Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media before practice on Dec. 15. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.

Opening Statement:
"Good to see you guys and as we get started today, a lot of energy with the team as we begin our prep for New Orleans. Make sure as we're getting back and kick starting everything back in, capturing that play style which leads to the identity that we love to play with. So, big day today and lots for us to improve on. We identified some of those things into Monday and now getting into the week. So, let's get rocking with you guys."

On what he's expecting from T Andrew Wylie, WR Noah Brown and CB Marshon Lattimore this week: *"Yep. So, Andrew has been cleared to fully participate in practice. And Marshon is also fully participating in practice. And tough news on Noah. He's going to be out for a while and so he had a significant internal injury from the game. And so, that's going to knock him out for a while. And we love him and his play style, the identity of how he goes. And so, that one hurts. He's been absolutely one of our glue guys and after the game or during the game between him and the medical staff, they did a really good job to address what was a serious injury and fortunately he's going to be okay, but it's going to knock him out for a bit."
* On if Brown's injury is season-ending:
"Yeah, we'll visit that later this week, but it's likely heading that way."

On how much one defender like Lattimore can boost a defense:
"Yeah, I think any defender, it's a lot of positions you could say that for. I think specifically with Marshon, that's a big deal for us to add a player of his caliber to our team. And so, not to make it one different than the other, but anytime you can add competition to a group it's a really big deal. And Marshon's certainly trended in the right direction for us to play and so, we'll take it through the whole week. We're not going to miss one step with him and the practicing and hitting all the markers, so if it trend's that way, good. Then we'll go."

On how CB Mike Sainristil uses his attributes to be successful:
"Yeah, you're right that there's an element of that's instinctual, to know how to play somebody specifically and that part of knowing where to go through the hands, how to play to a player, those things. And you could also say the same thing even from the tackling standpoint, he really understands leverage. And so, in tackling it's all about leverage. Can I get to the right spot? Can I get the right technique? And so, from that standpoint, that's no surprise why he played well inside because of understanding leverage and angles and that carries over when he's playing outside as well."

On how Sainristil's leadership has helped the team:
"Probably the best way to say it would be that we've got a group of guys that are part of a leadership crew here, and Mike's on it. And so that should say a lot as a first year player that the other guys think of him in that way. And so, I love seeing him develop in that way and he's got some excellent mentors here to look after, but he's very intentional about improvement and getting better and finding the right things to hit on. And so, that's the type of player that you want leading. And so yeah, I'd heard he was remarkable in that sense before I met him. And I certainly have not been disappointed since then. I can remember asking a player there, 'If you could only bring one player with you from this group, who would it be?' And the player was like, 'Mikey, why are you even asking me?' And I thought to myself, okay, that's of a crew that had a lot of good players on that team. The player's response was Mike. And it wasn't even like a hesitation, it was almost like I'm insulted that you asked that. So, I thought that's a pretty good sign, as what leading as a young guy would look like."

On how big of a loss not having Brown will be and on who he wants to see step up:
"Yeah, it's the hardest part as you're going through it for the game and when you miss significant time. And we've got a pretty deep crew there, and so that helps where guys can play into different spots. And you've probably seen some guys play outside, some guys play inside, and so having a deep crew allows you to do that. But Noah does have some specific size and speed traits that are unique to him. He's just such a tough, hard-ass competitor. And so, I love that he brings that to the team and I know he'll get back and he'll get well, but it's definitely a tough one for us because of not just what he brings on the field, but also what he brings off the field as a ball player and as a man."

On if he feels his vision for the team is ahead of schedule:
"I didn't put a timetable on it to say there had to be something by this marker or this date. We just, [General Manager] Adam [Peters] and I wanted to go after it together as hard as we could and keep our head down to go. That's probably a better question months from now when the season's done to say, what are the things that we've accomplished that we wanted to so far? And now what are the steps that we want to go ahead as it sits today? I don't think too far down the line or too far back for that matter. And the reason I do that is just, man, it's just throw it all into this week with the guys and dig in from there. But it's been like a really cool journey so far. And I haven't allowed myself to look like I said, too far down one way or another, but the people, like most things, make the experience. And so, that's the part that I'm really enjoying. And those relationships with those people."

