Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media before the start of training camp. Check out the full transcripts of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Good morning, everybody. A couple transactions to review with you. So first one, [DT] Johnny Newton will be able to practice. He got cleared yesterday, scans, doctors, all the good stuff to go. So he'll begin an individual process. You won't see him in some of the team work today like we had discussed yesterday, but we'll follow along that process. But that was some great news. He has absolutely busted his ass to do everything he can to get ready. So, what a great sign for him. On a second transaction, [DL] Efe [Obada] will be on PUP as he's still coming back from his injury and making progress. But that's how we'll start the camp. What you'll see at practice today from some emphasis is gonna be a lot of red zone and I touched on that yesterday. But as we're starting the training camp to go, a good bit of red zone work. So most all of the team things that you'll see today will have a red zone emphasis with it. With all that, glad to open up to you guys."
On how much it helps Newton being able to be cleared for practice right away:
"One, we're pleased that it was now. In my head, I thought it would be later, but just because of the progress he made, we were able to speed some of that up. So that was good to see. Think of the first little bit of his training camp is that's his offseason training -- the technique work to go then get into practice and then go. So, we're playing where we got some space and some runway to make sure he doesn't miss one step of his development."
On what specifics in the red zone will the team focus on today:
"Twofold. One, we thought there would be better player safety than the long running of the first part to go. Secondly, things happen much more quickly, the route, the field, the locations and where it goes. So seeing that type of communication early, we thought that would be a good way to just go. There's scramble plays that happen down in the red zone, so it's such an important part of what we do. We didn't wanna wait."
On what are the things he can't necessarily see on tape that he wants the younger players to focus on:
"I think what you can't see and what has to be at the top of the pile, it has to be about effort first. And if you get that part right, then everything else can go in. But I think at the top of the pile, man, it better be effort and seeing our speed and things to go. Because if I don't see the speed, does he not know or can he not go? And so that has to be -- you can correct a mistake but you can't correct someone not going. And so that's the part that has to be at the top of the pile."
On why he felt strongly about the players staying off-site for training camp:
"I think there's a lot that can be. And we're fortunate through [managing partner] Josh [Harris] that we're able to do that and have everybody together. There's some chemistry, there's connections that take place after meetings at the hotel, breakfast meals together, that type of thing. So, it'll be important. The time together that we have is so intense. That's what training camp is. And so to have everybody close by here, back to it, it pays dividends much like a road trip for a few days would."
On when Newton had his physical:
"Yesterday."
*On how valuable it is to have a rookie player like Newton ready to go right at the start of training camp: *"It can help a lot. He's so ready to go. He's got such a prove it mentality to him that what it is assuring is that there's no missteps along the way. We were hopeful that he could get back soon. And so to have it now and all the night walkthroughs and all the install that goes with that, that's a big deal. And so, we're really pumped that he's able to start with us. He's really worked hard at it."
On if Newton will participate in walkthroughs:
"Yes. He's back."
On if he told QB Jayden Daniels to stay in the pocket more during the non-padded practices:
"There will be some times where all the QBs we may say, 'If the look is not there, you go quickly.' Because there's a second play that then takes place. So not necessarily on the first day, but throughout a seven-on-seven or a team period, if they've had a rep of that one earlier, 'Hey, on this one let's get out. If it's not there, let's get out and go.' So you do have to script it. You don't want to let the other players know. You don't want to let a receiver know, 'Hey, we're gonna scramble here.' Or let a defense know. It has to be reactionary for the scramble to work because there's designated places where you go to the route. So, if you're already planning on a scramble, you won't execute the first part of the play."
On what his message to the team was to start training camp:
"Just a little bit of what I told you yesterday, there's a lot that we want to get accomplished regarding identity over the next six weeks to go and that type of work and championship standards and everything that we do. Knowing that it'll be challenging and it'll be tough and demanding, but it's also gonna be a blast and we're gonna have a great time. So those two things can go together. Their connection will be what makes it. It's not an offense or a defense or a special teams. We're one group. We compete hard with one another, but at the end of it we're all competing for the same team. And so always remembering that too."
On what he expects out of TE Zach Ertz:
"One, the leadership part for him has been -- I thought it would be good and it was remarkable quite honestly. But, the route running, the detail of that, the emphasis on third down. He's not here to coach but he has a presence about him of standards, of ways to go that other people can look to emulate. And then past that in the passing game, he has a very good awareness of how to play zone, how to play man, the nuances of a route. So, I've been very pleased with what I've seen so far."
