Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media after practice on Jan. 22. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.

Opening Statement:

"This is awesome, man, it's cool. So, competition Wednesday is here for us, it really kickstarts us, everything into gear. And we're getting stronger as we go. From the ball and our turnover margin, our tackling margin and we're working hard at that to make sure that continues. These runs are built on fundamentals, execution and finishing, not new schemes and that. It's absolutely how we get down. And so, our team's got a lot of joyful intensity about us. It's not rare to see guys attacking the shit out of somebody or something and seeing huge, joyful smiles on their faces. Whether that's a kickoff cover that goes inside the 25 or a defensive takeaway or even an explosive play. And so, it's a rare combination for a team to have that because they are intense and they're tough, in the same way they really enjoy doing what they're doing together. So, I don't think I've coached a team that had that type of balance and connection together. So, it's really cool to see. And lastly, some condolences to Pete Medhurst's family. I know he meant a lot to a lot of people in this room, so I wanted to make sure, although I didn't get a chance to work with him, sounds like a real football guy and I'm sure I would've enjoyed that. So, just wanted to say that and then we'll get rocking with everything for today. So, let's get it rolling."

On what makes QB Jayden Daniels different from other rookie quarterbacks who have made it to a conference championship:
"Yeah, we don't think that way in terms of looking back at stuff. It's honestly just into this game, man. He's got rare, in the moment skills that have allowed us to be into this spot. When it's mental chaos going down and two-minutes, in these tight moments where it could feel that tight, he's got the experience of somebody that's played a lot more football than a first year player. But we don't get into the historical stuff, man. It's just how do we get down this weekend?"

On how the early morning walkthroughs have helped Daniels throughout the season:
"Yeah, for all of us, I think we can appreciate a process and his process, that is a big part of it. And so, having gone through that prior to the rest of the offensive unit going through that, there's a feeling of being a leg up. And doing that type of extra work sometimes just also provides the right motivation for yourself. 'I've seen that look, I'm ready.' You've done the work at it, so when the moment comes, you're ready to deliver. So, it does come from the work. There's a side of that that just he relentlessly competes and then going through it before you get to it. It's like, here's the Cliff notes before you get to the, literally Cliff notes [laughs], before you get to the regular install that would take place."

On if TE Zach Ertz has revived his love for football this season and on what he's seen from Ertz this season:
"I definitely do. And like you said, a competitor like him, when you have a dark spot, you don't know where football's going. There's injuries, there's all sorts of stuff to go. So, to see him recapture that on a personal level, I have seen that. And I can relate to that, knowing that, that's a journey that lots of people go through. And so, to see him come out the other side and being able to share the knowledge and find not just the joy of playing but playing well. I had known red zone, and third downs and two-minute would be a factor and he surpassed those and kept going onto it. So yeah, he has really applied every bit of it, man. He wasn't going to miss this [opportunity]."

On how the recovery period has helped players throughout the season:
"The way that we set it, we're going to go really hard so we need to have [to] recover hard as well. And so, that was part of the competition and the practice style and attitude. If we were going to push it this far and this hard and this fast, there had to be a balance on the other side of that. And so, it has been effective for us and knowing that when we get to the game, man, we're really ready to go let it rip. And that's mentally, physically just every part of it. You have to be ready to go. And so, I think staying consistent by doing it week after week, that also helps. We're not changing from this week to this week of how we do things. We've really tried to stay consistent and that approach, I think that process helps the ball players too."

On finding winning edges against Philadelphia:
"Yeah, I think the natural narrative, 'You know them and they know you.' And I don't really think of it that way. You start right back at it, what are fresh eyes on the games? What are fresh eyes on the times from when we played it. The easy narrative would be, they know us, we know them, but it's different than that. To me, this is our first time playing them in the postseason. Game one, what needs to be different, what could be the same? What do we need to start doing? What do we need to stop doing? Same thing in the second game. And so, as you get into the third matchup with somebody, you want to make sure you have fresh eyes for the first two. 'Hey, did I miss something?' And was there something there that I didn't think we had or did? And both teams will have things on their call sheets that never got called in that game. And you do have those up still that you've been practicing and sometimes every play on your call sheet doesn't make it into the game and you keep those alive as well."

On if he prefers his team to be the underdog heading into this weekend:
"We just don't let the outside narrative kind of drive it. And internally we've got a lot of expectations about how we can play and what we do, but we never went too far outside of things. Did we feel dismissed or put off? Yeah, of course some, I think that happened in the opening game. I felt dismissive. 'Hey man, hang in there, it's going to be a long time.' I was like, 'Hey f-you, that's not how it's going to go down.' And I was upset but it wasn't disrespect, it was dismissiveness and I felt some kind of way, but it didn't motivate me more to say that's how they think of us. It wasn't disrespect, it was, we're going to be a lot better than what we just showed today. And eventually we'll show that. So, it's not a prove it to everybody else or underdog story, it's how we get down. This is not a seven-game series and so we got to play our best on Sunday at three o'clock. And that to me is the biggest factor."