On the things he wants the team to clean up:
"Sure. There's a number of things, but when you're kind of, you can't pick 30 things, right? So, there's some line of scrimmage stuff that we wanted to make sure on both sides, the lead sled dogs. We're getting the right looks for the right guys and putting them in the right spaces. And so, those we want, we're always going to dig in on third down always. And then the winning time moments as the season goes along and the air gets a little thinner, you gotta keep executing at a really high level. And we've all seen that from games over the weekend and that you watch to say, those are the moments. And so, we still do something. We just got done a walkthrough today that had some specific end of game end to half moments. We'll have some more at practice today and end of tomorrow. So, those are the ones that I don't think you'll ever feel like, 'Okay, we've done enough there.' You always want to stay ready, you always want to stay on it because so many of these games, I don't know, maybe there's 70% of them are within one score, I mean it's a high number. And as it gets even moving further, those are the moments, man, that when they come up you gotta nail them. So, I don't ever want us to think, 'Okay, we're good on that. We've done this two minute, we've done a clock.' No, no, no, let's do it again."
* On the difficulty of preparing for a team when you don't know the starting quarterback:*
"Yeah, I didn't know where you were going with that. How weird is it to start the question? But I get where you're going now [laugh]. You'd really think about the system, because Coach Kubiak [New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator Klink Kubiak] in this system, although there's tape on all three quarterbacks, you want to look at what's the team do? And most of the time, not all the time, but most of the time if we had changed a player, you still run that system. It's not so different that one's this way and one's that way. Those teams, it can be even more difficult to do. I can remember years back with, I hope I get the name right, with [Former Carolina Panther QB] Cam Newton and [Former Carolina Panthers QB] Derek Anderson. I'm hoping I say that right. And they were much different in terms of the way they would feature players. Where in this system, first year into that, there's a lot of the same calls, that won't be all the same, but there'll be a lot of the same. So, that's where we put our time and our effort in. From the specific players who are studying the other ones, we've got the film on all three, so that's how you have to prepare. It takes a little extra for the players, but you have to really train for what they do best and then work back from there."

On if there's more importance to the return of WR Jamison Crowder and on his role moving forward:
"So, he's had a good process of going through and we haven't missed one step of his recovery. And that's the biggest piece, we were referring to Marshon earlier, and it's the same thing with JC [Crowder] to say, all the way through. To make sure there are no setbacks, we're pushing it forward and then when we feel like, 'Alright, it's game ready,' then we'll go. So, we will make that decision after we go through practice, could be this week or the following, we have some space and time to do that. His value as a returner, his value as a slot is proven. And so that's a good thing, but we're not going to miss one step. If he's ready and it fits, then we'll do it. And if we need more space and runway to do that, we'll go that way. So, like most big decisions, you take the time you need to make the right decision. And then that's why they have this window, which I think honestly is a really good return to play format. Some people need longer windows and runways to return. Some injuries require that, others don't need as much. So, that's why, 'Okay, this player doesn't need seven days or 14 days, he only needs seven.' So, I think having the flexibility, it's just better for the players. And I don't know what the numbers say, but I would imagine that the re-injury rate is lower because years ago when they're back, you go and we're back, you go. And we're getting smarter as we're moving forward and I think that's a big piece of it."

