Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media before practice on July 30. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
Opening Statement:
"Alright, it's good to see everyone. Yesterday, we had spoken before practice about some of the things [we were] looking for at practice. And I thought as a line of scrimmage day, a couple guys had jumped out to me, [TE] John Bates just from the blocking standpoint, the physicality of what I think he can do and how he did it. I thought for the first day, [he] made some real strides. And then from the defensive line, I was impressed by [DT] Jon Allen and [DE] Dorance Armstrong. There's chemistry that goes with their position as well, and we talk so often about offensive line and the chemistry to go to it, but there's something to that to the defensive line as well. And it was good to see those guys get into work. And then on the return game, I think you guys probably saw we did quite a bit of kickoff and kickoff return yesterday. And I thought [WR] Kaz [Allen] and [CB] Mike [Sanristil] were still ones enough to show, all right, I want in on that fight to show I've got explosive moves to go. So, those are some of the things looking back to yesterday and some people that caught my eye."
On what impressed him most about DT Jonathan Allen yesterday:
"I think it was probably his hands. And as an evaluation sometimes you think of hands, you may hear that and you think of a wide receiver or a tight end who can catch, but really it's almost any position. It's the corner who can catch it, it's the defensive lineman who can use the hands to pass rush or run game. So, sometimes you've probably heard 'player in shorts, he looks good.' What's good news, Jon Allen, he looks better in pads. And that's how it should be for an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman. So, I would say just his use of hands was impressive to me."
On how he puts together his practice schedules:
"Yeah, so you've seen me bring the team up together some before we get into the practice, and usually that's to reemphasize what are the important parts of that practice. We might have a competition today that is second down and it just leads to what the next one is. We have some two minute at the end of the game, so just to make sure when we leave practice that day those periods were emphasized to say, 'Hey, this was something that we really wanted to nail.' You're always working on something, but at each practice there is an emphasis for sure."
On what former Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban's comments about Sanristil meant to him:
"Yeah, I learned a lot from Nick, and one of them was about the evaluation. He was a really good evaluator. I think that speaks to the success he's had through college as well. The ability to identify players and develop them. So, to hear his opinion on Mike, knowing first hand of what he looked like and how to play, that meant a lot."
On if the offensive line is rotating around G Sam Cosmi and C Tyler Biadasz:
"I would say it's fair with those two. I think [G] Nick [Allegretti] is into that space some now. Sometimes we do move people to different positions. Nick's played some center, so there are a lot of moving parts that go around and so it'll settle eventually, but the important part is the evaluation of right tackle, the left tackle, can I play center? All of it is information. So, we intentionally move people into different spots for the evaluation purpose of where they're at."
On how the rookies have adjusted to NFL life:
"I think it's kind of a little bit, individual chicken. The reason I say that is I could tell some guys were tight where they don't want to make a mistake. You see that where somebody's really wanting to do right and in fact you want them to play fast, make the mistake and how fast can you correct it and go back. So, there's that balance for that. But, by and large, there's not a lot of mental errors from these guys. So, they do know it, they've put the work in. Now we're going to keep encouraging them to push it to max speed to see where they can take it. But, overall, as a class, they've really put in good work. I like the bond that they've had and for the players, they've got some really good mentors as well. You're not going to see a lot of hazing and that kind of stuff. These are not pledges with they're little brothers, they're bringing them along to help us win. And that's the only reason any of us are here. And so I wanted to make sure I was very clear about that."
On if Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury looks refreshed:
"Yeah, it's been excellent for me to have guys like Kliff and [running backs coach] Anthony [Lynn] who's also sat in the chair and [can] maybe pass along something. This is what I saw, this is an idea or something that may have come up. So, guys like that, that have had that experience has been super valuable for me. Seeing around the corners and being ahead of things. And so the communication with Kliff has been really good."
On how you can read mental growth in players:
"Yeah, that's a good one. Because that position, you better have confidence and if you're out on the freeways, there's going to be speed and there's going to be plays. So, knowing that you can get right back. If a play happened and it was allowed, how quickly can I get back to play the next play? We had shown the team a clip, I don't know if I brought this up in a previous presser, about [Roger] Federer and a commencement address that he had about how he won 80 percent of his games, but only 54 percent of his points. And there was a lot of value to that, knowing that not every play is going to go your way. Even the best of the best have some that don't go and how quickly the next one matters. And so I think at corner and quarterback, those two positions, everybody knows how you played. But how quickly you can get back to the next play, so to have the mental strength like [CB] Emmanuel [Forbes] is talking about, that's a really big piece of the game."
On what he appreciates about Cosmi:
"Yeah, I think first off you're right about the player. Having the ability to look at people when you're coaching against them and digging and where their strengths are. Just his ability to stay square in pass protection. He doesn't turn, doesn't give up the edges. And then I think for the size of him, his initial quickness off the ball, so he just seems ideally suited at guard. I thought that was the right move to put him to there, and he's really hitting his strides.
On if there are any updates on DT Johnny Newton:
"Yes, you will see Johnny will work into some practice periods today, into the team period. So, that's the next part of his ramp up as we're going to go through. So, we're really excited to get him start working back into the team aspect of it, and they're going to be excited to see him. He's a really good player."
