Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media before practice on Nov. 6. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Alright. Awesome day, man, for us. Right back to it. So, for us, this is our competition Wednesday and a lot to work on this week in preparation for Sunday. Pittsburgh's got a really strong crew in all three phases, so it'll take the whole week. But one, now we're ready to get rolling. I did remind the team, and I emphasized the importance of being ready now. And that could be for every person in every meeting room and every player. When your number's called and you deliver, it's a big deal. And I think [RB] Chris Rodriguez was the latest to show that he's down for the cause and just wanted to make sure that's the responsibility of all 70 on the roster. And, when we're developing people, it's to get ready to play. And so, that was a good message for all the guys to dig in together and get better. And so that's kind of what we chase on a regular basis. So, glad to get rocking with you guys."
*On when he decided cornerback was an area he could get some extra help in: *"Yeah, I'd say you had me at hello [laugh]. This was easy, man, to get and acquire a player of [CB Marshon Lattimore's] caliber. The toughness, the physicality. Whether it was this month, six months from now, this is a player that you'd want to be on your team. He stands for the right stuff. He's got an attitude to battle and really pumped we have him here."
*On Lattimore as a player and on how he fits with the other cornerbacks' roles: *"Yeah, he's certainly been exposed to a good system, and I'd say I've had the opportunity to coach against him as well. And, not everybody can go and match onto different players in different spots, left side, right side, in the slot and doing that. And so you gotta be a smart guy to be able to do that. And he's shown over the course of his career the ability to move inside and outside and staying connected to receivers. That's really the name of the game and he's able to play it tight. He's a good tackler. So yeah, we're pumped we got him in."
*On managing Lattimore's health and involving him in practice: *"Yeah, that's the assessment that will be here today. So today was our first time having him be here and he'll visit with the training staff and really get an assessment for where he was just leaving New Orleans, and then transitioning into it here. So that's the onboarding process that you're speaking of. It's an important one to make sure that he's really at his best and feels strong and confident to do that because the player's going to [say], 'I'll go, I'm ready.' The opportunity, the moment. So, we're going to make sure that we don't miss one step of the ladder as we're going to go and get him ready."
*On what stood out to him when he played against Lattimore: *"I think the ability to get down and go challenge. And, when you do that against a player like a [Former Atlanta Falcons WR] Julio Jones, there's some confidence that has to go into that [laugh], because that's something that not everybody's down for that. And so, to see him go to challenge or a guy like in [Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike] Evans that you've seen, there's confidence that comes with that. And sometimes a metric may not tell a story, it just tells you the numbers, but there's not some throws that go to a certain side and some things that happen. And so, we're just pumped to have him here. But the competitor is what sticks out to me first, and it takes a lot of confidence to go down the line of scrimmage and guard somebody."
*On bringing a new player into the strong locker room chemistry: *"Yeah, [General Manager] Adam [Peters] is very mindful of that, and he knows the importance of that with the team and he knows I share that opinion with him. And so, through the draft, through a trade or acquiring somebody that's not with a team, that could have been on the practice squad, they go through a pretty exhaustive step-by-step process. Having the right people is the first thing, if that's the first thing to get right. And so that's where, if that part's not right, then that's the end of the line. And that goes for everybody that we bring in here and we want to make sure coming here is unique and a really cool experience. And I told him today in front of the team, I said, 'You can ask anybody here, man, we're all here to help and support you and onboard you fast'. That means rookies or a vet. We're all on the same page here, so it doesn't have to be, 'I'm not going to talk to him as rookie.' That's no, no, no, that ain't how we roll, man. Everybody on this team, we're here to help support anybody that comes in and the message will be the same from all the guys. And so, I thought that was strong for him to know that he's coming into a place that people really support the hell outta one another."
*On if Lattimore's position will be fixed or more versatile: *"I would say it'd be more versatile than where we're at. But I want to get a sense for getting into the rhythm here for a while, but I would sense that would be something that we'd move around some."
On if CB Mike Sainristil will move back inside:
"Still to be determined. Not going to give away all my cards the first day [laugh]."
On the ripple effect and impact of this move at the trade deadline:
"Yeah, it is. And most of the time you guys have seen there's probably for all of you guys, certainly more than me, the chatter and what's out there and what could happen. But then as it gets closer, things heat up much like a draft comes whereas you get on the clock things are heating up. So, you have to be ready and prepared when a moments there. And Adam and his team certainly are. And that wasn't just in this instance, that was a place kicker, it was [WR] Noah Brown, it's glue guys that you find that stand for the right things. And a guy like Noah is an example of that. When you enter somebody into the group after the final cut and then finding his way onto it, that's a big deal. And so, if I'm not mistaken, I think Noah might have been inactive as the first game and then now you're building some work as you're going to go. So, it's not just add water and you're into the culture of what we do. It's learning that process together and it's a good group to be a part of to come into. There's going to be a lot of guys that are going to throw in a lot of support."
On how Lattimore's acquisition might help do things the team has been limited on:
"You're definitely barking up the right tree [laugh]."
On an update for RB Brian Robinson Jr:
"There you go. I'd be glad to. B-Rob will practice today, and I'll get a better assessment as we go through today and tomorrow's practice. But all signs are pointing in the right one. We're really going to push it this week and make sure he can respond in the right way, so he can enter with such confidence about how he has to play."
