Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne addressed the media after practice on July 28. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On how the defense is coming together so far:
"We are really working on just flying around and getting to the ball, hunting. That's the main emphasis right now, just you want everybody hunting. Everybody should be around the ball, no matter how far the ball [is] down the field. So, this year we [are] going to try to be hunting and getting after it."
On how he fits into the defensive scheme:
"Man, they [are] letting us just go. [Head] Coach [Dan] Quinn is letting us just be explosive. Be explosive guys, get after the quarterback, get after the run games. So [QB] Jayden Daniels has made plenty of plays already this camp just being explosive, getting off the ball, not worried about [anything]. So, it's going to be fun to see. I think we [are] going to make a bunch of plays."
On how potential changes to the defense will help him:
"It definitely gives the offense something different to see. They won't be able to scheme us up and just focus on what we do. One-on-one, you can be able to scheme a guy up and look at what they do best and scheme them out of a game. So, with us being able to move and do games and just do all that work together, I feel like it is going to be a lot for offenses."
On how he feels physically and if he did anything different over the offseason:
"Every offseason I be on it. I get straight to it. I usually stay around here and train, train hard, but shoot, like I said with the new defense we have, they want us hunting so we got to be around the ball. If we're not around the ball, it's a bad play no matter what you did. So, they want us flying, so I feel like that's just getting me in shape already."
On what it's been like working for Defensive Line Coach Darryl Tapp:
"He has a lot of intent in what he does and the drills that we do. And the work that we put in, we just don't come out here and just do things to waste time. He thinks about it and preps ahead and does things to get us in good shape and have good technique."
On what it's been like working with DE Clelin Ferrell and Dorance Armstrong:
"Oh man, it is fun. That boy [Clelin], he's one of those guys, he's high energy, high effort. He's going to get after the quarterback. All those boys, it's fun. Coming from rushing with [Chicago Bears DE] Montez Sweat, and [New Orleans Saints DE] Chase Young and [assistant defensive line coach] Ryan Kerrigan, it's just fun to see different [defensive ends] coming in and how they move and what things they do to get wins."
On what he's seen from LB Bobby Wagner and LB Frankie Luvu:
"Those are two veteran guys, man. Bobby Wag, he commands the huddle and we listen to him. He gets it out to us and I feel like they're going to be really good for our defense."
