Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media via Zoom on Aug. 27. Here is a full transcript of his press conference.
On the decisions made at edge rusher:
"I think honestly, when you're going into new programs, you're really looking at some things that will change and scheme fits and what you're looking for. Sometimes when you're going into something new, you're looking for different scheme, different fits but I think by and large we've really been pleased with what we've seen from [LB] Jamin [Davis] and that certainly was part of the factor."
On five of the seven 2023 draft picks being cut and on how those decisions were made:
"Yeah, I think once I took the job, they're my guys too. We're always going to make what we think is the best decision for the team. That's our obligation, there's no 'ours' or 'theirs', or any of that kind of good stuff. Like once I was here, man, I connected with lots of players here. So yeah, no looking at it at anything other than just what do we need to do best for the team and really that's where it starts and ends."
On how he frames to players that they've made the 53-man roster even if it's just for now:
"Yeah, that's a great question. On a day like today, I think we made 38 transactions, but we met with the players that we had to do the transactions with, not the ones that we did not. As that goes, they do know. I have told them that the first part of the roster and likely into the first part of the season, it is fluid and it's not final and set in that space. That's the conversation as far as big picture wise, that I said yesterday. But we don't meet with each player to say that they made it, that will be reiterated again tomorrow, adding to get to that 70-man roster. As we meet tomorrow, we'll talk about practice squad and waiver claims and that, but it's a fair question. I'd say in the front end we say, 'It's not set here as we're starting this initial 53.' So, that's the marker I guess that we say at the beginning."
On why the team kept three quarterbacks and on why the third one was QB Jeff Driskel:
"Yeah, I think as you're going through it, quite honestly, we like this quarterback room. And you just want as many guys in the building that are going through the process, understanding the system and working it out at such an important position. As you're going through it, you want as many guys in the building that are always developing and always pushing. So, no other reason other than just the talent of the group and we really felt like this group was really pushing it and so that was the reason behind it."
On cutting WR Martavis Bryant and WR Brycen Tremayne and on the WR room:
"Yeah, it's two different spaces really. So, Martavis, getting here later, obviously that certainly had a factor. I was proud of him for learning a good bit of the system to be ready to play. Especially more extended play time versus New England. And with Brycen, he's really putting in the work and has a bigger role on special teams obviously to go. And so a number of these guys, you can imagine are right on that cusp, and that's what you're looking to do is give them feedback about what it'll take to take the next steps. And it's a hard day for a coach or a general manager because real emotions for guys that are absolutely going for it, that love the game. And we want to make sure we spend time with each player. It takes a long time, but it's really important and the players deserve it to give them that feedback."
On S Tyler Owens and TE Colson Yankoff making the 53-man roster:
"Yep, I'd say both of them really have the propensity to absolutely go for it. You feel their intensity, you feel their speed when they play, both on special teams and on offense and defense respectively. At the end of it, when you're really trying to establish an identity that you've heard me use that word before, I think those examples come back up. The speed, the physicality, the effort, the straining, those are things that are Commander style plays and I thought those two really represented that."
On how active he expects the team to over the next few days:
"I think as you're going through it, it's kind of part of where your needs are and if there are ways that you can do things to address some needs for the team. So, I think we'll have a better understanding of that tomorrow after we go through tonight. As the wire comes back out today, obviously the scouting department is the key part of that, of assessing a player that may be on another team that gets released and a current player on our team. It's pretty normal around the league this year at this time that a lot of these conversations and things happen. And quite often you look at some players that never end up making it on the waiver wire. I think we'll have a better assessment for that as we head into tomorrow afternoon and the days ahead."
