Joe Whitt is fully aware of the danger Baker Mayfield presents for the Commanders.
This Sunday night in Tampa, the Commanders are going to be challenged by the Bucs offense led by Mayfield. This season, Mayfield passed for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, both career highs. In fact, Mayfield had not even passed for 30 touchdowns prior to this season.
Not only does Mayfield pass well, but he also throws well on the run, finding receivers downfield. In addition, Mayfield had never rushed for 200 yards in an NFL season, yet in 2024, he gained 378 on the ground.
Is it any wonder Whitt began his press conference on Thursday, saying, “I’ve been really impressed with Baker Mayfield.”
“I think he is just doing a good job of making people miss,” expressed Whitt. “He’s been hard to tackle in the pocket across every team that goes in there. So, you have to hit him as if you’re going to hit a running back. If you go in there like you’re going to hit a quarterback, normal quarterbacks, you’re going to probably come off.”
“When he is outside the pocket, he doesn’t get the protection, but when he is in the pocket, we got to stay shoulders to thighs. But we have to go in there and hit him like he’s a running back.”
Whitt is preaching to his defense they have to get to Mayfield. In the first game this season, the Commanders only hit Mayfield four times and only sacked him once as he passed for four touchdowns with no interceptions.
“He does a good job of sliding up and out, and he’s keeping his eyes downfield. I know he does scramble, but he’s scrambling to throw. He’s just playing high-level ball. And so, we just got to get him on the ground.”