Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media after practice on Nov. 1. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Alright, what's up everybody? Alright, we'll get rolling with our Friday. So, I'll hit you up on the captains first as we head for this week. So, three that'll be for this week will be [WR] Noah Brown, [S] Quan Martin and [TE] John Bates. And just love the toughness these guys have, what they bring. So, it's fun part of every Friday talking to the team about those three. And so, Noah, just the toughness, selflessness. And Quan, just the tackling, the hitting what he brings to us. And then John, just all the energy he brings. There's a lot of the dirty work that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. So, all three of those guys, they'll lead us this week. So, good week of practice, tough division matchup and seven weeks ago, good fight. Expect the same good fight, hard, however long it takes. Five quarters, longer mindset. And so that's where we're at."
On LB Frankie Luvu this week:
"Yeah, he did better. As he was going through, it reminded me a little bit of Carolina week with him, where he was sore early in the week, and then by yesterday it was getting better. Then today, was able to look more like himself. So that was a good time for us."
On what stands out about how QB Jayden Daniels handles situations like this week:
"I would say there's a lot. I think I've learned a lot about him in maybe six months or what have you. Just, I found out about the competitor. I'd heard about it, but then it's one thing to see it, but then another thing to feel it with your own eyes. I found out about the preparation for him and his toughness. And I know that in the moments is some of the winning time moments is really where he's really strong. And so, where that can, some people can feel tight into those spots, I think quite honestly, he really energizes up for that spot. And I felt that seven weeks ago when we played the Giants in a close game. Here's the last drive to go, and he had that smile about him, like 'Alright, this is, this is time.'"
On how New York Giants DT Dexter Lawrence II has improved from week two to now:
"Well, I wouldn't say it was a great day. I think their team had five sacks on the day. And sometimes that happens, when a guy who is playing as well as he is gets extra attention. I've certainly been a part of a couple defenses like that, where that takes place where so much attention goes to one space and other guys get opportunities. I think what makes him so unique, he can be at any spot along the line. And when somebody aligns only at one spot, that can be an advantage towards the offense when they, this is where he is going to be. When you move people around like they're doing with him, I think that's when the uniqueness of a special player comes out and he certainly can."
On if he talks with the players about the upcoming election:
"Yeah, absolutely we did. And we talked about the importance of it, where we live and we talked about the importance of voting and not who you're voting for, but the importance of voting. And so that's what we discussed. And, knowing that's a way to use your vote and your voice. But again, it was the power of voting, not who you are, but just the fact that you can."
On how tough dealing with an injury has been for Daniels:
"Yeah, I think this time of year everybody has stuff. If you've been playing a lot in the NFL and every team, there's stuff that guys battle through that maybe no one else knows about, obviously with quarterback. There was just a little bit of a tension on that last week, pun intended. But for a lot of the players, we saw it with [G Nick] Allegretti and we saw it with others going through that the locker room knows. And when you just demonstrate that kind of toughness to your teammates, 'I'll be there.' And those are impactful moments knowing that they'll just battle for one another. And so that was his way of demonstrating that."
On if he has won the Salute to Service award:
"I have won it, yep."
On S Jeremy Reaves being nominated for the award and on the honor of the nomination:
"Yeah, I thought, and we announced that today in the team meeting and we rely heavily on the military and some of the influence they have because I just, I felt like they have done team better than anybody. And so, for us to get a chance to recognize people that support our military and the team. Great teammates make great teams, and Jeremy Reaves is a great teammate and so we're all really pumped for him to be our nominee for the Salute to Service award because yeah, he represents everything that you'd want in a teammate and that's why I thought it was so impactful today."
On anything he sees with the team they have to do better with:
"Yeah, I think at, we're more in the week to week. So, as we're heading into November, here's the things we want to get better at. So last Saturday, we kind of all went through our work ons. What's the next thing for us? Meaning heading into this week, and so these are the specific things. All 70 of the players say, 'I want to get better at this one thing.' It may have carried over from early in the season, but it may have been right now. But as a team, I'm always digging on the turnover margin. As we sit here at plus four, that's something that for us to become the team we want to be, we can increase upon that. And so that's a big deal for us. The tackling and the breaking tackle is a big deal for us. And, the situation football, those are three that come to mind right off the bat as an entire team. But what I do love about individually, people are digging to get better and being relentless about that. So collectively we all lift when we're doing that. So, there's a lot for us to improve on individually and as a team. But the ball, the tackling and the situation times those as a team, those are the top of my list."
