Nobody associated with the Washington Commanders will ever forget where they were when Jayden Daniels hauled a successful Hail Mary play into the hands of Noah Brown to beat the Chicago Bears in Week 8. Joe Whitt Jr.'s experience was a little different.
The defensive coordinator is masterminding some legitimate improvements from this unit after a rocky start to the campaign. They've gone from one of the worst statistically to the middle of the pack, which is encouraging. There are still problems to solve and holes to fill if the Commanders want to make noise in the postseason, but things are much more encouraging nonetheless.
Joe Whitt Jr.'s frustrations with Commanders defense remained during Hail Mary miracle
Whitt didn't enjoy the miracle at Northwest Stadium as much as most. He revealed that there was still a level of frustration attached to his final few seconds before the bedlam began. This centered on not closing out the game and giving up a touchdown that could have cost Washington in the worst possible way before the dramatic conclusion.
"To be honest with you, I didn't see much of it because I was pissed. We just gave up a touchdown. So I got up, and I was walking out of the box, and then I turned around and was like, okay. I was surprised about the play before the play because they gave up the sideline. Looked at the time and thought we're gonna have a chance at this Hail Mary. Everyone was going crazy but I was still a little pissed. We still let them score, but then I just went ballistic with everybody else. We should close the game, finish the game in those winning moments, and I blame myself. We were in a solid call, but there was a better call that I should've gotten to and I didn't. And that's not acceptable."Joe Whitt Jr. via X
Commanders DC Joe Whitt said he didn't see much of the Hail Mary last Sunday because he was pissed.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 31, 2024
"We should close the game, finish the game in those winning moments, and I blame myself. We were in a solid call, but there was a better call that I should've gotten to and I… pic.twitter.com/YAWKij8S2j
Whitt is a no-nonsense guy. He's a great listen during his media availability and has the coaching prowess that's getting a good response from his players. This statement - although pretty funny - typifies the elite-level mindset across the Commanders under this exciting new regime.
READ MORE: Commanders cannot let Hail Mary miracle become crowning moment of 2024
There are no half-measures. There is improved professionalism and a primary focus on being fundamentally sound. Whitt will take this moment for what he thinks it is - something that could have been avoided if his defense finished out the contest with more efficiency. He also has no problem holding himself accountable for any failings.
These are the high standards Washington has set after a sensational start to the campaign. They are 6-2 with a genuine chance to make the playoffs in the first season under head coach Dan Quinn's guidance. The turnaround is remarkable, but having coaches like Whitt around should guarantee everyone keeps a level head and focuses firmly on the task at hand.
Whitt enjoyed the moment eventually. But make no mistake, his message in meetings this week was loud and clear.
Washington cannot meet rising expectations unless it becomes a collective effort. That means the defense must continue to make strides and find ways to come through in clutch moments.
Expect to see a strong response from Whitt and his players this weekend against the New York Giants. Something that should mean there will be no need for a Hail Mary phenomenon this time.