Entering the second season of defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.'s scheme, the expectation for the Washington Commanders' defense is improvement. The development of a stronger defense depends on the continued growth of players already in the system, as well as the insertion of players to plug holes opened up by the departure of key players in free agency.

Expected to fill a gap is safety Will Harris, who joined former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot on "Get Loud" to discuss what Smoot describes as Whitt's "DB friendly defense."

"The system is super fun," Harris said. "Obviously playing with great players left and right, you've got great players who have been playing at a high level for a long time on this defense, so it's just iron sharpens iron. It's inspiring; it's tremendously humbling to come out here and lace it up with these guys."

Aside from the scheme's emphasis on pass coverage and supporting the run defense, Harris enjoys the amount of knowledge he has been able to glean from the defensive coaches and staff throughout Training Camp.

"You've got, just as far as coaching alone, so many different wealths of knowledge here," Harris said of learning the defense. "I can lean on Coach Whitt, I can lean on all my DB coaches, Coach T.D. [Defensive Backs coach Tommy Donatell], Coach Simmo [Defensive Passing Game coordinator Jason Simmons]."

Surprisingly, however, Harris feels the most impactful resource has come from someone on the other side of the line of scrimmage in Wes Welker. The former wide receiver-turned coach joined the Commanders' staff in April as a personnel analyst for the front office and coaching staff.

Having faced a number of defenses throughout his 12-year NFL career, Welker's extensive experience as both a player and coach is something Harris feels has been pivotal in changing the way he sees offenses.

"He's done it at a high level for a long time, and he's in the DB room giving us those perspectives as someone who went against DB's for a long time," Harris said of Welker. "So having resources like that, and being able to go to him and say, 'Hey man, how do you see this?' 'If you were going against me, how would you attack me?' Having a resource like that in the building in the DB room, that's invaluable."

To hear Smoot's full interview with Harris, check out Get Loud on the Commanders’ official YouTube channel.