On differences he's seen in New York from week two to now:
"I think, I don't know if it's the difference because it was so early, so you don't know any of the stats and that kind of stuff, but I have been impressed defensively. And they've been able to really generate pass rush, in just about every category they've been really strong. So, a lot of respect for what they're doing defensively. On the offensive side, I feel their speed at receiver. There's catch and run, there's shot plays, there's all that to go. And I thought the addition of using both running backs has been a big factor for them. And so those are a few of the things. Both teams have improved since week two. And so now seven weeks later, it'll be fun to go battle with them again knowing that both teams have gotten better in this stretch."
On what it takes to be a good chip blocker in the NFL:
"It's not a uniquely special skill, but it does have to have some feel to it. Because what happens sometimes, a rusher may come up, work underneath some, try to chip the chipper. So, it's about your leverage and anytime, think of rebounding in basketball, the guy that gets underneath and can box somebody out usually wins. Same thing when you're on the edge and trying to take the speed off the rusher, you have to get underneath of them."
On the strategic difference between a chip and release and a player who chips and stays in to block:
"Sure. I think when you're staying in, you're usually involved in some type of max protection, where now you're likely down to three guys into the route. Some people do tight ends and back, some people do receivers to go, some people will line in the backfield and do it. Some will look like an empty formation to do it, but I think after you can slow a pass rush down if you can, you still want options available for the QB. If there's somebody that's not going to get outside the pocket and not as mobile, then that would be a time maybe where you'd leave more protection in. But in our case, creating plays outside the pocket is big too."
On what makes Daniels a good scrambler:
"Yeah, I think there's a lot that goes into it. It's absolutely an X factor when guys can do it. And two that we've played this year that stood out to me were [Baltimore Ravens QB] Lamar [Jackson] and [Chicago Bears QB] Caleb [Williams] last week, of in and out of the pocket. So, sometimes a quarterback will go high and avoid outside. And so, the guys that can move in, move out, escape in a B-gap and have everything available to them, those are the most challenging because if somebody just wants to scramble and get wide, you can build a defense for that. But when there's a lot of options inside, outside, sliding in the pocket, those are the most challenging. And Jayden's got the ability to hitch up or go back. If you go back, you better be fast enough to outrun and circle the defense, if you can kind of picture that. So, a guy who gets deep and then gets outside so the really fast ones can go back and then try to circle a rusher."
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On Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.:
*"Yeah, I would say the things that you guys don't see that the players do, is Joe is a tremendous teacher. That's one of the first things that jumped to me years back when I got a chance to start with him. The detail, you feel his experience, you feel that he can use an example of a player or a play and then tie it in. So, those are the things that I felt. I thought early on it was hard on us and I thought he stayed very consistent. Here's the approach, here's how we're going to go to get better. And you had heard me say, I thought we were closer than the numbers would indicate, and so to see their connection taking place, that's a big deal."
On New York Giants LB Azeez Ojulari:
"I think like beating somebody to the punch as a pass rusher is a lot of it. So, he's got a really good get off. He can really jump off the ball and so if you can beat somebody to the punch and get an offensive lineman a little bit off balance to go. But it's his speed up and outside, we were talking about earlier the quarterbacks that can run and get outside, he's somebody that has the speed to go chase you down. And that's one of the things that's been impressive about him."
On if Luvu will play and on injury updates for this week:
"Yes, absolutely. Yep. [OT] Cornelius [Lucas] will not play. So, he's worked hard to make it back, but we're just not there yet in terms of not getting practices and ready to go. But past that, everything's on the up, yep. So, we're doing well. Everything's doing good. Yep, you'll get all the stuff. Everything's doing good, [OT Brandon] Coleman. I mean, it's not Coleman. Coleman's doing well. Lucas will be out."