On Philadelphia's defensive front and on why they are successful defending the run even with light boxes:
"Combination of two things. One, let's start just from the talent standpoint inside. They've got a really deep crew of rushers, run stop, kind of the whole combination. And Vic's [Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio] excellent in terms of mixing the right front, the right coverage, he makes it challenging for play callers to go against. So, this run look, is it, is it not? And so, that's a challenge to say every possession, you're going to feel this, you got to get this play, you got to get this one because a good play caller, they're going to change it and change it. And so, you want to make sure you take advantage of your [opportunities]. So, I think it's twofold, the balance of how to utilize the talent that's there, combined with the scheme that he put in because it's different than what they had done."

On Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni's game management:
"I wouldn't say, because going against their team over the last few years, they're aggressive. The four-down football style is similar to ours in terms of being bold and aggressive. They play tough, but there's not one marker that stands out to me more than another, other than much like last week, both teams, be ready to defend all four downs because both teams not only are willing, they're both excellent at it."

On the thought behind getting the best five offensive lineman on the field Sunday:
"Yeah, a lot of thought to that. And first let's give a quick shout to [T] Trent [Scott] of coming in and really being somebody that can handle that. But yes, that is absolutely how we go about it. And that would be there or at any spot, like what I was saying earlier, what's the best thing for us to win this game? And then that is all there is. And so, yeah that's really where we're at in terms of the next three days of our practice."

On his communication with Managing Partner Josh Harris during the season:
"One thing you may or may not know, this guy is a hell of a competitor. He was a college wrestler, and he loves to compete. He loves all of that. On our Mondays is a recap of the game, and so we review some of the things by the numbers, decisions, what would we go, where did it go well. One of the things I enjoy most about Mondays with Adam and Josh, and [Official Title?] Bob [Myers] is on the call as well, is we get to maybe show six to 10 plays of what were the deciding plays in the game. I specifically like those times as a coach so I can show this is what we were thinking, this is what happened. It's a good way to highlight the player, the moment, the situation, why we chose to do what we did. It's good because I want him to be able to ask anything. Why'd you go for it? Why did you do that? He's curious in that way. Those calls are on Mondays and I enjoy those. Then before the game, those are ones of game planning specifics, but I've really enjoyed the Mondays especially of follow ups and why we do what we do. The video helped, we didn't do that on the first game, so I was trying to explain stuff and it was just clunky and I said, 'Let's do the video together too.' So that to me has been something, that meeting has taken place all over the world and they literally have been, I've really enjoyed that. There are some times where the daylight is different where he is than where I'm at and I really respect that he always has time for Adam and I."

On what he's seen from T Brandon Coleman?
"I thought just a lot of resilience early. He battled through some of the injuries. If you go way back, even to training camp and [thinking] is he going to be ready and will he be there and battling some with big Luke into the spots. But I think the resilience is the stuff that has impressed me the most as a first-year player battling through it. He's grown a lot into that knowing I can play with that much like a baseball pitcher. You may not know he doesn't have his A game, but he was able to really go and deliver and that's a good trait to have for any pro player in almost any sport where they have to play through those. And he's really done a good job on that now that he's back and healthy, that's a big deal."

On how much the Commander standard has stuck and applied to the team:
"It does because we try to keep it on the front of our thoughts. Whether that's pointing out the leading moments, it's pointing out any of the parts that we said. I'm more of the person instead of [saying] 'don't do this, don't do that, don't do that.' I'd like to see more of that. I'd like to see more of that. I'd like to see more of that. And it's an easy reminder for me to say this is a guy that really upheld that. We even do it on Mondays on some of the scout team players of the week. Who gave the absolute best look of Gibbs or whatever that looked like. I try to acknowledge those of like every role here is really important. Every person that walks in that building in that door, they have a role in our winning and so that's really important becasue we all make sure we're treating everybody in that same space."

On when he first noticed Daniels smiling after taking hits and on what that says about Daniels as a competitor: *"I don't know if I ever will be comfortable with that. More I felt not in those moments, but he is an elite competitor. He really is. It's one of the things I admire most about him that he just doesn't back down from the moments. I'd like to see less smiling in that instance and more in some of the others. But one thing that he does do, if you watch him in the game, he can stay in it a really long time. He does not do this. And some of the times you see him excited or maybe just smiling at the end when we were going to victory formation because on the sideline, he is the terminator. There's not a lot of stuff that's going to go on externally. He can really stay in it."
* On if it's a prerequisite to be able to run as a quarterback in today's NFL:
"Yeah, Adam, I think it certainly helps because the extended plays that happen in our game, whether it's the rush, the blitz, anything for the guys that can get outside the pocket and remain a dual threat, remain a passer on the run to rip it or if they're dropping too far back to go. So it definitely -- there's different levels of it for sure. But I would say, it certainly feels like the guys are most difficult to defend, have that capability."

On how big an emphasis Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is this week:

"Every single time that I've coached against him, he's been the emphasis, and he's a remarkable player. We have faced some excellent running backs through this season, and for him, another one. It's the explosive plays that he can create. There are some running backs, it's four, it's five, but it's the long ones with that type of speed and the explosive plays and that's what's most difficult. When you're good, you're good, not so good. And so you have to be able to do right over and over again and not get bored with just being in the right spot over and over again and the tackling in games like this, it's just a premium. That's why we do work so hard at those things to make sure our fundamentals are staying. Like if other teams are deteriorating at that, I want it just the opposite, that we're tackling at a higher level today than we were months ago. So we work really hard at that, at that specific skill."