Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media before practice on July 25. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Number one, good to see you guys. I want to give you a quick recap, just some of the things I saw yesterday. The energy, the focus, the intent, almost everybody with something to prove. I felt on the first day, there was the good communication I wanted to see. So today, emphasis is going to continue with the red zone, we're also going to add some game and clock management things to the end. So you'll see that as we're working through some two-minute at the end of the half. So that'll be a part of what we do on just about every practice, and we'll start that today. So all that said, let's get it rocking."
On what he saw from QB Jayden Daniels yesterday that may have been a continuation from the spring:
"I thought he had a really strong day. A lot of completions, good throws. When you get into the red zone, there's kind of two things that can happen. There's a first play and then a second play that can take place. And so seeing the guys get outside the pocket and move a little bit, I thought that was good. All the quarterbacks were able to get outside and get going. So, that was a byproduct of having the red zone come in. The communication happens faster, the throws happen faster. So, I thought it was a good way to get started."
On working on red zone this early in camp:
"We had a good discussion about that yesterday, as we know that in pro football some of these windows are tighter and when can I fit in? And so having lunch together, we discussed a little bit of that yesterday. And so some of those are just a byproduct. I wasn't thinking of that in the design of the practice, but when you find out some of those things, that's good. And let's be honest, if we're going to be a good scoring team, we've got to be excellent down there. And so, we're going to spend the extra time with that too."
On if he has preconceived ideas about the 53-man roster entering camp:
"I think you're close, but I'll give you one different approach. What I visited with the staff, I think there's going to be some really close and strong competition. So, as you're going through each day as a position coach, finding what somebody's strong at, what they need more work on. So, as you're going through, you're not making a decision six weeks from now on what happened in the last preseason game, but now there's a body of work. This is what I've seen almost each of these practices is like a performance to say, 'Here's where we're going to go.' For instance, you and I and John all vying for maybe the same spot, what are going to be the separators? And so, keeping track of that over the course of time helps that. And I'll choose to use the whole time to gain all the information. And so, it may not be the 53 yet, but it's going to be all the things that lead up into that."
On what positions have evolved since he was last a head coach in the league:
"One thing that's evolved probably for me is multi positional players. And there's real value to that to where a wideout who can take snaps, a linebacker who can play defensive end and a safety that can play down to linebacker. So, not everyone can do that, but for the people that can, you've added value and there could be a new look or a new scheme to work. So, the multi positional players to me, that's been one of the bigger changes and my time in Dallas allowed me to explore into that area more. And it's led me now to where our own staff are we looking for that? Can we find some other roles for people?"
On what the daily schedule looks like for the team:
"Sure, and the fans are right. It will ramp up more as you go to where you don't start your first day at the max minutes and reps and time. So, that's also a buildup to make sure the players can sustain as we're going to go. Obviously, the morning part, there could be some early lifting to go into practice. Pre and post practice, a lot of individual skill work. And then after practice, some will have a lift or conditioning. Then we start the afternoon. Special teams meetings, offensive, defensive meetings to review what happened out at the practice field. Then we transition, team meetings with me and then we start the whole process again. More special teams, offensive, defensive meetings to install for the next day. So, the afternoon consists of meetings to install, the P.M. is jog throughs to get that right, so then we can execute that the next morning. So, think of the day shifts in the afternoon into the next day and it's all a lead up to this morning's practice. And then we'll go review it and then do that process again."
On if the communication at practice was up to par yesterday:
"I had said it to the players yesterday, by the last period I felt like we did. On the very first one in the red zone, I did not feel the same communication as it started. And then by the next one it got a little better. And as the practice got towards the end, that's when I felt the most. And so, I brought that up to the guys, but I felt it going from a C to a B as the day went."
On what he's noticed from WR Terry McLaurin in terms of leadership:
"Yeah, I think as you lead you want to make sure it's authentic to you. And Terry's one, he's a pro's pro. He practices like it, he looks like it and conducts himself like it. And so, when he steps into the arena to go compete, having coached against him, there's no BSing around, he's here to do business. And sometimes that's also leading in a way that I handle my stuff to allow others to be a part of that following. Sometimes it's behind the scenes to help someone get to a new space. Some people are out in the front to go, but by him, he looks like it, walks like it, talks like it. So, when he goes into the arena, like he is absolutely committed and ready to go, and that's also leading."
On what he looks for out of the offensive line this early in camp:
"First part is, where are we on the skill work? To say the individual blocks, the individual techniques. You don't go a whole day of, 'Hey, we're just going to work pass protection, or just the run game because that's not how the game flows.' So, you're in and out of drills in between practice. Different combinations of players will be necessary over the course of the next four or five weeks to find what's the best winning combinations. So often a guard or a center has to work together or a tackle or a guard have to work together. So, they'll need time, but we will mix and match until we find that right balance. I'm looking for execution and the skill work. That's always something that I think will be leveling up, and again and again and again."
On the benefits to having training camp at the team practice facility vs. at an off-site location:
"Yeah, probably be a good question for the offseason as we're going through it. But more importantly, how do you connect with an entire group? And that's, to me, where it's going. This is my first experience with the training camp here, and I'm really pleased with the setup and how it's going. Because sometimes you can't envision it until you're living in it and all day after day. So, I've been really pleased with the format so far."
On what he's seen from LB Jamin Davis so far in camp:
"Yeah, that's one of the positions that I had spoke about to have multi-position work and we'll continue to do that with him. He's got speed and length, like an outside backer does. So, you need to work at it and it's not something that I'll know in one or two days. So, we will work all the way through to add another pass rusher to a group that adds depth, that adds value. You'll see him in some third downs and some two minutes working off the edge. Just to keep pushing, what else can we do? How else can we feature players? And Jamin is a perfect example of that."
