Washington Commanders head coach addressed the media before practice on Oct. 23. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Alright, good to see everybody. As we get started today, for us, as you know, on this day, it's about the competition for us. I thought last week when we were together, we talked about having to get stronger going through that and we did that, and we need to find the next gear and more things hit on. We'll do that again. I know a lot of you are tracking Jayden's [QB Jayden Daniels] participation. He won't practice today. He'll continue, did all the meetings and our individual stuff to go through that. But he'll get the treatment today and then he'll continue to progress through today and tomorrow. And I'll update you guys after Friday's practice, and we'll kind of go from there. Additionally, we've activated [LB] Jordan Magee and I'm really excited to see him with the crew. And as you guys remember, he got injured all the way back against the Jets and he's really put in the work. So, I'm very excited to see him back out, doing his thing with the guys. He's really put it in for a young guy. Not easy to get banged up in your opening series of your first preseason game. So, for him to be back in and put the work in and be right back in the fight with the guys is really exciting."
On what he needs to see from Daniels to be back on the practice field:
"He's close to there. The practice field is the next step of that. And so kinda like with any injury, just going through the process, we huddle up every night with the entire team. But at practice is probably the biggest thing, want to make sure he can be fully express himself and do all the things that he does, which makes him so unique and special. And so that's what we'll do. But not much different than any other player kind of going through a Wednesday to Thursday to Friday. So, that'll be the key going through the week, that he can do, be him fully turned up."
On why LB Jamin Davis was released:
"We activated Jordan Magee. So, just from a roster spot and, man, what a good teammate, Jamin. So, like yesterday, getting a chance to visit with him definitely left a strong impression. And sometimes there's good that comes after the hard stuff and he's somebody that we'll definitely be watching and pulling forward. He really worked hard during his time here."
On what he did not see from Davis that he was hoping to see:
"Yeah, I think that's the hard part and why I loved his attitude, come change positions and add value to that and using his speed to go. So, at the end just it's always this puzzle you're trying to put together. And there's always hard decisions and those are ones that come up. But they're really hard and this one was hard."
On being in a hole when initially building the team and the progress made so far:
"Honestly, I don't think of it in that way. It's just a matter of absolutely when change happen, things move, and systems change, and people change. And so coaching and scouting and players, it's all part of big shifts that go. Oftentimes if the schemes are very similar, there would probably be less. But, no honestly just digging into just bind edges all over the place. And so, when guys move on from here, I'm hopeful wherever they go, they find the right combination, the right things to allow them to do their thing. So that's my hope for anybody that goes on from here."
On how Daniels felt coming out of the game:
"Yeah, he came out strong anyway. He was, knowing him, chomping at the bit to get going. So, yeah, there really, for him the attitude's been fantastic just like you'd expect him to be, so he is doing well."
On due diligence done on Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams before the draft:
"Yeah, quite a lot because I think what you don't want to do is just think one way and then go another. And at that point, when most of the work is done, it's well before the draft process gets underway when people decide, 'Hey, this is where I'm going to head to.' So, quite a bit."
On if the opportunity to play Williams motivates Daniels:
"No. I think you guys have all been around Jayden and 'anybody, anywhere, anytime' is really the mindset for him. I think at his core, that's one of the things I really admire about him is just his readiness, his wanting to go prove it. So, no. Much like we talked about [Baltimore Ravens QB] Lamar [Jackson] a few weeks ago, they're not playing against one another. So, it's about him and the readiness to get ready and help our team ultimately, that's why so many of his teammates really gravitate towards him. They know how much he puts it in and goes for it and that's why he's seen as one of the great teammates around here."
On the Chicago Bears' defense and on how the team can get an edge:
"Yeah, well I thought the thing that I really have been impressed by, not just this season but previously last year as well, is their ability to get the ball. The takeaways they've generated that comes from speed, knowing what to do, how to go play it. So that part would be a number one top of the pile for me. And then how they can feature players and the rushers and linebacker, they got all the components that you're looking for to play great [defense.] So yeah, got a lot of respect for the way and the play style of how they play."
On Chicago Bears S Jaquan Brisker and how his availability changes the Chicago defense:
"He's a significant factor and I can remember from him coming out of Penn State and just all the background and following him. And the safety position I think has a lot of value in today's NFL. Can you be in the post? Can you be in the box? Can you guard slots? And there's all different ways that it goes into the space. So, I think it's turning into a really important position because of how guys are featured and Brisker certainly has all the skills. He can play down. He can guard man-to-man. He is a good hitter. So yeah, a lot of respect for him."
