Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media after practice on Nov. 22. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Let's get rocking with everybody today. I'll hit you up with the captains in this game. So, on offense, it'll be [C Tyler] Biadasz. We talked just tone setter, the line of scrimmage, all the things we talked about. Inside on defensively will be [LB] Dante Fowler. We thought man's brought a lot of energy to our group. And last one is on special teams will be [CB] Noah [Igbinoghene]. And all three of these guys have really had different ways they've made their impact with their teammates and on the team. And so, good start with that today. So, division game, man, it's really cool for us to get rolling in that the NFC East is different, special. And so, another one right here is a rivalry in the NFL goes, it's cool to be part of it, man. So, let's get rolling."
On the inactives for Sunday:
"I'm sorry. I should have hit that. [CB Marshon] Shon Latimore won't make it back and he is working hard. Progress is being made. There's days of speed work, strength work. Good news, the work on the side is increasing. So, progress is there. And now I'd say the second part that I'm excited for him, system wise, identity, what we play for, onboarding him in the. Although he hasn't played, being part of that in the meetings and doing the walks and getting, there's an acclimation period so to speak, when you get going to somewhere new. And so that part's there, we'll get there and we're getting closer to that, but it won't be ready for this game. Know that, yeah. We're, that's the only injury up to have."
On if he has optimism for Lattimore next week:
"I do."
On the differences he has seen in QB Jayden Daniels and the offense this week:
"Yeah, it was funny. I had the conversation with [WR] Luke [McCaffrey] and [WR] OZ [Olamide Zaccheaus] today about the full speed reps and the timing and the speed and all of our need for that. And so, it had nothing to do with Jayden. We were talking about they were excited to get full speed throwing, catching, moving. And that's a big piece of it and getting your timing. And so, it wasn't related to Jayden, but just they felt an energy with that and I think we can all relate to that."
On getting a player who's only played in warm climates acclimated to colder weather:
"Yeah, I think that's the one to say you have to go out and go through it. And honestly at the stadiums it's a lot easier than practices a lot of times [laugh] with like the sideline and heated benches and other things. I've had as many cold practices through my career as I've had cold games. And so, it's, at the stadium's different, but there's no way, you know, you have to do it. That's the bottom line."
On why the offense changes between practicing in red gear and white gear:
"The rhyme and the reason is that's what they'll wear for that game, the offense. And so, if they're in white for the game, that's what we'd wear if they're in the dark. So, we just try to simulate every part of the game as we can. And so, we don't have the black jersey yet. We gotta figure that one out, but that's how we work it out."
On how much the bye week factors into when they bring in Lattimore:
"Not as much to say, I can see where you're going. Like would you just wait anyway? It's really more when you're ready. And if that was earlier than the bye, then that's when it would be. So more him being no signal on this hamstring. And I think you've heard me with Brian [RB Brian Robinson Jr.] one time saying with the locomotive, you gotta make sure these soft tissue injuries are strong, the quads, glutes, calves, hamstrings. And so, if it's fully healed and able to do all the things, the top speeds, then that would be the marker to go. But not until then."
On if he has seen added development in Fowler Jr. this season:
"I have, I have. And he's played more actually too this year, but there is, like his development overall has been significant on the field, off the field. Just he's in a good pocket and performing well. He brings a lot of energy to the team, but I think the increased playing time has added something for him. Sometimes when you don't have as much, and I'm sure you guys have covered players like that, you feel like you have to press, get this play has to be the one this, and so for him being fully involved in all the downs, I think that's been an addition for him."
On the impact Dallas Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin has on the offense and special teams:
"Yeah, and he's got an amazing journey. He really does from TCU to playing football in Poland to the Spring League to the NFL, and it's the speed. He's quick and fast. So we've all seen players who have quickness laterally can go, but maybe some of those athletes don't have the long speed and sometimes you hitting a running back or a slot receiver. And then there's other guys who are super-fast straightaway, but not change direction. KaVontae's got quick and fast, and then the ball skills as a returner, those are the things that set him apart. So, he can, he does a nice job setting up blocks and using it. And so, yeah, he's a really impactful player."
On anything he remembers from practice matchups between Igbinoghene and Turpin:
"We had training camps. Probably the ones that jump out to me of all the ones to go where you get competitive situations, red zones, all the ones to go, but more it's the game ones. I feel with Turpin, I think maybe his first preseason he might have had a touchdown and a punt return, maybe the same game even. I don't know if it was at Denver, I can't remember the exact location, but you felt this, okay, there's something here. And so anytime there's a new player that's on your team that you don't know a lot about, like he didn't come up through the draft and was at rookie camp. He came after the summer and I'm not sure if [Dallas Cowboys K] Brandon Aubrey and him were the same or it was a year apart, but both those two certainly made an impact for the team."
On examples of leadership from the players through the two-loss streak:
"Really in both weeks. The week after Pittsburgh to reset quickly, going into division game on the road at Philly. And so, there wasn't talk of it's a short week or like, they just came and there was a number of players that went from the home game at Pittsburgh right to here to get treatment, to get in the tubs to start that process. And I think that shows leadership of the [LB Bobby] Wagner's and the [S Jeremy] Chinn's to say, 'I'm starting now, I'm not waiting'. And I think that's a step in it. And then as this week goes on Monday, tell the truth to go. Examples, I would say just honest conversation. What can we do better? What can we hit differently? One of the players had come to see me and say, 'Man, what else do you need from me?' So, I thought, what a great example of one of our special teams leaders to say that, to say, I'm here, I'm in, what else do you need from me? And so those would be some examples that come to mind over the last 15 days or so."
