and what you've seen there.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
You know, we, like I said, during the off season,
we were changing some of the techniques up front, and
then we had added some players, and I think the
d line coaches have done an excellent job of getting
the guys to understand how we want to play, how
we want to hit blocks.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
We have some some.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Larger, longer men up front that have the ability to
do some of the techniques that we're going to ask
him to do. So I envision that we're going to
be much improved in the run area.
Speaker 6 (05:14):
Can you share a bit about the linebacker position group
and what you've seen from them through training camp and
then of course expectations were going into the season.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
You know, when you have Bobby and Frankie, you know
leading the linebacker corps, I mean, there are two of
the best linebackers in the NFL, and so that's basically
what you've seen is those two guys bonding together, working together.
And then you you know, Jordan missed a lot of
training camp, but he has when he comes back, he's
(05:43):
just picked up where he left off, which was in
a good place. And then we have the young guys,
and and the young guys are in a learning phase
right now and hopefully they won't have to get out
there because we have the lead dogs playing.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Hey Jill, good morning. I'm talk about the secondary. I
swear this is not a game plan question, but last year,
you guys and candilely didn't always have enough maybe cornerbacks
out there to feel comfortable to do what you said
you wanted to do. I think it's the opposite problem
this year, plus the safety room. How does the coach
sort of navigate Yeah, you want to have certain people
out there in certain packages, but you have three corners
(06:17):
he probably maybe one on the field at all times.
You have multiple safeties. How do you kind of navigate
that the talent versus the scheme as you kind of
go through that.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
You know, back when I was in Green Bay, I
think it was in twenty fourteen, we had a very
very talented secondary room, and I think out of that
room maybe do it through their career. Seven guys made
Pro Bowls. You know what I'm saying. It was a
very talented room. You have Micah Casey a or Sam
Shields from Williams, Hah Morgan. She had a ton of guys,
(06:46):
and what I would go in there and tell those
guys is the best guys playing, other guys to watch
and that's just what it is. So the guys that
deserve the play, they'll go out there and play, and
we'll put packages for people to get, you know, guys
on the field. But what I'm not going to try
to do is to appease a guy hurt the defense
with trying to just get a guy on the field. No,
get yourself into the package and you'll play and we'll
(07:10):
go from that standpoint there. So it's a good it's
a it's a good problem to have, but I'm not
going to try to make something somebody happy just to
play him and hurt the defense.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
That's not going to be a part of what we do.
Speaker 8 (07:23):
Sticking with the secondary here, saw a lot of good
stuff from Trey ms during during camp as he gets
ready for his first game. Kind of what what looks
like a successful game for him is are there certain
ways that you'll that you'll give him help early on
to kind of get him acclimated to NFL.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That is a scheme question there.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You know, Trey had had a good camp, okay, and
and we're gonna and Jason simm has done an excellent
job with him, and we're gonna put him in positions
that that are beneficial to him. But uh, you know,
I'm not gonna tell you if we're gonna help him
or not. He he you know you'll we'll see that
on on Sunday.
Speaker 9 (07:59):
Coach, you talked about the length and size of your
defense and you can clearly see that visibly. Do you
feel like the speed that goes along with that? Do
you feel like now you have really the pieces that
you need to be able to implement a fast and
free type defense.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, I think the speeds right there with the length
and the size of the men, you know, especially on
the back end. You know, you have an older guy
and Jonathan Jones, but he still can run like a deer,
you know, and Amos can run. And Tray's healthy, so
not Trey, but Marshawn's healthy, so you know you'll be
able to see his ability to hit the top end speed.
(08:35):
So I to answer your question, yes, I think we
have what we need to go out here and play
really good defense.
Speaker 10 (08:42):
Hey, Jill over here, I know numerous times last year
you expressed your frustration of not being able to finish games,
getting off the field fourth quarter, getting those turnovers. How's
that become a point of emphasis over the last couple
of weeks training camp, and what type of improvements do
you think we're going to see with this defense getting
off the field and finishing games.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
You know, practice is practice, but we have to bring
it to the field. But when we've had competition periods
and done things such as that, we've done a really
nice job. And so if we can do what we've
done on the practice field on Sunday and on every
game day, we'll be in the pocket that we need
to be in. I've seen it in practice. Now we
just have to do in the games and practice. Last year,
(09:24):
we weren't turning the ball over, we weren't beating in
the offense in those situations.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
It has been different this year.
