Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media after practice on Oct. 18. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"We'll get started, get you some updates on some captains. Offensively would be [G] Sam Cosmi, defense would be [LB] Frankie Luvu, and on special teams [LB] Nick Bellore. So just the energy Bellore has provided for us. Love the connection, him and Revo [S Jeremey Reaves] and [LB Mykal] Walker and just all these guys. Good special teams matchup on both sides. And Luvu, just the energy and toughness he brings. And Sam, man, is he improving and growing. The toughness would be line of scrimmage day and then past that, what a cool day to honor [Former Washington CB] Darrell Green and also to have the alumni homecoming game on the same weekend. A lot of his teammates, when you play for 20 years, that spans a few ball games, so a lot of guys will be here. So, all that said, ready to get rocking with you guys and get started."
On what he anticipates for RB Brian Robinson Jr.:
"Yeah, Brian had a good week and so everything's trending up. We'll take him through tomorrow and into the game and see what it looks like. But it was a hard miss last week, and so it's good to see him trending in the right spots and we'll see him make sure recoveries and all the stuff into tomorrow and into the game."
On what was lost from not having Robinson in last week:
"I think he helps shape part of our identity, honestly. And sometimes the closer on these short yardage and goal line runs, that's really where sometimes you feel Brian's energy and toughness come to life. Sometimes his two-yard run is as good as the 22-yard run. And those are some things that he provides with us."
On DE Dorance Armstrong's availability on Sunday:
"Yeah, Dorance will not make it up for this game and worked hard to get there, but just not quite to the spot that we need him to be to let him play in his own style. So, we'll see what next week looks like, but he had a good week but not there yet then. And same with [S] Tyler Owens. Will be out as well."
On who he looks forward to seeing put in the extra work on the defensive line:
"Yeah, and Johnny [DT Jer'Zhan Newton] was one to go into that space. [DT] Sheldon Day would be another that would be into that spot. And I thought, we'll decide as we're going in through tomorrow. But [DE] Jayln [Holmes] had a good week his first week here at home and he's got good experience, similar system in terms of the Jets, in terms of what they've done and how we play. So, I was pleased to see the work that he put in in three days and [General Manager] Adam [Peters] and I will get together tonight and huddle up on some of the guys."
On the difference between zone read and read option:
"I don't know. That's a good question. Zone read is an option to me, so that's kind of how I look at it. But I would say a regular option is usually a quarterback under center that he's reading an end or a tackle or an end of the line player. So, those are kind of what I think of, but I think of the read play as an option play, so I coach it that way. So, I kind of put them into the same bucket."
On what makes QB Jayden Daniels good at zone read:
"I think it's a lot of things and there's, we've got quite honestly three quarterbacks that are really good at this. [QB] Marcus [Mariota] is world class at it. And so, it goes in way deeper than just, is he playing for the dive or keeping on the quarterback? Where's his shoulders, where's his eyes looking? And so, making the decisions with the ball in your hand based on a player is important. And they gotta be quick. Just like a route or an option route, is the inside leverage, outside leverage? So, if you're looking at an end of the line player, how do I work with my eyes, handoff, keep it? So, there's definitely an arc to it and it takes a lot of reps and more often than not, different looks is what's best because you don't want to just pre-plan it. That's when you can get into trouble."
On how often a coaching staff significantly changing their formations on week-to-week basis:
"Yeah, it does make sense. I would say you don't generally see it, like a wholesale change because a lot of the reps and identity that you want to be comes from that. Sometimes you may see, for instance, a team was really hardcore run game, you might see a lot of play passes that come off of similar looks. Or if a team was really spread out, there's runs from being spread out as well. So, I think more often than not, people look at like formations and say, this is something that we do a lot, and then what other variations come out of that formation as opposed to playing a whole new system. So, in my experience, the people that have done that have played formations that are similar, but run some different plays as opposed to a entirely new way of doing things."
On the danger of playing a team that people think are not likely to win:
"Well, fortunately for us, we, on the inside is where we're at and absolutely going for it in terms of things that we can improve on, and the guys have thrown a good week. And so, when we make, and not just Carolina or any opponent, our attention is on us. And I think I told you earlier in the week, there's a lot that we want to get better at. And I said seven weeks ago, would we beat the team we were in week one? The answer was yes. And we expect a lot of improvement over the next month and a half as well. And we're going to dig and work really hard at that."