On what he's seen from DT John Ridgeway and DT Phidarian Mathis:
"Yeah, and you brought up two guys that have similar traits, with Phil and with John. And so sometimes the big guys inside, they really got to be strong to command two. So, in a run game scheme where, 'Hey, I can get onto the guard and the center staying there to allow the linebacker to play quickly.' So, what I have seen from John, his technique, the conditioning, all of that is just ramped up for him over the last couple years. We've been watching him from afar, when I was coaching against him, and so to partner back up with him has been good. And I've really been impressed by Phil. He is just somebody that's not going to miss this opportunity. I'm sure you guys saw some of the flight stuff, he was going to have a hard time getting in on time, and he wasn't having it. Got to another city, drove a long way to get here the night before reporting, on his own. And I think that shows where he's at in terms of how badly he wants to make his mark and to make his impression. He would've been here on time, would've got here probably 11:30 that morning. He wasn't having it, he wasn't going to leave anything to chance. So, I think that probably shows you a glimpse of where he is at and how important this time is to him."
On what he's seen from Daniels' footwork in camp:
"Yeah, I think the more that you ask quarterbacks, that'll be always something. Because so much of their power comes from their legs. He absolutely has worked really hard on that. And like a lot of quarterbacks, when they're away from here, have some specific things and people that they work with, and Jayden's no different than that. Yeah, he's worked exceptionally hard. You can just see all these leveling up happen with him as well. And that's kind of the fun part about the young rookies because their ability to ramp up fast and improve, it happens so quickly and it keeps going and going. And so sometimes there's valleys to go, but in his case, you're just seeing all this momentum build for what he can be."
On who he will be communicating with in the headset on game days:
"So for me, I'll be on the field obviously with timeouts, scenarios, situations. We hired [senior vice president of football initiatives] Dave Gardi in the offseason and so Dave will be in the box and will assist me in that space. He's got a huge background through officiating and replay and others through the NFL. So that was a heavy hitter for us to be able to add someone like Dave to the staff. We're very excited to have him."
On how he incorporates that into practice:
"Everyday we'll be doing that. So, we show examples that happen in the meeting room. So, just like you would install an offensive play, or a defense or a special teams play, you do the same thing in game management plays. Dave has times that he presents to the team. We go through that. We went through some last night, and we'll execute those today. So, it's not a lot different than the process of putting in an offensive play or a defensive play. All of that has the same traits to it."
On how RB Austin Ekeler's presence will help the development of RB Brian Robinson Jr.:
"We were talking about Terry earlier, I think there's a lot of traits that are similar as ball player, and as men because they have such high standards of how they conduct themselves and how important it is and the details that they go to. So for instance, him splitting out of the backfield and running routes as a receiver, and the details that go into that. He's just constantly trying to improve and I really respect that about him. So, guys like [Ekeler] have been excellent additions. We talked about guys who add value, not just by what they say but what they do and Austin certainly fits into that category."
On what he's seen from CB Mike Sainristil:
"Yeah, we've seen a lot so far. At that position, run fits, blitzing, guarding people, option routes, quick things to go. He's got exceptional quickness. That's what we thought, evaluate him to go, but he's another one that's just really pushing. I think he and Jayden have a lot of similar traits. That they're maybe more mature than the average cat but have the humility of the young player. So there's a good balance for both of them between confidence and humility because you need them both to be excellent and both of them have that. The right balance of both, because if you're too confident and didn't have the right balance of humility that can seem as somebody with a strong ego or vice versa. If you don't have the confidence that comes across too. And the two of them, they're going to kick ass for a long time together."
On how crucial it is to have defensive line coach Darryl Tapp:
"Yeah, I don't know how many know this, but I also got a chance to coach Darryl years back. And so man have I been impressed by what I've seen. Obviously, I've had my eye on him, and knowing that his time was coming where he was ready to lead. The energy, the instincts, the way to train people. It was so nice to see him and [DT] Johnny [Newton] working together yesterday because that was their first time on the field together. And the two of them are more similar than they're not in terms of intensity, and the way they want to go about things. So, it'll be great to see that relationship grow strong as well."
On what else he's seen from LB Jamin Davis:
"Well, coming into it, I wanted to find out what were all the unique things that he could [do]. So in the spring, alright, I want to see him guard a tight end. Now I want to see him guard a back, and then now let me see as the pass rush goes, how do you utilize this size and length that he has? And so, part of that experiment is to see, let me see more rush. What about from the end of the line versus blitzing from off the ball? Those were the traits that I was looking at. What's nice is having a guy like [assistant linebackers coach/pass rush specialist] Ryan Kerrigan here, that can work very specifically on the skills that we're going to ask Jamin to do. So, you'll see him before and after practice. Sometimes you're going to see small moments like in micro-teaching sessions for five or 10 minutes a day with somebody that over time can add up. When you keep doing that over and over, your skills are going to continue to increase. And so, Ryan and Jamin are closely connected because when you have to play more than one position, there's a burden that comes with the player. And so that was probably the more difficult part of how to train somebody that plays two positions, rather than identifying that. In basketball, how do you have a five that can handle the ball? You don't just put him into the same drill, and so how do you work that and discuss those? So, Ryan has been an integral part of Jamin's development as an end of the line rusher, because when you keep experimenting and moving around, that's where you find out."