Speaker 11 (09:31):
I talked about Russ's deep ball ability councils at moon Ball.
Is he still able to drop in the bucket at
this point of his career like he was previously? And
how hard is that to defend?
Speaker 2 (09:42):
One? One gets us last year, you know, and won
the damn game. So it's a bad call by me.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
And so because I understand, I know, I've been against
him enough to know that that's what he does best.
And and you know, make that call in that situation
wasn't very smart, So no, he can do it. That's
what he does best. He throws the ball really good
outside of numbers deep. He gives us guys a chance
to go make a play, and that just gives him
a chance to make a play. He places it very
(10:08):
well on those deep balls. So he's one of the
best that that's done it, and he's done it for
a very very long time.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Hey, Joe, you mentioned Vaughn. You added some experienced guys
like him to a unit that was already pretty experienced.
This might be a simplistic question, but what changes for
you as a coordinator when you have so much experience
on that on that defense.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
That's a good question. I don't think it's a very
simplicit question. But uh, the what changes for me, I
think is the way that the guys study, and so
I can put a little bit more on their plate.
Because when you have veteran guys not only Bond, but
Addrich Wise, Jacob, Mark and Martin, they know how to
study there. They're not just rookies start just watching film.
They understand how to study film, and so you can
(10:51):
give them more nuggets and more nuances to the defense.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Then you could give a younger type defense.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
Joe, do you think you've added more play makers to
take the ball away more this year?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Is that something you'd like to see.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
I would definitely like to see us take the ball
away more. But you know, we'll we'll, we'll see, you
know we I think we've we've turned the ball over
a lot in camp. We've had a number of interceptions,
we've punched the ball out. But that's practice, okay, all right,
it has to translate to the game. And am I
(11:25):
confident that it will translate to the game. I am
all right. But until we do it and do it
on a consistent basis, uh, it's it's still, you know,
up in the air. But we have but we have
to do it, all right, y'all have a great one now,
Okay, all right, new season. So it's always good to
start off in the division, in my opinion. You know,
start off the right way playing New York. You know,
it starts with the you know, the play caller. You
know Mike is gonna call it, and and you know
(00:21):
he has flavor from you know, Kansas City. But what
they've been doing there, I know he's been a trusted
guy for Dave Ball for for a while, So I
don't anticipate too much being different, but we're gonna do
our due diligency there. The quarterback, Russ has experience of
being one of the best deep ball throwers in the
league since he's been in the league, and so with
(00:42):
the weapons that he has outside, that makes it a challenge.
I think Tracy is a really good runner. He has patience,
he can he has really good contact balance, he can
find the cutback, really good patients, and the lines working
together from this preseason to create those hose for the runners.
So it's gonna be a good fun challenge for us.
(01:05):
And we're excited. We're excited to finally get into football
and and games that that that that matter. Not saying
the preseason doesn't, because it does in its own right,
but these games start counting for what we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So with that, having any questions.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
With Malik Neighbors, what one what makes him so dangerous
as a receiver? And do you feel you're better equipped
to defend a guy like that this year?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
What made some dangerous is he's a he's a really
good athlete. Okay, to run after the catch is what
he probably does best. Once he gets the ball in
his hands, he is very dangerous. He can he can
lead people. He has power to run through arm tackles
so that that makes them dynamic. He can catch the
ball in different planes as well. He's one of the
better young receivers in the league. Are we better equipped
(01:55):
to cover him this year? We'll see on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Along those What do you like about that secondary from
what you've seen in this summer?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
You know, if you've been out there at practice and
we have to bring our practice to the game, Feeld,
you know we've been really sticky, all right, We've we've
we've challenged press, been more of what I envision of
our secondary being than what we were necessarily last year
from a standpoint of just being very aggressive and getting
(02:26):
up and so I've been pleased with the way that
those guys have challenged routes and turned the ball over
and communicating and doing those things.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
What have you seen from Vaughn in your limited time
with him? And is there at all a time for
you and sort of balancing where he's at in his
career with you know what he's capable of doing.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Well.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You know, Vaughn, he first he's a professional. He's he's
come in and and really helped all the guys with
all the knowledge that he's had over the years. You know,
I was with Julius Peppers later in his career when
he came Green Bay, and they're very similar with you know,
very good pass rushers. They're different guys, but very good
pass rushers. And so Vaughn still has a very very
(03:09):
fast first step, he can ben, he's quick, and so
all those athletic ability things he still has. And then
with his knowledge, I'm excited to watch him play on
Sunday and Durance.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
He seemed to have a really good camp and what
ways did you see him take another step this year?
