Washington Commanders assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Brian Johnson addressed the media after practice on Jan. 23. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On what this game means to him facing his former team:
"Yeah, I mean this is great opportunity. Really happy for everybody in this building to get to this point and earn their weight to this point throughout the course of the season. It should be a great one up there at the Linc [Lincoln Financial Field] on Sunday."
On what percentage of the time he believes that QB Jayden Daniels makes the right football decision:
"Yeah, I mean he has an unbelievable ability to quickly process the defense, and great natural instincts of understanding where the ball should go. So, he's continuing to grow and develop. I think one of the things that, for him especially, is he's done such a great job of banking all of these reps that he's had throughout the course of offseason, training camp throughout the course of the season. And just building his bank of, 'Okay, I've seen this look, I've seen this look.' He can call on that now. And he has such great recall of the use of his reps throughout the course of the year."
On when he knew Daniels was legit:
"Well, I was really, really impressed with Jayden for a long time. You know, obviously I followed his college career. He took a trip to Florida when I was there coming out. So, I've been really familiar with his game and what he was about. But, even just rookie minicamp, like he came in really, really prepared, ready to go. And throughout the course of the draft process, like the Zooms we had with him, you could tell he's very, very serious and very, very eager about being the best player he can possibly be. The way he works at it has been incredible to watch."
On why he thinks this coaching staff is so tight knit:
"I think connection really, really matters. I think that's the beautiful thing about football is that you bring guys in from all different types of backgrounds and philosophies, and you get to work towards a common goal. I can't say enough about the men in this building that come to work every single day, eager to get better. And I think that has really shown itself over the course of the season, and looking forward to getting a chance to show that again on Sunday."
On what he's learned from Head Coach Dan Quinn:
"I think there's so many things I could go on and on about DQ. One of the things that we talked about today was joyful intensity. And I think for me in particular, there's been such a clear vision from the beginning of what we wanted this thing to look like, and getting everybody to be on the same page and pulling in the same direction. I think that is really a superpower of DQ's and it's something that we lean into and it's been incredible to be a part of."
On a turning point for the team during the season:
"Well, I think the consistency of the weekly approach and being true to the process of winning and understanding what goes into giving yourself the best opportunity to go out there and perform at a high level each and every week. There's such a level of consistency that's required for that. And the way we have things set up here, again, going back to Q [Quinn] with just how clear the vision is and setting that roadmap, I think that has been something that's been excellent."
On similarities between Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and Daniels:
"I think when you talk about, really any great player in this league regardless of position, I think a couple of things that stand out and they're all pretty much intangible. You have to, obviously, have a certain level of talent to play well in this league, but I think the eagerness to get better, how you connect with your teammates, your love for the game, the joy you play the game with, I think all of those things carry over into a consistent performance week in and week out. And whether it's Jayden, whether it's Jalen, any other quarterback in this league, any other skill position, all of those guys, every great player that I've been around they all possess that."
On what makes this team different and so successful:
"Yeah, I think just again, I think so much credit goes to Q [Quinn] of really formulating such a clear vision and plan for what it should look like on a daily, weekly basis, and just the consistency that we approach that with every single week. It starts to compound and it becomes contagious. And I think the players that we have here, have done a fantastic job of buying into what we're trying to do as an organization. And I think it's just been really fun to be a part of."
On what the veteran players have meant to the offense:
"Yeah, I think that's a part of football and always being ready when your numbers called. And I've been really, really proud of [QB] Marcus [Mariota]. Obviously, I was with him last year and I can't say enough great things about, not only what he's been able to do for us on the field, but just the comradery in that quarterback room. I think it's been such a good spot for Jayden's development and we always talk about experience being life's best teacher, and Marcus had very similar experiences. He was obviously the number two pick in the draft. He won the Heisman in college and he's had a really long career in the NFL. So, I think anytime that you can pass down that knowledge to make the next man on your team improve from it, I think it's definitely a special, special thing."
On if he felt like he needed a change of scenery after last season and on if he's benefitted from the change of scenery:
"Yeah, I think being here, I can't say enough about Q [Quinn] and the organization, and AP [General Manager Adam Peters] and all those guys that, it's been really, really refreshing in terms of coming in every single day and working towards a common goal. And watching these players continue to develop and grow and get better week in and week out. So, I'm really, really excited to be here. It's been a great experience for me so far."
On if he has relationships with people in the Eagles' organization:
"Yeah, the beauty of this game is the relationships and you spend so much time with people in whatever building you've been in throughout the course of, for me, 15 years of coaching. So, whether that's guys that I coached at Mississippi State or guys that I coached in Philadelphia or people that I've worked with, those relationships last a lifetime."
On how Quinn has managed his messaging to the team each week and on everyone being on the same page:
"I think there's a couple of reasons, obviously he's a great communicator. And it's such a clear vision, but I think that, secondly, it's the people in the building and having great people that have a ton of different experiences that all believe that message. So, it's a situation where he does a great job communicating, but it's such an authentic message and it resonates with everybody in the building."
On how abnormal Daniels' rookie season has been:
"Well, I think a lot of credit, obviously to Jayden. Who he is as a person, how he prepares each and every week and what goes into him getting himself ready to play. And he has exceptional football instincts. He has an incredible work ethic and I think he has really, really high character. And all those things, when you mix them all together it's not really a surprise that the guy can go out and play well on a consistent basis when you see the work that goes into it every single day."
