The Washington Commanders are headed to Miami for their joint practice with the Dolphins. Here are some of the top quotes from players and coaches ahead of their second road trip of the month.
Jayden Daniels on if his successful drive instilled confidence in his gameplay:
Yeah, I feel like it just gives everybody confidence moving forward. Obviously, not just me, but being able to connect with Dyami (Brown) down the field. I know that gave him confidence. He made a tough catch later on, on the curve off from Jeff (Driskel) but just seeing those little steps that we need to take in order to be successful and execute at a high level. On why he wanted to wear Doug's jersey today: I don't know. Before I left it just was in my closet. What better way to have my debut first game than represent Doug and what he did for this organization.
Dan Quinn on LB Jamin Davis' performance Saturday:
"I think what I learned, I really felt like the speed and physicality, those were the things. I felt that, I can see that, that tackling to go and so that is what I saw. To get a real look at this, at the [defensive end] you have to get it in the game, and you have to get the exposures for it. I was pleased with what I saw from him."
DC Joe Whitt Jr. on little advantages LB Bobby Wagner brings:
"Well, I don't know what he doesn't do anymore. I mean, the guy, he runs to the ball, he's a leader. He's a great position tackler. He gets people in position. He can make all the checks, checks that we don't necessarily have in that the other guys aren't ready for. He's making them. He understands what the offense is doing. We always talk about if you listen to the offense with your eyes, this formation will speak to you. He is a believer in that. And so, he can anticipate. When guys do get a little bit longer in the tooth, their anticipation and their understanding of football has them playing faster than some rookies."
OC Kliff Kingsbury on how RB Austin Ekeler and RB Brian Robinson Jr. will mesh:
"Yeah, a down year and then I watch him [Ekeler] and I'm like, 'This guy is tremendous.' So, I'm not sure what it was last year, but he hasn't lost a step. He's as quick, and as fast and as strong as I've seen him. Have just been really pleased. I didn't study him much in free agency. I didn't think he'd be there and he was there late, and once we got him, 'This is unbelievable that we got this guy and he is in this form.' The compliment of him and B-Rob is great. You have a power back who has great hands and then you have a quick twitch smaller guy who's been a 100-catch guy in the NFL. So, couldn't be more pleased with that one two punch and the different things that we'll be able to do with both those guys."
Jayden Daniels on giving his first touchdown ball to his mom:
It was awesome. Obviously, she was very excited, and I was happy just to be able to get my first touchdown and just throw it to her. So, I know she's happy. I've got to fight her to get the ball back now, but I know she's excited.
Dan Quinn on WR Dyami Brown:
"One, I thought you've seen some big plays from Dyami through this training camp. There's actually some in the spring that got my attention, to say okay what's there? And his ability to get on top of people and stay. He's got size, he's got length, so there's actually a good play in the one-on-ones that transferred into the game to go. So, I thought examples like that definitely help. Yeah, I was excited for him to make a big play like that, and I can't speak to the past but what I can say is from what I've seen here, the competing, he's on special teams, he's really going for it."
Dan Quinn if anyone further down the depth chart has stood out:
"Well, I thought the first punt I was glad to see [S] Tyler Owens. [He] released, he got singled, made a tackle. I felt that kind of speed for him, he was somebody that jumped out to me. That would be one from Tyler. I thought the tight ends in general were physical, made plays to go. Those would be a few, it was good to see Wiley [RB Michael Wiley] make some plays. I've been waiting for him to try to bust a few, to see where he can be. We haven't seen all the catches that he has, but I did see some plays being made by him as well."
Joe Whitt Jr. on CB Mike Sainristil:
"Well, he has a command of the star position. When it comes to the signal callers, the linebacker, safeties and the star, you have to be able to communicate at a high level with confidence. And the young man has that. He does not walk around as if he's a rookie. He asks really good questions. He has a good presence about himself, a maturity about himself that's going to give him an opportunity to help us."
Dan Quin on P Tress Way's tackle:
"We made a big deal on that. I think as big a deal on that was the sideline's reaction to him making a tackle. And I think it probably speaks to the love that his teammates have for him. That kind of excitement to go, made a tackle and I said, 'Look, I don't want to hear anything on the injury report, right shoulder soreness or anything like that.' What I pointed out to the team was their reaction to that, and you can see this is a real team leader for how many people were excited that he made a play. I thought that was a pretty cool statement about who he is as the teammate as well."
Jayden Daniels on words exchanged with New York Jets QB Aaron Rogers during the joint practice...
Don't ride the wave. Obviously, he's been in this league, played at the high level for many years. He kind of just said that you're going to have ups and downs your rookie year, and don't ride the wave and just stay the course, and everything will work out.
