Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media before practice on Jan. 8. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Good to see you guys. And as we get started today, visiting with the team, the second season begins today and there's a good energy that goes with that and use it and also normalize that good energy. And that goes, the focus into execution, into improvement, into the game plan. And so, we'll throw a great week of preparation. Tampa's really strong in a number of areas and it'll definitely take the whole week to get ready. And so all that said, let's get rocking with you guys."
On injury updates for CB Marshon Lattimore and C Tyler Biadasz:
"We have a couple guys that are on some vet rest days, but after that everybody's involved to some level today. So, that's a good thing, all hands on deck. So, we had some vet rest days of [TE] Zach [Ertz], [DE] Clelin [Ferrell], [DE] Dante [Fowler Jr.], and [WR] Terry [McLaurin]."
On when he started to see a culture shift within the team:
"Yeah, because I don't want to get play style mixed into that as well. Going to Arizona and staying there, I thought that was a step in the right direction. We were still really new as a group together and so I thought spending a whole week, went out to Cincinnati and then out to Arizona to stay there. That was, I'd say a step in the right direction. Going through adversity is also a part of that journey because if you have standards about how you do things together, then you have to live those on the best of days and the hardest of days. And so, creating a standard together was an important part of creating a culture because it's how we do our business together. And so, many times I've separated atmosphere and culture, we've got a good vibe about how we do things, but that's not your culture. It's how you practice, how you meet, how you do things together. And so, that doesn't happen overnight, but it does take time with people doing it together. And so, I would say that's probably the first steps that I saw, good wins. Did you react the same tough losses? Were you able to come back and stand in that space? So, after our third loss to come back, knowing that many others would've said, 'Hey, why don't you just see what happens and where it goes.' And we did the opposite of that and we stepped right into improvement and getting better and that's what our culture is about. And so, I thought that was probably when I knew that they were headed in the right direction, handling the difficult times, knowing there's more work to do and going for it."
On tangible things he saw during their time in Arizona:
"[Senior Advisor to the General Manager] Doug [Williams] had shared a good story with me. Said Dan, 'I saw something I hadn't seen in a while, just they said wasn't no meeting going on and there was just a lot of guys hanging out together, whether that was in the meal room and it was when we were done for the evening.' I had saw the quarterbacks, they were just in office, away from me of going through things together. And so, coaches, players, and so enjoying spending time together I think is a big deal. And somebody said that when we had the holiday party here, it was less like an office party and more like getting together with your friends."
On if the playoffs effect the week of preparation:
"In fact, just the opposite Ben. In fact, I went into practice, excuse me, into the first meeting Monday saying exactly what you had thought. 'Let's change some things up. I thought we'd really, maybe we'll practice at night this week.' And they just kind of looked at me, head tilted. I said, 'No man, I'm just bullshitting you. We're going to do exactly what we do.' I said, 'I've been saying this for 17 weeks. It's a process of winning that you go through to get ourself ready and we have to work really hard to get ourself ready.' But the process of that, which I wanted them to feel, should feel exactly the same. I recognize there's energy and that goes with that and that's a good thing, like coming back from a long flight and that on Monday, there was energy and the workouts and stuff to go. And so, use that, have it as a balance, but also knowing that it's there and so it is a little bit of a turbo boost that you get this time of year and you should use it to your advantage."
*On talking about the past team playoff success and on if it resonates with the younger players: *"We don't talk about in that way during this time. We recognize the excellence that's taken place here in the past, but we don't try to carry any of that with us into the game. It's just this game, man. And so, the guys don't have to worry about things from years back or months back. It's just the focus into this week. And then those are great topics and discussions for the postseason. But as it applies to this game, there's plenty of looks and things to get ready for, for this game specifically."
On how valuable playoff opportunities are:
"It is, and that's really the way that we look at it. And I can recognize that maybe externally there weren't expectations, that's understandable. I think when I got here, I never used the word rebuild. I thought there was a recalibration that would take place, but it is all hands on deck when you get to these moments. And I wanted that moment to feel these guys have earned that right to go battle for it. And when you get into a tournament setting, you want to be really ready. That's why I was pumped to have the guys being able to get into practice and get the work that we need today. But I haven't looked too far ahead or behind with the group, man and just saying this is our time to go play like we are capable of. And we're going to play well this weekend, and that's something we've been digging in to go for and the preparation, the mindset like, we're ready to go fight. And this is an excellent team that we're going against."
*On the pledge the players made to the team at the beginning of the season: *"It was a suggestion for me, and I thought as we're going through things together, I wanted them to be part of how we would do our business together. Because if it doesn't, if they're not living it then it's really not a standard. So, it's one thing for a coach or somebody, 'These are all the rules and you have to follow them,' compared to, 'This is how we're going to do business together.' The preparation, the mindsets of things that you want to do together. And so, I wanted them to know, and I intentionally backed away some because I didn't want to do, 'And add this to it, and add this to it.' So, I wanted them to have to write it and then I could give them some feedback on it. But it was definitely their words."
On if the pledge was made by the whole team:
"Not any of the rookies. We did it the weekend prior, I think it was the weekend prior to them getting here. We thought it was important to have some standards set prior to those, maybe 25 guys at the time coming here. And so, they could ask these older players, this is how we're going to do business, this is the way that we do our language, this is the way that we train. And so, they didn't have that. So, it was, I guess probably somewhere in the 50 to 60 guy neighborhood and then as the rookies came, we're able to articulate that to them."
