Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury addressed the media before practice on Oct. 17. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On QB Jayden Daniels throwing in tight windows:
"Yeah, he continues to work really hard, and he made those in college. And that's what we saw on tape was the ability to be on play on time and make accurate throws where the guys can catch them in space and continue to run. So, I think all his work is paying off, in the fact that the game's starting to slow down a little bit each week, more and more each week, and hopefully that continues. But he's definitely working at it, and he had some big-time throws that converted some big time third downs the other day."
On RB Brian Robinson Jr. being back this week:
"He's a big part of what we do. I mean, both emotionally and physically. The way he plays the game, the joy he plays with, what he brings to practice, that's a big deal for us as a unit. And obviously he's a tremendous player, pass game, running game, pass pro, so it would be a big lift."
On the flea flicker screen play:
"Yeah, I gotta cite my sources as always. It's a [Louisville Head Coach] Jeff Brohm play. He did it at Purdue and obviously we have [Assistant Quarterbacks Coach] David Blough who played for Jeff Brohm. So, David Blough had brought that one up and we ended up, they threw it to a tight end. We ended up sneaking [RB] Austin [Ekeler] back there and it ended up working out. The guys executed it perfectly because they brought a pressure, which even made it better. But yeah, that's, shout out Jeff Brohm for that one."
On if it was purposeful to marry the flea flicker screen to the following play:
"It just worked out. You have those scenarios in your head where you would sequence it and then sometimes it hits, but if that screen didn't hit then yeah, we weren't getting to that one. So, we just kind of worked out. We had that personnel group we could line up and get rolling again fast and so it played out in our favor that time."
*
On why Daniels has been successful against the blitz:*
"Yeah, it starts with the offensive line. They've done a great job of going to the right guys and so he knows where his problem areas are and he trusts it. And so, he's been able to hang in there. And then the wide outs have done a good job seeing the pressures and doing their side adjust and being where they should be. And then his preparation and the hours he puts in studying the tape and understanding protections and understands the pressures of the week. It's kind of a combination of all three of those things."
On why there is an increase in at-snap motion around the league:
"Yeah, I think the game is just cyclical and people will see certain teams doing it that have had a level of success and then it's like, 'Oh okay, well we could add that and we could do it this way and add this wrinkle.' And so, I think that's what you're going through and I'm sure it'll transition to something else here in a few months. But yeah, it's definitely picked up. I see a lot of people doing it and I know it's a challenge for defenses. I think you talk to those guys, that's probably where everybody's kind of getting that information is their [defensive coordinators] are like, 'Hey, this is a tough look here. That's a tough look there.'
On RB Jeremy McNichols' performance so far:
"He's been great. Was impressed with him throughout training camp. A guy who stood out, who always knew his assignment, practices hard, plays hard, whether it's special teams or running back. And just to have the limited practice reps he's had and be able to step in and perform at the level he's performed at kind of tells you all you need to know about him as a professional."
On not being able to get the run game going against the Baltimore Ravens:
"Yeah, they've been really sat against the run. We would've liked to run it better. There's no doubt. We needed to run it better to win that game and possess the ball more than we did. We had our defense out there a lot because we weren't able to establish the run game. But just a combination of things. I gotta call a better game. Brian's a tremendous player, but they're also very good at stopping the run, as you can tell, through their first six games. But we gotta be better establishing that and that's kind of set up everything else for us throughout the season and we weren't able to do that the last week."
On attacking the Carolina Panthers in the running game:
"I think overall we just want to get back to how we were playing and that was a more balanced approach, so hopefully B-Rob [Robinson] will bring some of that. And we can just build off the run game like we did the previous five weeks."
On how WR Terry McLaurin has evolved and on how his connection with Daniels has grown:
"Yeah, just I think comfort level, them understanding each other and what they're trying to get to. The last touchdown on the fourth down was when they had just kind of talked about in the huddle and planned it out together. And that's what you hope happens as they get rolling. And Terry's the guy who every day he puts in the work and if the ball's not coming to him, he doesn't say a word. He continues to work hard without the ball, with the ball, practicing hard. So, he's a real tone set for the entire team and to see him get in the end zone the last few weeks, he has been awesome and hopefully that continues."
On WR Luke McCaffrey's development:
"He continues to get better. My biggest thing with him is his work ethic and his fearlessness is through the roof. He's out there on Sundays, he wants the ball. He's not afraid of the moment, and then every day of practice you almost gotta slow him down because he's doing so much and wants every rep he can get and won't come off the field. So that's a good starting spot. And his knowledge, having played quarterback growing up, obviously, the pedigree he has helped him, but he really works at it and you can tell he's going to make himself into a really good player in this league."
On what else he can do with Daniels compared to Week 1:
"I think just overall offensively, we are figuring out what we can do and who we are and we've been fortunate to be relatively healthy outside of B-Rob and that helps that continuity week in, week out, get on the same page. But he's a guy who, whatever you throw on his plate, he's going to study, he is going to work hard at it and he's allowed us to expand a lot faster than I thought we'd be able to at this point in the season."
On what has allowed them to play up tempo early in the season:
"Yeah, it starts with Jayden. I think he's a guy, as a young guy pushing the tempo, being able to handle that operation, especially no huddle, and then command that from 10 other grown men. That's not what they're accustomed to. So, for him to really buy into it, which he's played at that kind of tempo in college and believes in it, that really sets the tone for the entire group. And so the guys have seen some of the big plays we've had off of it and how it can sometimes really simplify a defense by keeping them on their heels. And so, that's been a good change up for us and we'll continue to use it."
On if he expected Daniels to be able to handle the tempo the way he has:
"Yeah, I didn't know how the extent of his work ethic. I knew the stories at LSU, but just to see it in person, I mean, he puts it in each and every day, all day to be able to be out there and not have to think and be able to command, and get it lined up the right way, which isn't easy when we're playing that pace."
On the left tackle rotation and on any potential changes:
"Yeah, we'll continue. We like what we've seen from both guys [T Brandon Coleman and T Cornelius Lucas]. I think that's really the best answer I can give. Both guys deserve to continue to play at this point and we've been having success offensively, which has helped, but I like what both guys bring. I think you can never have enough of those guys as you get into the back half of your season, especially upfront with tackles and so to keep two guys that we feel like are playing at a good level rolling, I'm perfectly good with."
On the tackle rotation:
"Yeah, I think so. I mean, it's unique. I get that. I've never done it to this extent, but it's basically if it's not broke, don't fix it at this point. And like I said, Luke's done a tremendous job since we got him here of working and so has Brandon. And it's, it's been a nice compliment to each other so far."
