Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury addressed the media before practice. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On how he will prepare QB Jayden Daniels for his first start:
"Yeah, I don't think you can. It just is what it is. The first one of the NFL has a different experience, different level of football, but he's worked really hard to prepare for this moment and his teammates have seen that. The coaches have seen it and that's definitely gained him some respect and it goes a long way when things aren't going well, and you have some adversity. So, I'm anxious to watch him play myself. I know he is going to cut it loose. He's a tremendous competitor and he's excited for the opportunity."
On this being his first game back in the NFL in few years:
"Yeah, I mean we drew one of the toughest defenses in the league. [Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles has been one of the top defensive minds in football for a long time, and him having a whole off season to prepare for this one always makes a tough challenge, but it'll be fun. I've just been really appreciative of this opportunity, trying to take everything with a lot of gratitude. And this group has been great. They've worked really hard to get ready for this first one and hopefully we can go out there and play at a high level."
On preparing T Brandon Coleman for regular season play:
"Trying to get a bunch of live reps in practice. Good on good, as many as we can for him. It was unfortunate that he did have that setback, but he's worked really hard to be back and I think he'll feel good. I'm not sure exactly when we'll use him, how we'll use him, but at some point we will. We know that. He's made big strides, we want to make sure he's comfortable and has a chance to play at a high level whenever he is out there."
On WR Noah Brown and on what he adds to the receiver room:
"He's been really productive in this league. Had a few injuries that were unfortunate. A couple seasons I think where he could have had really big numbers. But lots of speed, can play inside and outside. Great person, hard worker. So, all the things that we want to be here as a Commander."
On if he's drawing up plays for TE Zach Ertz to connect with Daniels:
"Yeah, Zach's a guy who he's been quarterback friendly his entire career. He is one of those guys that presents to a quarterback, finds a way to get open, creates separation. So, for a young quarterback going in his first live test, that's always a nice safety blanket. We got to be smart with Zach and he's not 24 anymore, so we got to be smart with how we use him and make sure he feels good. But he definitely is one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL still, in my opinion, as far as presenting to a quarterback, being quarterback friendly and being dependable."
On how much freedom Daniels will have to operate the offense on Sunday:
"Yeah, quite a bit. He works really hard, like I said, he's got the best seat in the house to do those things and he's showed us as a staff that he's capable. So, we will give him some free reign out there at times. If he sees good looks that he wants to get into, we'll let him attack and that's how he played at LSU. And we like that attacking mindset. Like if we get the look, let's go after it."
On what he's looking forward to most about Week 1:
"Just being out there with this group of guys. Anytime you come in and it's a new staff overall, new offensive staff, the way they bought in, the way they've worked. I'm just anxious to watch it all come together and see what they can do. I think that's the biggest thing. We practiced for a long time together and put a bunch of different pieces together, a bunch of guys from all over the league coming together to see how good we can be and I'm just excited to see what that looks like."
On telling Head Coach Dan Quinn the truth and on his perspective as a former head coach:
"Yeah, very lightly [laugh]. I'll say that. If it is the truth, it's kind of like we get to that point in some way. But no, you definitely have different perspective after you've sat there and then are back being an assistant. You definitely want to be the best possible assistant you can be and want to keep things off his desk. But you see things that you don't notice when you're the head coach. When you're the head coach, everything's great. Everybody's telling you everything is amazing. And so when you hear different players talk or different coaches talk, you can get a feel of it. And we just try to relay pertinent information best we can to try and help him in any way I can. I just want to be the best assistant I can be to him and try to help him get where he wants to go."
On what he's learned from Quinn:
"Yeah, just the consistency as a man and a leader. That's what you get, what y'all see. High energy, treating people the right way, motivating, that's nonstop. It doesn't matter. Good day, bad day, while he asks from his team and his staff is that you bring it every day and you're going to have some moments where you don't do right and you make a mistake and that's not where he goes off. It's just if he doesn't think you're giving him everything you got. And so that's been awesome to see, the way he treats people and the way he shows up with the office each and every day, lifts that place up. And that's to me the greatest quality of a leader."
On RB Brian Robinson Jr.
"Yeah, he's been awesome. He loves football as much as any player I've been around. He wants the ball, he wants it in the key moments. He wants to compete, he thinks he can play receiver, tight end, running back, like that's what you want to be around. And just knowing his story, not many guys stick it out like that at Alabama. That says a lot about you. You got to be tough-minded, you got to be very determined to where you want to get. And then to watch him go through the incident he had here and come back in such a short time and then continue to push, it's been awesome. I'm really excited to see in our offense what he looks like and what he can do. But he's been phenomenal, each and every day has been available and goes as hard as anybody on the field."
On this coaching challenge compared to others in the past:
"It's been really exciting. Just feeling the energy of the fans and how badly they want to be relevant again in the DMV area, how passionate they are about the Commanders, that jumps out. And then, like I said, being around DQ and AP [General Manager Adam Peters] who are trying to be bring in the right type of player and hardworking, tough nosed guys. It's been really, really exciting for me. It's definitely reenergized me being here."
On what he's learned from working with other young quarterbacks that can help Daniels:
"I would just say there's no one size fits all. You got to kind of figure out what makes them tick. What they like, what they don't like and how to best build your offense around them. And it's going to take a little while for us to figure that out completely. But Jayden's really good at processing information and letting you know, 'Hey, I felt comfortable with this, didn't feel comfortable with that.' And that's been really good for us as we've installed the offense, and we really try to pour it all on him and see how he could handle it and he's handled it well. But he's not afraid to let you know if a concept, he doesn't like or familiar with. And that's really been a good relationship."
On what he's most excited to see from Daniels this weekend:
"Really just his competitive nature. He's pretty laid back, chill cat, but when he steps on that field he's trying to rip your head off and he's talking trash to the [defensive coordinator] and the [defensive backs] and everybody else. But it's fun natured. But that's just watching him compete. When you're out in practice you don't see him really take off and run and things like that, because we're not tackling him. So, just to see that competitive nature come out in his first game and it's not always going to be pretty, but just him continue to battle and try to lead those guys. That will be a lot of fun for me to witness."
