Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury addressed the media before practice on Dec. 19. Here is the full transcript of the press conference.
On QB Marcus Mariota's influence on the quarterback room this season:
"Incredible. Yeah, he's been phenomenal, I think for all of us. Even yesterday he came by right before he left and he said, 'Hey, I think we got a little bit of too much of this in.' And he was right, I mean he's seen so much football. His path, type of player was in college, type of system he was kind of forced to play in if you will, early. And then just to kind of tell his story and show [QB] Jayden [Daniels] what it took for him to stay in the league this long and what it's going to take for Jayden to get where he wants to get. He's been open and honest and just phenomenal. I can't say enough good things."
On if there's anything specific Mariota has shared with Daniels:
"The way he goes about his business day in, day out, the way he carries himself, the type of respect he has on this team and in that building to be a backup quarterback, you would never know. You think he was a starter. I mean that's the type, the way he is revered in the building because of his work ethic and the way he treats people and his ability. And I think that's, just getting to watch him operate on a day-to-day basis. I don't think you can put a value on that. It's been so good for Jayden."
On how to replace TE Zach Ertz if needed:
"We did not do a great job of it, that's for sure. You could see we weren't as effective, especially in the red zone there without him. He's just a guy that's a safety net for a quarterback at all times. He has a knack for getting open, knack for making the big play and so I didn't think we handled that great. As a coaching staff we got to have better answers if something like that happens, because he's such a vital part of what we've been doing this year."
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On what C Tyler Biadasz has meant to the offensive line this season:*
"Coming in from Dallas where they had a lot of success on offense, they were one of the top offenses in the league while he was there. I think just the expectation he has day in, day out of what it should look like, how we should operate, that we should go score points. You feel that from him and the offense feels that from him. And that has really set the tone I think for us being able to score some points and do some things positively. Because his expectation of that unit and us as a unit has been that way from day one. And if that guy touches the ball just as much as the quarterback touches it leads in that way, you're going to have some success."
On if Daniels looks more refreshed and how that has impacted his play:
"It was a stretch there where you got banged up and we played on a Thursday and so, a lot of games in a row and I think getting away from it and just relaxing and coming back and feeling good definitely helps. That's a long stretch, when you talk about a guy who won the Heisman, you go to all those functions and you go to the draft prep, I mean, you don't get a break. And so, just to catch your breath, Week 14 and come back, you can tell he's just rested, feeling better and hopefully that can lead to really good play down the stretch."
On Daniels elevating his play amidst the injuries on offense:
"Yeah, we gotta find answers. There's no doubt. I mean, losing an [RB Austin] Ekeler and then [WR] Noah [Brown] and then Ertz being out and then Tyler being out, those are four of our top whatever players on the team. And it's never easy to replace, but Jayden's done a great job, whoever we put in of being disciplined in his reads and making the right throw and not turning the ball over. I think that's the biggest thing. We took too many sacks last week, way too many negative plays and he understands that. But not turning the ball over allowed us to sustain drives, keep their offense off the field and ultimately win the game."
*On if they had to change the game plan at all with Biadasz out: *"Yeah, not as much I would say. You want to try and take some things off of him if you can. There's some quick motion, some different things you do where the center may have to have his head between his legs and snap it and not really be able to look up. And so, if you can lessen a few of those things, but overall scheme you just roll how you roll. It's just hard for that center and I thought [C Michael] Dieter did a great job, but it's hard for him not really getting a single rep running the show and then hopping in Saturday. But I thought he handled himself well and like I said, ultimately we were able to win the game."
On if he's considered CB Mike Sainristil playing wide receiver:
"Yeah, I told him, I said I watched his pro day, you're a much better receiver than you're a DB so anytime you're ready. But I don't think [Defensive Coordinator] Joe [Whitt Jr.] would like that, he's playing so good for them. But yeah, he's a guy who can definitely do it. I was really impressed with his route running and anytime at Michigan he had a chance to make a play, he made a play. We're not to that point yet, but he's the guy who could definitely do it."
On the biggest challenge for the offense facing Philadelphia:
"Yeah, avoid negative plays. I thought that was really our achilles heel the first time. Some first and second down sacks, obviously we turned the ball over, but I think last week we had eight sacks, I think 17 negative plays, which is not what we do. And that against this team, if you're in second long, third and long throughout the game, it's going to be tough sledding. Because they got some guys up front, they can rush to the pass or they can play shell coverage and make it a long day for you."
*On what he likes about the offense going into the second matchup against Philadelphia: *"Yeah, I think the ability to learn from what we did the first time we played. I'm on a short week, I mentioned this before but I had way too much in and I felt like we played tentative. I didn't call a very good game. So, now I have the full week process and just see how they played this the first time, try to make the proper adjustments and then see how far we've come since then. I think that's going to be the exciting part. But they've done a tremendous job Coach Fangio [Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio] defensively, I mean the improvements they made from last year and just watching them week-to-week, critical moments, the way they're playing it's been impressive to see the job he's done. It'll be a huge challenge, but I think we're a different team, they're a different team and hopefully we can play at a lot higher level than we did the first time."
On what's stood out about why Philadelphia defense is the top ranked defense in the league:
"It starts, I think with coach Fangio, they're very well coached. They don't give up anything easy. You gotta defeat them, not a lot of big plays. And then creating havoc up front, 98 [Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter] is as good a player as there is in the NFL right now. He wrecked us the first game and they have some really good rushers. I think their secondary plays really in line together. 27 [Philadelphia Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell] that they drafted has been phenomenal for a young guy. And so, they just got it going. They play really well together and they don't give up big plays."
On what's stood out about Mitchell and Philadelphia Eagles CB Cooper DeJean:
"Yeah, you can tell they're very disciplined in their technique that they don't get out of phase much. And then if they do get beat, it's like short term memory. The competitive nature is there. They'll both tackle, they both cover like crazy. And it just seems like they're locked in play to play. Sometimes a young guy throughout the year technique will lack or you can see, 'Hey, it looks like he's hitting a rookie wall.' Those two guys have played at a high level throughout the year and that's hard to do in this league and facing the type of receivers they gotta face week in, week out."
On if it's his goal to make Philadelphia's defense stack the box:
"Yeah, I mean he's, like I said, the two guys inside there have done a great job of even if they empty the box out, really making the run game difficult. Not many people have been able to establish it. Baltimore is one of the best teams and running the football and it was kind of tough sledding for them. So, we just have to be able to take what they give us and like I said, stay on schedule and we have a chance to make big plays, we gotta make them."
On the clock situation at the end of the New Orleans game:
"I was just watching. I'm like, it looked like he waved to stop it and I was like, it shouldn't be stopped. And then I looked and it was stopped and I lived down there for a year, so I know all the voodoo shit. And so, I was just like, here we go again. So, I was actually shocked we won that game. I've lived this before, but yeah, I just, I waved, I'm like, why would he stop it? And then it actually stopped and so luckily we're able to get that win."