Speaker 1 (03:26):
A complete football player. You know, he's not just a rusher.
He's not guy that just can play the run.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
He can do it all.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
He can play on first and second down, outside, on
third down, you can kick him inside, you can play
you know, a six technique, nine technique with them three technique.
He's just a complete football player. He's a really smart man.
I know he doesn't say a lot, but he can
communicate and when we're running games and when we're changing
things up front, he can communicate that with the other
D lineman. So he's one of the leaders on this
(03:57):
defense and he's had it, like you said, he's had
a hell of account.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So it's going to show.
Speaker 6 (04:02):
Up when you look at the defense as a whole
and going into the regular season. What has pleased you
most about this defense.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
From practice and practice is practice, it's just the play style, right.
We've been very aggressive, very intentional with what we've been doing.
The communication is light time, just better than what it
was at any point last year. And so I've been
just pleased with how the guys are connected and playing
(04:36):
as one and playing with the aggression in the downhill
mentality that we want to play with.
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Could you talk a little bit about your run defense
and what you've seen there.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
You know, we, like I said, during the off season,
we were changing some of the techniques up front, and
then we had added some players, and I think the
d line coaches have done an excellent job of getting
the guys to understand how we want to play, how
we want to hit blocks.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
We have some some.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Larger, longer men up front that have the ability to
do some of the techniques that we're going to ask
him to do. So I envision that we're going to
be much improved in the run area.
Speaker 6 (05:14):
Can you share a bit about the linebacker position group
and what you've seen from them through training camp and
then of course expectations were going into the season.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
You know, when you have Bobby and Frankie, you know
leading the linebacker corps, I mean, there are two of
the best linebackers in the NFL, and so that's basically
what you've seen is those two guys bonding together, working together.
And then you you know, Jordan missed a lot of
training camp, but he has when he comes back, he's
(05:43):
just picked up where he left off, which was in
a good place. And then we have the young guys,
and and the young guys are in a learning phase
right now and hopefully they won't have to get out
there because we have the lead dogs playing.
Speaker 7 (05:57):
Hey Jill, good morning. I'm talk about the secondary. I
swear this is not a game plan question, but last year,
you guys and candilely didn't always have enough maybe cornerbacks
out there to feel comfortable to do what you said
you wanted to do. I think it's the opposite problem
this year, plus the safety room. How does the coach
sort of navigate Yeah, you want to have certain people
out there in certain packages, but you have three corners
(06:17):
he probably maybe one on the field at all times.
You have multiple safeties. How do you kind of navigate
that the talent versus the scheme as you kind of
go through that.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
You know, back when I was in Green Bay, I
think it was in twenty fourteen, we had a very
very talented secondary room, and I think out of that
room maybe do it through their career. Seven guys made
Pro Bowls. You know what I'm saying. It was a
very talented room. You have Micah Casey a or Sam
Shields from Williams, Hah Morgan. She had a ton of guys,
(06:46):
and what I would go in there and tell those
guys is the best guys playing, other guys to watch
and that's just what it is. So the guys that
deserve the play, they'll go out there and play, and
we'll put packages for people to get, you know, guys
on the field. But what I'm not going to try
to do is to appease a guy hurt the defense
with trying to just get a guy on the field. No,
get yourself into the package and you'll play and we'll
(07:10):
go from that standpoint there. So it's a good it's
a it's a good problem to have, but I'm not
going to try to make something somebody happy just to
play him and hurt the defense.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
That's not going to be a part of what we do.