On how important it is to generate a pass rush:
"Affecting the quarterback is, has to be at the top of what you wanna do defensively, right behind, taking the ball away and tackling well. You don't always want to be able to have to bring five or six to generate pressure and pass rush. So, when you can get there with four and affect the quarterback and get him outta the pocket or you know, change where he has to go, set his feet, that's what we're looking for. How many times can that happen? How quickly can someone disrupt the QB and get timing off? So, much like a cornerback who could reroute a receiver, a defensive end or tackle who could make the quarterback then have to adjust. That's a really big piece. It'll take time. And we've been waiting for training camp for a lot for the offensive line and the defensive line. Because so much of their work is in pads and it'll be over this next six weeks that a lot of their evaluation will take place."
On the energy starting camp:
"The couple things coming into the building, saw some new meeting rooms and new areas for them. Their excitement for that. And then just having everybody together. There's an energy that goes with that. I've been to some camps where you come in, not tired, but 'oh here we go again.' And it's been just the opposite here. And so, to see that kind of energy, the guys, so excited to be around one another. Quite honestly, they were here a little early and two days ago, 'can I go in the meeting?' Yes, go, say hello to the guys. So, to say that they wanted to get going, that told me a lot about their connection so far."
On coaching the balance of decision making in the redzone:
"I think you're talking about the decision-making process. That's such a big deal to know I can fit this throw in here or that's not a good one. Because there could be a completion on one. Like, man was that the right call? So, when you get done each day, it's easy to do just a regular completion percentage for accuracy. But what was the decision-making process that went along with it. But it is the time that you have to push yourself to see if you can make some plays on certain aspects of things offensively, defensively. If you never push those boundaries to see what you are capable of, you'll never know how far you can take it in a game. Because you certainly don't want to be risk adverse where you're so tight that you don't want to make a play. But there also has to be the balance. So, it's more of the decision making and those are some things that we'll evaluate. So, having the chance to do more red zone work, this training camp, it'll be quite a bit. I want them to feel that time. This is, I gotta explore, I gotta experiment with some things and then you can move some levers to say, can't do that, can't do this."
On balancing a sense of patience while knowing games start in a few weeks:
"Yeah, I'm not the best on patience. I'll say that because somebody asked me over the summer, rebuild and that feels like real estate to me. That's why I said recalibrate. It's not a rebuilding. We're not buying an old house. It's how quickly can we get to become good at so many different parts of our football. So, I'm just the opposite of patients to be honest with you. I wanted urgency in all that we're doing, but it takes a lot of prep behind the scenes to go out and execute because if the execution and the communication is not game-like how could you perform in the game? Well, if you're not pushing those standards out in the practice field, so out here it should be as competitive and game-like as we can while taking care of one another. But as far as patience to go, that's not part of, of what I talked to the team about at all."
On what he says to fans on expectations and success:
"Yeah, I think number one, the expectations I don't really talk about other than, you know, there's going to be a lot of winning here that's done. You can't put the winning before the standards and the championship habits that you create together. And so that's what this time is for. So, in all that we do, I expect to see championship standards, the way we meet, the way we practice, the way we communicate. When those things take place, the winning goes. So as far as the expectations, I'm hopeful that every time you and our families and friends watch us play it's these guys absolutely bring it. That part of our energy, if we get that right and championship standards and the execution, you know, the wins will take care of themselves. But there's so many things right now that I want to get accomplished with identity. We'll talk about that later."
On if he pays attention to the holdouts around the league:
"No."
On what the day means for him coming back and starting camp as a head coach again:
"Well, I'd say like starting something new, there's an energy that goes with that. And so to be able to do it with the people here and already, in a short amount of time to have a connection built that usually would've taken much longer. There's a lot of excitement for that because I have a lot of belief in the people in a short amount of time to see what that can be. So yeah, there's a lot of excitement and putting something together with people that you really care about. It's as fun as you could ever think. So, this is absolutely the right spot and the right place with the right people. So, let's go, let it rip."
On the ramp up period for the line:
"Well, for everybody it's pretty similar. Just helmets and then it goes to helmets and some soft pads. They're called shells to go and you ramp up and then you begin the contact. So, think of it as like a tiered system to go. It's also like some volume on the field. How long would we go? And you'll see the practices will get longer as we go so it truly is a ramp up."