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On what makes QB Jayden Daniels great at compartmentalization:
"There's an X-factor that he has and compartmentalizing, it's an accurate term by you to see, can I put it in the box and go on to the next play? I didn't think of it in that way, but there is some of that that has to go down. As much as that is, there's also like a really, you could also use the word, there's a real discipline about him where sometimes we've heard the motivation can be up and down, but discipline is the day after day things. And he's a really disciplined player as well. Routine, the practice habits, the things to go through. So, I would say there's probably the compartmentalize, but there's also a rock solid, disciplined approach that he takes to performing, to practicing, to preparing. And I think some of that leads to the compartmentalize, like, 'I am ready for this. I've trained, I've put the work in.' And I can still think back to Michael Phelps talking to us in Arizona about the preparation and being ahead and I was so impressed by him that day when he spoke to the team. I was expecting somebody that was going to be six foot six with 40 inch arms and a super human, and it was really so much of in between his ears that made him so unique. And I really remember it like it was yesterday."
*
On how much of Daniels' compartmentalizing did he realize before the draft:
"More the manifestation of that, because I imagine you had to go through some of that, but that's other people giving you information. And so, that's nice and the information is important, but it's also one thing to see it for yourself. Because the film evaluation, that was a fairly easy part of it. It's all the other things that go into the position that make him unique."
*On why Daniels has had a lot of success throwing downfield: *"Well, I think one, he's put a lot of work in with the guys. So, there's things they do early, things they do late. And so, Terry's been a big factor in that, but we've worked really hard, not we, he and his teammates have worked really hard at extending plays and remaining passers to go down the field as well. So, to me, it does come from the work."
On how Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans has stood out and on Evans tying Former NFL WR Jerry Rice's record:
"Yeah, I think just a remarkable competitor. I think, if I'm not mistaken, when I even coached in college, my first game coaching at Florida might've been against him in the SEC. And I've just followed his career, it's not just the length, there's lots of guys that are taller or longer, but it's the competitive will, the routes, the discipline, the competitiveness, all of those things. When you're looking at sustained success, you better have the whole thing and he certainly does."
On how a rivalry between two players like Lattimore and Evans can affect the flow of a game:
"I don't think it can impact the flow of the game, but there's definitely matchups all over the field that make a difference in winning and losing. And these are two elite competitors and it's honestly what makes coaching so much fun. And those aren't the only two that are going to be absolutely battling for it. It may be the only ones that the networks may show [laughs], but let me tell you, there'll be a lot of guys that are really going to go for it. And it does make that part fun."
*
On how many more steps he needs to see from Lattimore for him to play on Sunday:
*"He's hitting all the markers in a good space, so we will have a jog through practice today and then we'll be full speed back at it tomorrow. So, he's hit all the markers up to this point and I anticipate that trending through the week, but tomorrow and Friday, specifically tomorrow will be one that's more speed."
On how much the team can take from Week 1 into this game:
"Well, I think there's things you take, it's a full circle moment. You don't usually get to play somebody at the start of a season, the start of a second season. They absolutely got the best of us on that day. And so, it's a good measuring stick to see how much we've improved. And so, they're an excellent team and clearly on that day showed it."
On what changes during a playoff week:
"The energy that goes into the weak, you can feel it, it's palpable. And so, I wanted to make sure for most of the guys, normalize that. You should feel this and if you don't, that's okay too. It's not like you're don't have a pulse, but I didn't want any of that to manifest itself into doing anything that's too different. Use it for energy, use it for the game plan, use it for something specific that you want to improve on to go. And as it goes through the week, there's a heightened awareness that usually comes in that's, go back through this again. And it mostly comes from the players, which is a good thing that they [get] the game plan right, get your bodies right so you can really perform at your best and you want to do all the preparation you can. So, when you do kick that thing off on Sunday night, man, 'I put the work in, I'm ready to go get down.'"
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On how the team can embrace an underdog mentality and use it to their advantage:*
"The team has earned this right to go fight and we're going to fight like hell. When you get into the postseason, you want to make sure you're playing your best football and we've worked hard to find those areas of improvement. By no means are we where we're going to end up in that improvement. But I love what we stand for as a group and these guys have earned this right to go battle and I'll leave it at that."
On if he anticipated making as many changes as the team did last offseason and on how gratifying it is to see where the team is now:
"Yes, I didn't come in with the expectations to know how many to answer the first part of that. But [General Manager] Adam [Peters] and his staff did a good job of really connecting with the coaches. We spent a lot of time together on what's the style and attitude that we would like to play like? And I thought Adam's superpower is he's been able to find the players for the teams that he's been with. And how he scouted for players at New England that was different than Denver, which was different than San Fran. And coming here, what would make a commander at corner and safety and linebacker and running back and quarterback. And so, to have he and his team understand what the coaches were looking for. That's harder than it sounds and for guys who've been around, I see some nods going on, it just is. And from the outside you think, well why is that? But it just is and so it takes a lot of time together. And so, he and I spent a lot of time together. We watched, last night we were back going through our own game, talking through our team, matchups and people. And so, it's nice to have somebody to talk to on a regular about team, people, players and seeing how we could feature them knowing that we're going to try to put the guys in the things, in the positions of things they can do best. And that's not always the easiest thing to do, but that's what we're going to continue to try to do. And I love that the guys who have come in, they're clear on their roles too. And I think that's an important piece when somebody comes in, especially the rookie, they may not even know what that could look like. And I think it's our responsibility as coaches and Adam and his personnel side say, 'This is where we see you going, it's going to take work, but if you work your ass off, I think this is where you could end up.' So many times, and we've all seen it where somebody's career just doesn't quite take off and I think sometimes they don't know what the vision is for them. And I think having a vision for what a player can be, young player, older player, the [S] Jeremy Chinn's to say, 'This is how we're going to play you here,' and he's really made an impact, a guy like Jeremy and down by the line of scrimmage, we can blitz him, he can hit, he can guard tight ends, but we were going to make sure that's the role that we're want to put you in. And if you can nail that, I think it'll come through."