Speaker 8 (07:23):
Sticking with the secondary here, saw a lot of good
stuff from Trey ms during during camp as he gets
ready for his first game. Kind of what what looks
like a successful game for him is are there certain
ways that you'll that you'll give him help early on
to kind of get him acclimated to NFL.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That is a scheme question there.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You know, Trey had had a good camp, okay, and
and we're gonna and Jason simm has done an excellent
job with him, and we're gonna put him in positions
that that are beneficial to him. But uh, you know,
I'm not gonna tell you if we're gonna help him
or not. He he you know you'll we'll see that
on on Sunday.
Speaker 9 (07:59):
Coach, you talked about the length and size of your
defense and you can clearly see that visibly. Do you
feel like the speed that goes along with that? Do
you feel like now you have really the pieces that
you need to be able to implement a fast and
free type defense.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, I think the speeds right there with the length
and the size of the men, you know, especially on
the back end. You know, you have an older guy
and Jonathan Jones, but he still can run like a deer,
you know, and Amos can run. And Tray's healthy, so
not Trey, but Marshawn's healthy, so you know you'll be
able to see his ability to hit the top end speed.
(08:35):
So I to answer your question, yes, I think we
have what we need to go out here and play
really good defense.
Speaker 10 (08:42):
Hey, Jill over here, I know numerous times last year
you expressed your frustration of not being able to finish games,
getting off the field fourth quarter, getting those turnovers. How's
that become a point of emphasis over the last couple
of weeks training camp, and what type of improvements do
you think we're going to see with this defense getting
off the field and finishing games.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
You know, practice is practice, but we have to bring
it to the field. But when we've had competition periods
and done things such as that, we've done a really
nice job. And so if we can do what we've
done on the practice field on Sunday and on every
game day, we'll be in the pocket that we need
to be in. I've seen it in practice. Now we
just have to do in the games and practice. Last year,
(09:24):
we weren't turning the ball over, we weren't beating in
the offense in those situations.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
It has been different this year.
Speaker 11 (09:31):
I talked about Russ's deep ball ability councils at moon Ball.
Is he still able to drop in the bucket at
this point of his career like he was previously? And
how hard is that to defend?
Speaker 2 (09:42):
One? One gets us last year, you know, and won
the damn game. So it's a bad call by me.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
And so because I understand, I know, I've been against
him enough to know that that's what he does best.
And and you know, make that call in that situation
wasn't very smart, So no, he can do it. That's
what he does best. He throws the ball really good
outside of numbers deep. He gives us guys a chance
to go make a play, and that just gives him
a chance to make a play. He places it very
(10:08):
well on those deep balls. So he's one of the
best that that's done it, and he's done it for
a very very long time.
Speaker 5 (10:15):
Hey, Joe, you mentioned Vaughn. You added some experienced guys
like him to a unit that was already pretty experienced.
This might be a simplistic question, but what changes for
you as a coordinator when you have so much experience
on that on that defense.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
That's a good question. I don't think it's a very
simplicit question. But uh, the what changes for me, I
think is the way that the guys study, and so
I can put a little bit more on their plate.
Because when you have veteran guys not only Bond, but
Addrich Wise, Jacob, Mark and Martin, they know how to
study there. They're not just rookies start just watching film.
They understand how to study film, and so you can
(10:51):
give them more nuggets and more nuances to the defense.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Then you could give a younger type defense.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
Joe, do you think you've added more play makers to
take the ball away more this year?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Is that something you'd like to see.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
I would definitely like to see us take the ball
away more. But you know, we'll we'll, we'll see, you
know we I think we've we've turned the ball over
a lot in camp. We've had a number of interceptions,
we've punched the ball out. But that's practice, okay, all right,
it has to translate to the game. And am I
(11:25):
confident that it will translate to the game. I am
all right. But until we do it and do it
on a consistent basis, uh, it's it's still, you know,
up in the air. But we have but we have
to do it, all right, y'all have a great one now,
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