On T/G Sam Cosmi's role on the offensive line:
"Some of the things that I see and some of the things that I hear on the sidelines, I share with the team. And just today in a team meeting I talked about the communication that I hear from him. And [G/T Andrew] Wiley on the sideline. '[If] this comes back up, if this alignment's there, we'll go do this.' And so, I love that he's thinking ahead, because that's when you know you're ready for the next step and the next thing. So, that's what I've seen from him. He was one of the captains last week and what he said before the game was strong and powerful about this crew and who we are and who we're wanting to be. And we know we've got a lot of to build on, but that's what this time is for, to continue on that. So, he's off to a really good start, but I'm seeing his confidence grow, the communication grow and that's what you'd hope to see. And he's having a blast playing football, which for me as a coach to sit back and smile, to see these guys really battling for one another and enjoying it. They were coming off the field going for it gassed and then sitting on the bench, 'Let's go do it again.' And they were ready to go fight. So, it was cool."
On how the team's identity is progressing:
"Yeah, I think we're making progress. I think you kind of talk first piece, a foundation is being built for that, but we're not there yet. There's another level to get to and that's what I was referring to today, about how do we get to the next spot. I had talked to the team about foundation of our brotherhood. There's another level. What about our physicality? There's another level. What about the communication at the line? There's another level. And so those are the things that you want to take the next steps to. I like it in the run game of what I've seen. I like it on the special team side of things. I felt that at a line of scrimmage yesterday, excuse me, in the last game, I really felt that. So, it's about finishing, it's about toughness and we're not where it's going to end up, but we're making strides on that. And that's what this time is for. You don't wait. Go. Do it now. There is no waiting. You absolutely go for it again."
On how WR Luke McCaffrey and TE Ben Sinnott's roles can evolve in the offense:
"Well, I would say Sinnott, we gotta target more based on the number of touchdowns he gets on targets [laugh]. So, I'd say that's my first thought. Luke has just progressed, and I think there's a lot of teammates for him to learn from. There's [Wide Receivers Coach] Bobby Engram that's here, but guys like [WR] "OZ" [Olamide Zaccheaus] that absolutely go as hard as you possibly can. He's a special teammate and there's other people that he brings along just by doing that. And Luke's competitive nature kind of feeds into "OZ". And they're back returning puns together and you see them communicate. But I just see the trajectory of him going up and a lot of that comes from mindset. And I think being aggressive is a mindset, not a speed. And Luke's mindset to be aggressive, to take your shot, to get to the right block, those are aggressive ways and he's gaining on that."
On the importance of having a happy player:
"I think what some of the guys are learning, and I hope they can take it with them forever, all of us here will be former Commanders one day. We just had alumni weekend, that you can work really, really hard and also enjoy it. And absolutely have other guys to go battle with and do it. And so, seeing that connection as teammates, 'Come on, we'll go do it again, we'll go do it again.' It's the extra stuff they do in the weight room, the extra meeting room, on the field practice. You see them just spending time together in the locker room when there's no meeting next. They're just spending their day hanging out and doing stuff together. So, that's an attitude together that you can work really hard, as hard as you possibly can, but when you have other people to go on the trip with you, it makes it that much more special. And so that's why I saw that connection with Wiley and Cosmi and I recognized it. Because when you're absolutely putting out, it's much easier to do that with someone else. And so, the more of that we have the better."
On how Daniels is preparing this week as if he will start on Sunday:
"Yeah, not a lot changes in the preparation piece for him, from the early mornings, to the VR work, to meetings, to treatment and all that. And so, the walkthrough portions are for everybody. Mostly everybody gets involved in some level, so he won't be into the practice portion today, but we love our process that we go through to get ready and that's why we kind of have the themes of the day and what we do on specific days. So, the early parts of the game plan are in and tomorrow it's a big red zone day, so we just try to stay into that process. Good news for him, there's a lot of banked reps on a lot of plays and so for us there's not 50 new plays that go in every game. So, there's a lot of banked reps on the things that he's done exceptionally well. Some plays you guys have seen being at practice that other people haven't. And so those are still banked reps, but they may be new to the opponent but they're not new to us."
On the insight Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury provided when doing due diligence on Williams:
"It was strong because he had firsthand information to say how effective he was, the things that made him so effective. So, he's got a great report about him from everywhere he'd been. From being here locally, to Oklahoma, to [U]SC so it traveled with him. The work ethic, the play making ability. So, it was pretty consistent wherever he went. And I've probably had a sense he would've done fantastic just about anywhere."
On an update for T Brandon Coleman:
"Yes, Brandon is working through the concussion protocol. So, he's hitting all the right markers. He won't practice today and then as we're going through the week, he's hitting all the right steps so far. So, we'll just follow the progress as it goes. And we're hopeful that each of the days stay like they're supposed to. And then we'll go from there. But I'll look forward to giving you some updates on Friday with Jayden and you guys are tracking all that. So, we'll give you updates when we can and until then, let's go kick some ass."