On what Dallas does well:
"Well, I thought, let start on the return side. We were just talking about the returning game and with KaVontae and the things that he can do. I've got all the respect for [Dallas Cowboys WR] CeeDee [Lamb], like when the player's that good and you get extra attention and you're still able to deliver with catches and yards after the catch. And I think that's one of the things that probably you don't know about him. He was a fantastic punt returner as well coming out of Oklahoma. And his first part of his career did some punt returning as well. So, his ability to take the five-yard play and make it into an explosive play. So, those would be two of the players that, 'Hey, this is a big deal.' And then defensively, man, I've been impressed by [Dallas Cowboys LB DeMarvion] Overshown from their linebacker spot. I thought that would happen. Honestly, he got injured in his rookie year in a preseason game, maybe like the second or third preseason game. But I thought I had saw so much of that from Texas at the speed, the covering ability, the blitzing abilities. I thought that was there. And then with the addition of [Dallas Cowboys CB Daron] Bland and [Dallas Cowboys CB] Trey [Trevon Diggs], I think these are ball hawks that, on the outside, that have had demonstrated turnover potential. And then on the front, certainly I was impressed by the rookie [Dallas Cowboys DE Marshawn] Kneeland if he's back into it. And [Dallas Cowboys LB] Micah [Parsons] kinda like CeeDee gets a lot of attention. And when you're able to produce, when you're still getting the constant looks, that's the mark of a fantastic player. Where this one is getting the extra tension and they still, the one time you don't guard somebody or double them and you can't do that on every single play, but those are the players that their moment comes and they're able to deliver. So, those are a few of the players that jump out to me."
On K Austin Seibert's availability for this weekend:
"He kicked both days and trend in a really good way for us. So, let's make sure that trajectory of health for him continues, but he really had a good week. So, we've worked hard to get back to it. And so, to see that signal for him to do all the different types of kicks, the long field goals, the kickoffs, the different ways, the different locations, that's a big step for us."
On what Seibert has meant to the special teams unit:
"Yeah, there's a consistency that comes with performing and when you're able to nail it in the big spots to go do that. And so, the team has a lot of belief in them and that goes a long way on special teams. Because so many of his moments are these condensed ones that happen that the battery of him and [LS] Tyler [Ott] and [P] Tress [Way], that's a strong one. And we love covering kicks. So, the ability on kickoffs to put it into the right spot, like all those things factor in. So, every guy on our team who has these unique roles, they just max it out. Doesn't mean everybody's good at everything, but we try to make sure that when we put the guys into their spots and that they can do that role outstanding. And I think Austin's an example of that. [S] "Revo" [Jeremy Reaves] is an example of that, and Dante's an example of that. When you put people, not to say they're like every player's good at everything, but when you can put them into those spots and find the things that they're exceptional at and you hit that over and over again. That's when your team can come together and you know how to feature guys in certain spots and you're ready for those moments."
On WR Jamison Crowder and on his return to practice schedule:
"He had a back-back work this week, so we're trending in the right way there. Good speeds and starting to return again. So yeah, we're making a lot of progress with JC."
On rookie quarterbacks late in the season and on how they can adjust throughout a season:
"Yeah, I think it's almost customized to the person. There's some that, this happens with the rookie and more often than not the experience usually helps to say more games, more snaps, more plays. I understand you're coming from the opposite side. What kind of read they get on. Yeah, like I would say it's probably true for all QBs, the more information defensives get and the addition of, not the addition, that's a bad word. Our adding more analytics all the time to every QB, every system. The early part you don't have a lot, you don't have a lot. And then there's some that happens more. But I wouldn't say that there's a one or the other. I think the best of the best teams, this is how you have to win this matchup this game this week. And so that's the teams usually in December and January, you're kind of hitting it again and sometimes there's peaks and valleys along that way. If I'm not mistaken, I think Kansas City had some or last season that then they hit it again. So, you'd love it man, if it was all that way it would be the best, but it ain't how it goes. So, you have to dig in and the best of the best competitors, players, I'm not going to say they figured out, that's not the right word, but you adjust, you find it sometimes the receiver's out and all of a sudden he's back. 'Well, why is the offense doing well? No, this guy's back.' You know, like why is the defense? 'Well, this guy came back too.' So, that's not in the analytics article, right? That this dynamic player or person is back or there's an injury. So, like that's what makes it so much fun. There's like all these factors that go into the games that it's not predictive and there's weather and wintery mix and matchups and all sorts of things that come along. So, it makes this game so much fun and you have an identity, and you want to stick to that and have a system. If you're always picking and choosing at things, then you don't have a system. And so, you have to make sure you got core plays offensively, defensively on special teams. Say like, come hell or high water, this is in the game plan, and we have those certain ones that say no matter what, that's always in. And then you pick and choose what's best for this team or that team. And sometimes it even takes a few weeks for something to get game ready. Some of the plays at practice, no, no, no. It's in, but it's not always one play. I tried twice and then see how it goes. Like that's usually not a good recipe in my experience through the years."
On if he watched the game last night:
"No, my eyelids saw most of the end. So, at the end of the week it's harder to stay awake as Sunday, Monday. So, usually we do a lot of the game management stuff tomorrow. And [Senior Vice President of Football Initiatives] Dave [Gardi] had said there's a lot to cover in the last four minutes, so we'll be digging into that hard tomorrow. All right, you guys have a good one. See you Sunday."