On the special teams unit:
"Yeah, this is a really fun matchup on the special teams side. They actually kick and return almost in a similar fashion that we do. So, I think what you'll see in this game will be probably more like a few weeks ago, Cleveland covering kicks, bringing them out, all of that. So, I think both teams have good special teams groups, veteran punters, guys that can work all the way through, good return game. So, you're on it. This is the game within the game, guys like Bellore and Walker and Reaves, and J-Mac [RB Jeremy McNichols], [TE Colson] Yankoff, all the different ways we feature those guys, it's a big deal and it'll be that way again this week."
On the strengths of the Carolina Panthers special teams unit:
"Yeah, I thought number one, a punter that can handle lots of stuff. So, they're able to, he's got a big arsenal of different types of punts that he can hit. And so outside, inside, facing one way, going another, excellent field goal kicker. Been excellent over 50, he's got big stuff to hit. So, and then the punter can also throw it. He's got a lot of fakes, his background, and so they just stress you because of the speed they play with. Love the energy that [Carolina Panthers Special Teams Coach] Tracy [Smith] and his staff have brought, what you see from them. So, it'll be a good matchup."
On if he saw an uptick within the team this week despite coming off a loss:
"Yeah, I get what you're saying, our first heavyweight fight and didn't come out like we wanted, but I felt in the locker room, a lot of people, 'We gotta learn from this.' And so then as the coach, you want to say, 'Well, what'd you see?' And so, what I saw on Tuesday was a lot of people in here getting right, doing their workouts, treatments, film study to get ahead on the next opponent. So, we knew we needed to find another gear that we can get to, and we knew there was going to be lessons here for us, but we didn't take it much past that. Honestly., we said we missed the mark, but there's a lot to grow from. And so that's really where we dug in on, and we really pushed it hard this week to find areas that we could improve upon. Spent a lot of time on third down, we spent a lot of time in the run game. So, those are the emphasis that we made. And looking forward to seeing those things make their way into the game. And when you emphasize it, then you want to go do it."
On what the Carolina Panthers do well:
"Yeah, for sure. I think, one, they're a really good tackling team and that shows just the amount of missed tackles they had. I'm sure they're in the top four or five or right around that space to go. I like their special teams group a lot, what they've added to it. I think from the running game, they've got good offensive line, [Carolina Panthers WR Diontae] Johnson at receiver and the size they have it receiver. So yeah, I got a lot that I like about their club. They play with toughness and finish. So, this is a team that has really talented guys in a lot of spots. And I think offensively, like I said, the running back, the offensive line, that's a tough group and it shows, the way they run it. And if you look back, I think [Carolina Panthers RB Chubba] Hubbard might be number two or three right behind [Baltimore Ravens RB] Derrick Henry in terms of, since early part of the season of guys who really get down. So yeah, we're ready for the challenge. We're certainly expecting big time fight and they'll get one back from us."
On doing due diligence and looking into Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams before the draft:
"Yeah, I'll give you a quick answer now and we'll go longer later. Fair enough? Alright. Quick answer, lots of work. And I enjoy it because it's important to see where it goes through the process. It was really important to do the work on all the QBs that would be into this group. So, Adam and his staff really led the way on that, and I was fortunate to be able to get to the workouts, get to the people, study the tape, but a lot on all of them. Good."
On the benefit of current players having a relationship with team alumni:
"It is, and I think it's really important to know where you want to go, it's important to know not just the history, but also people that have done it here. And sometimes it's specific to the area that you're at and what's cool about an alumni weekend and seeing guys, the bond that happens between ball players. And so many of these guys are closer than even family. They played together, covered kicks, played defense, offense, whatever that was, and you'll see them just step right back into that relationship that could have been from five years, 25 years ago. And so it's nice to be able to see, and some of these guys will be here tomorrow. And so I want our team to be around this group. There's incredibly high standards that have been set here before. And certainly, this team will make up its own identity, but you do want to know what it's looked like before and what's the one thing you could ask a guy that made a difference in your career. A question like that can mean a lot."