On New Orleans' offensive system:
"Well, I think featuring [New Orleans Saints RB Alvin] Kamara as a runner, this is a fantastic player. And so, when you run a zone scheme like they do, and you can really stick your foot in the ground, plant and go. And for the teams that covered for the people that covered through [Former Washington Head Coach] Mike Shanahan here and the speed off the ball, putting your foot in the ground, that that's Alvin and that's his speed. He can really stick his foot in the ground jab and be. And then the other side is him as a receiver. And so, it's not just screens, but when you can put a running back out in the slot or outside and throw the ball down the field, that changes things. So, he's a fantastic fit in a good system. He's one of those rare players. Whatever system you have, he's going to play well. But there's certain ones that fit guys more. So, he's the focal point to me but that's where it starts, in the running game for them."

On what he's seen from New Orleans Saints DE Chase Young:
"Really, from the right side you see a strong edge setter. A guy who can absolutely bring it, tight end side, open side runs and then chop club. So, a big athletic player. And they've got a nice defensive line with some guys that can move and rush and put them into different locations and Chase is right in the middle of all that."
* On the growth of the offensive line in protection:*
"The last game was a big boost for us. We really have emphasized it, to make sure could our combinations be on point and could we really nail down the things that we wanted to. Now, like most things, one game doesn't say, 'Okay, everything's this or that.' But staying in that pocket of putting the work in, because it's a really connected group. And so having Wylie back into that has been good. Luke's [T Cornelius Lucas] has started at right and at left. So, the group has played seven or eight guys and played well doing that. But to have everybody in concert and connected for all the practices, that's a big deal moving forward. And so, those are the things that take place on the offensive side. So much of it is chemistry and the communication with those guys. And so having the chance to full speed work, that allows you to play really fast when the game comes. Because you've already done some reps in practice that were at like a good pace. And so that's where those small advantages come in."

On where he's seen improvement on the defense:
"The same spot for me, in the run game and certainly from the last game, but the same emphasis of in run fits into the go. We're still digging in on to make sure that's all the time. And this group is a really good running offense. And so, I love that, that's the challenge for the guys for this week. They've got a bunch of different schemes and some like a really accomplished running group."

On if he reflected over the bye week on moments he wishes he could have back throughout the season:
"For sure, I would say looking back, most of them are result of a week of prep. What could we have done different? How could we have got the guys ready, because you want to look back each game. Can I do an after action from the whole week? What'd we like? What was the preparation? What part of the game? What part did we like or didn't like? So, there's a number of those on wins and losses. At the end of it though, I love that the team has been in the fight for all of them. Not to say I've loved the result of all of them, but I have loved where we stand on that. Going out to Arizona was a big push for us, to stay there and to get our team kind of connected more. And so, I'd say that would've been one of the things that I thought was a turning point for us where they could become more bonded and connected. Most of the ones that I'm not as pleased with are usually related to scheme or early on we weren't tackling as well as I would like to see. We're still not getting the ball defensively at a rate that I think we need to. So, those would be the things that you look back and say, 'Well, what else can we do? Why isn't that happening at the rate that I would be pleased with?'"

On how hard it is for players to get re-engaged after the bye week:
"It's really important to come back on Monday and start that process so you can throw a hell of a practice today. If you had waited all the way till today, I think that's what you are vulnerable to. So, when we came back, we wanted calls and communication and catching and all the movements that you need to play. And so, that's where we started it Monday. And the good news was that the team came back energized and ready to do that, to see one another. And so that's, if you don't have that day, that makes it much harder to recapture what you want in the speed today. So, I was pleased that we're able to capture that on Monday."

On how advantageous it could be to have a difference defensive look with Lattimore on the field:
"It's a big deal, you're right. And to add a player of this caliber after the trade deadline so to speak, it just doesn't happen very often. And every once in a while, there might be a player that comes back off an IR that had an injury that was there, and there is an energy that goes along with that. And so, we're really pumped to have him and get rolling with him. But it does take a few games to get into that rhythm with new people but it can change the math, there's no doubt about that. And you're on the right topic, but it also, it's important getting into the reps and going through that over the next month. Because then collectively, how do I communicate with him? There's an eye signal, I mean a nonverbal call. Those kinds of things that you don't necessarily see at practice that happen in the game. And so that experience is really valuable too."