On what he's seen from the wide receivers:
"Yeah, I would say a couple of things and specifically yesterday, we've been working hard at when the second play begins. A quarterback's outside the pocket to go and one player specifically caught my eye yesterday was [WR] Dyami [Brown]. And, when that second play happens, how hard you have to run to go and make that next play, knowing it may not come to you, but over and over and over again to have that kind of speed to go, that really impressed me with Dyami yesterday. So, we're tracking everybody, how many targets, how many plays, and the more we get into practice, the more competitions as we get later into camp you'll see some one-on-ones. So, all of this is part of that ramp up to do that. But, yesterday that was one of the things I was impressed by on scramble plays when the quarterback gets outside the pocket, the speed for him to extend and make another play. And that's what challenges a defense when you have to defend two plays like that."
On what he's seen from the secondary:
"Yeah, and we kind of think of it two ways down outside and inside. And so the outside guys who you saw Mike, and [CB] Emmanuel [Forbes], and [CB Benjamin] St. Juste kind of rotating through that spot. Mike Sanristil has really settled in inside as the nickel. We've blitzed them. So, you're just trying to put people into different spots, how does he fit into the run fits? And then [CB] Quan [Martin] was one that I thought, I remarked to [defensive coordinator Joe [Whitt], yesterday I think he's going to be one of our very best tacklers. Because the ability to come out of the middle of the field and be the last line of defense to make really sure tackles, I thought he has a real trait at that. And so, those were a few that jumped out to me over the last few days."
On what the emphasis of practice is and what he's looking for:
"The emphasis on the early part will be we'll have a competition where we'll just spot the ball down and it's second down. And then it could be second and seven and you play the resulting play, which next if the offense gets a first down, the next group would come up. If it was second and seven and they gain four, then the next third down results in that. So, the reason that's good is because you're just trying to make as many situations at practice feel game like. Here's the next to the next, the consequence of getting a sack on second and seven goes the third and longer. So, how does it affect the play? And I like having to be able to think like that. And then we'll do some two minute at the end of the game today with different scenarios. Some where the offense needs a touchdown to win, others that need a field goal to go win. But all of them, all three groups with two minute will be at the end of the game just with different styles of outcomes, meaning you need a touchdown or a field goal to go win it. And part of the evaluation, work some red zone, end of the game. And the second part of that is in the two minute adding the kicking element to it because on the ones to have game winners we'll try to have that simulated as much as we can."
On what he's looking for from the linebackers and his thoughts on LB Bobby Wagner:
"Yeah, I think if you watch him, one of the things that I've always admired about Bobby's game, and I learned this years ago from Ron Wolf. When he had retired and I was living in Atlanta, I asked him to come down to training camp, and we were talking about linebackers who played square. It's like a word that sticks with you to go and when you look at Bobby, you see how square he plays. It's really part of the reason that he's such a good tackler because yes, the instincts to see it and go, but he's very rarely out of position. And so that's what I think makes him such an excellent tackler. And so one of the presentations to the team yesterday was on tackling, not just defense but on special teams and why the importance of that and where did it begin? It's chest and shoulder tackling and using leverage. So, Bobby was on that clip a few times along with other players, but I wanted to make sure if you're going to be a good team, you better be a good tackling team. And it takes a lot of work to do that, but Bobby's a pure example of that."
On Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Engram:
"Yeah, I was so fortunate when we had a chance to hire Bobby here. You felt like you knew somebody and we'd get along. And it was just the ability for him to want to be a part of it with me, I was so impressed. He's an excellent coach and adds a lot of value, not just to the receiver group, but to the DB's and on this staff there's not just, 'Okay, I only worry about my own group of guys.' If there's ways to get others better, you do that. And so you'll see him and I talking about returners, you'll see him talking about other players. And so, man have I been impressed by him. And so having the knowledge of what the player's background is, he's able to fast track that a little bit to share some of those insights. But, he's a remarkable coach."
On what he uses to motivate the team, and if those change year-to-year:
"Yeah, you have to change them. Because you don't want to just show the same clip all the time but I do try to use different sports, different moments. Here we are in the Olympics, so there are useful things from other sports that we can bring into our own. And so, an analogy I used like, sparring versus fighting. What's the difference and what does a sparring session look like? And so, showing a video of that, that's not the same as a fighting, or a boxing match or a UFC fight. Sparring is in control, and so yeah, I do use other sports, other things, just to get another message or teaching point across."
On how he views and values players that have changed positions:
"Yeah, I do value it. I don't know if I value it more, but I do value it because there's extra things that they can do. And so, I also look to players now who've got background at other positions and can they have another dimension to their game. So, for instance, OZ [WR Olamide Zaccheaus] had started his college career as a running back, so I know he knows how to take a handoff and work to that. So, when you think of a roster, you're trying to find as many people that have multiple roles, 'Can he be the wideout and a fourth or fifth running back?' So, you're just always adding value if you can do that. Now, it doesn't mean everybody can, but if there's a chance that you have value to add at another spot, then it's worth doing."
On how he coaches QB Jayden Daniels and his scrambling ability:
"Yeah, you do want to be able to have the dual threat. It's the finish of the play if he extends it, because you're extending, usually, to remain a passer first. And so that's where his strength comes in. If he just gets outside the pocket to run, that's a lot easier to defend. So, you're outside the pocket, but this player can stay alive and throw on the move, that's where it is. And then as he gets closer to contact, we're going to go over to visit with the [Washington] Nationals a lot and learn sliding and other important topics down the line."