On his respect for the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise and team:
"It's so high and it really starts with [Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach] Mike [Tomlin], and he's somebody that I've known more years than half of my life. So, my first year of coaching was Mike's senior year of playing and we've remained good friends ever since that time. We actually coached together for a year after that, his first year of coaching in my second, but he's just somebody I admire a lot. You've heard me talk a lot about identity and what that looks like and I think Mike stands for that. His team stands for that. So, not many people regard higher as a coach and as a man than Mike. So, I feel the toughness of him through their team and it's a good group. All three phases like you talk about ball and they're plus 10, so important we talk about that. Talk about special teams. These are going to be two excellent special teams units absolutely battling for it between Danny's [Pittsburgh Steelers Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith] group and Larry's [Special Teams Coordinator Larry Izzo] group here. Larry's going to be kicks covering and big tackles and punts and kicks. I mean it's going to be all hands-on deck and like all the stories within the game, I think the special teams in this game specifically really is going to have a big narrative into it and we've got some good special teams players as well."
On the messaging sent to the league and fan base by acquiring Lattimore:
"I'd say I'll start with the fan base because it's, what I would tell the team first is our rule on the team is protect the team and our theme of our program is competition and we're going to absolutely relentlessly compete at everything. And that's a chance to make our team better, make you better, make the group better. Adam and his group or myself and the coaches, we're going to dig in hard to do that. And so, what does Marshon mean? He's a competitor and so we're adding a real dog ass competitor into a group of guys that like to fight and like to battle. And so, to me that's an extension of competing, to say we're not going to miss a moment to add a competitor onto our team. And so, that has nothing to do with the league. I'd rather it's just about us really. That's how I think of it."
On keeping the team mentally sharp through the season:
"Yeah, we've not talked about a bye because that's still a ways away. And so, one of our signs in our team room says, 'The only fight that matters is the one that you're in.' And try not to think down the road of what's there just, man, it's just this week, just this game, just this moment. And if we stay into that process of the week competition today, the ball tomorrow or game management and finishing Friday, the process really helps with the learning that goes into the game plan. And then we can absolutely go let it rip Sunday and then we'll clear the deck and go forward again. But we don't really talk too far down the line about where we have to be ready for. It's just this week and this moment and you never know which game's the one to go and make the impact or the difference. So, we don't pick and choose, 'Hey, we gotta watch this game or not.' Every time we go, we want to get it on."
On which of Lattimore's traits light him up the most:
"Yeah, I think two I'm going to say. One, I love the competitor to challenge and that's what this league is made of, of finishing moments and games and plays and third downs. And so, when you feel that player rise even get a little taller and stronger in those moments, it's not hard to to miss. You've seen it. And so that trait, I know he has. I can't put a speed on it and I can't put a metric on it, but I know what it looks like. And then I would say from the physical side of things, the ability to stay attached and make contested catches hard and fight through them. And that is what playing really good DB is about. Obviously, sometimes you're playing zone and using vision, but when you gotta attach and you gotta play tight man-to-man, to guard somebody, to go win a down, you need to be able to stand strong and have confidence to do that. And Shon does."
On how he handles the upcoming schedule of two games in four days:
"Yeah, two different plans for sure. The coaches have one, but the players all there is is this week. That's all there is. And I don't think of it as two games in four days. It's one game this week and we got a game next week. And so, I don't try to overanalyze that to go the coaches have to do some extra to get prepared for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So that's the one that needs the extra time and attention. But we've got a great plan for next week and we'll execute that next week. But for this game this is where we're at and where the focus is. And then from a planning standpoint, I've taken care of all that. The coaches know it, they'll be ready, the players know that the coaches will be ready, and they don't have to think about any of that."
On watching the film of the players the Steelers acquired at the trade deadline:
"Well, I would say we start first with roster that they've had and how they've featured the players into those spots. And then like last night for instance, okay adding individual player clips. So that's usually where it goes, where you study a certain style of a player from their other team because you haven't seen them in your scheme so much easier to see like for a [Pittsburgh Steelers LB] Preston [Smith], okay and pass rushing or individual routes that would've been thrown to [Pittsburgh Steelers WR] Mike [Williams], the size, the length. So, it's more practical for a player to study that than the coach. The coach has to stay onto the scheme and that's kind of the back and forth when the guys study at home and they're watching stuff on iPads. So often they're looking at the opponent they're playing against and the stance or a mannerism and the coaches are hitting scheme and routes and stacks and bunches, and the player has to know who they're playing against so well. And so that's kind of the art and the balance of preparation. So much of away from the coaches is studying who you're playing against and what they do and what special stuff do they have. Then the time with the coaches, the scheme, the technique, how does that all tie together? And it's a fascinating process over seven days. It really is."
On facing a veteran quarterback like Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson:
"Yeah, and the thing that when I think about Russ, the first thing that pops to my mind is this is a remarkable deep ball thrower. And it's what he is absolutely earned and been known for down inside and outside the pocket where he's got the ability to be able to throw on the run 50, 60 yards down the field to a spot that only his receiver can get to it or off a big play pass. So that to me is what sets him apart, is his, he's got a strong, strong arm, big hands. He can absolutely rip it, but it's the downfield big shot plays when those explosive plays happen, those are game changers and that's what I think Russ's superpower is like deep ball accuracy is not everybody has that."
On how he hopes Lattimore can help mentor the younger cornerbacks:
"I think it'll probably go both ways because there's some scheme and some communication for Marshon to learn and there's also some wisdom for him to pass on to go. And so that will happen organically as it goes. But the first order of business is obviously getting him on the same page with all of his teammates as quickly as we can. But those things happen over time. The more time you spend together, those are meeting room times, road trips and you just start discussing it more. And so, over time we'll expect that to happen."
