HC Dan Quinn | ‘We’re really pumped to be home’

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media after practice on Sept. 13. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.

Opening Statement: “It’s good to see you guys and as the, you know, you finish the Giants Prep today, team, we’re all excited, man, for the home opener division game and hopefully create some home field advantage. We’re really pumped to be home. Feel like we’ve been road over to three outta the first four. So really cool. And get an opportunity to represent some Commander football and attacking, toughness, finishing all the stuff that we’ve been talking about. So, we never wanna miss that chance and looking forward to doing that. So, a couple captains that we selected for this game [LB] Frankie Luvu. Some of the words I described for him were just relentless. The energy that he gives to our team, to the building is awesome. [C] Tyler Biadasz, selfless problem solver at center, that’s a good thing and another big matchup for him inside, obviously last week, [New York Giants DL] Vita [Vea] and [New York Giants DL] Dexter [Lawrence II] this week. Those are as good as you get as the big guys go. And then, [S] Percy Butler [will] be the other captain. So, just competitor and a fearless guy and our team loves this guy. You can see when you announce somebody and they go crazy for somebody what they mean to them as teammates, and those three will do a great job. So all that said, let’s get rocking, John.”

On CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. injury update: “So he’s doing a procedure on his thumb today, which will knock him out for this game. And then, get rolling hopefully as we get into next week and don’t have a timeline until the procedure’s done, obviously.”

On if Forbes Jr. needs to go on injury reserve: “No.”

On the improvement the defense can make between Week 1 and Week 2: “Well, I think number one, just like you’re gonna hear the pre- and post-snap communication, hopeful that you’ll see the energy, the speed, the physicality, and some ball hawking too. And those are the things that we’re absolutely gonna be counting on from these guys, and I’m certain they’ll deliver in that.”

On CB Michael Davis level of involvement in Sunday’s game: “Mike and [CB] Noah [Igbinoghene] will take up a lot of that action, Ben, you’re on the right track. And so those would be the ones that that’ll fill into that space.”

On what he did or did not see from Davis this summer: “Well, what I did see this is, he’s got good long speed to match up on the deep routes. He plays with really good length, especially at the line of scrimmage. So some guys will play more off, some guys play more on, and so with Mike, with the size and the length, getting on people and using that, that plays up to his strengths.”

On the decision to release WR Byron Pringle and if they would consider bringing him back: “Yeah, I think working along with [General Manager] Adam [Peters] on those just roster decisions, who we had to bring up when you get activations from the practice squad from last week. So that was it. That was a group that we had high numbers at going in. So that was where that came from, from a decision standpoint where he wasn’t gonna be active for that game.”

On what went into the decision to ultimately pull Forbes Jr. from practice: “Yeah. Yesterday, Wednesday non-padded and Thursday padded, can I use it and be effective doing that. And you probably need to go through the part where he has to get onto the pads and move it to go. And so, ultimately we’re going to always do what’s best for the guys. And this was one that, let’s get it right, it’s fixed and then it’s says good moving forward, Nicki. Good news. Sounds like the procedure’s not a long term one. So that’s what John was saying for that. But, you never know. You get all the way done, but we’re not expecting it to be long in terms of that.”

On CB Mike Sainristil’s performance in Week 1 and his growth overall: “Yeah, I think what you’ve, we’ve grown accustomed to with Mike is this, the urgency that he can play with. The blitzing, the communication, owning leverage onto the whoever he is guarding. And so each week it can play a little different depending on who’s in the slot, where do we play to him. So, I’m really looking forward to watching him in this home opener. I really am. He’s just got great presence about him. And so, in this game, he’ll be in a lot of different spots and where all the heat is, so it’ll be a good thing.”

On how DT Johnny Newton responded to padded practice and optimism that he’ll play on Sunday: “Yeah, I felt really good, honestly going in, so, we’ve stick to the plan. So, we got a good bit there, some more today and then we’ll take it into tomorrow really to make the assessment to see how the workload of the last couple days in. But, man, it was really cool to see him get going, so, yeah, trending in the right spot for us, for sure.”

On his process of what he’ll do between today and Sunday: “First thing, after we’ve done the guys talk about actives and inactives for the week because kind of the physical part is done. And so for me, we meet on some game management decisions and go through the league because as a coach, you guys get to see some of the other games and we don’t. So, it’s a good time that [SVP of Football Initiatives] Dave [Gardi] goes through every game, what situations come up, what would we do? And so there’s some good teaching that goes on in the team today and then that carries over for the coaches tomorrow and decisions of our matchups. And a lot of times you wanna make those decisions as early as you can, say this comes up, this is what we’re gonna do. And I’d like to be really clear with the staff on that.”

On defensive preparation and how effective practice has been to address tackling issues: “Yeah, I’m encouraged by it because it’s gonna be a big part of what we do. Both our tackling, there’s breaking tackles, owning your leverage to go. And so we worked hard on that, especially early on Wednesday. That was one of the focal points for us. And then you might have even saw in the practice doing some drill work with that. And so we do both, you’re the defensive player doing the tackling or the offensive player because of the special team side of things, and then we also work the defensive guys with the ball in their hand trying to work somebody for takeaways. So, we do it both sides. And it’s also important for the special team side too, because guys who are covering punts and covering kicks, we wanna make sure the tackling stays consistent all the way throughout. So the ball of security and the tackling, that’s something that we just believe in our core and so we’re gonna really work hard at it.”

On getting better with communication and on this week’s reps: “Yeah, there weren’t new things or new ones that came up. We’re very much looking forward to establishing the good communication pre- and post-snap. When we missed it, it stung, and it should because it wasn’t a new call or a new check that you missed. So, I fully intend to see that ramp up. I felt it, I heard it. You may have heard me say, ‘I want to hear you before I see you.’ And so, I felt that throughout the week in preparation today. And then tomorrow we’ll do one more walkthrough, and that is just overemphasized on the communication side, the looks that are coming up for the game.”

On determining team captains for the week: “It’s very scientific [laugh]. No, I’m just kidding with you. It’s not scientific at all. Just trying to recognize some teammates and developing guys and leaders. Sometimes it might be a performance from a previous game, in this instance as I’m starting the season, some new people to recognize and things to go. So, for instance, a guy like [S] Percy [Butler] and [LB] Frankie [Luvu], there’s such a direct response from the team, the impact they’re having as teammates. And you may have heard me say this before, ‘Great teammates may also make great teams.’ And so those three are ones that are that. And as we get further along, sometimes there could be a performance, or an area, a team you used to be, all of those things, lock in. But it’s just a chance for me to shine a light on some guys that are hitting the marks that we want to hit as Commanders and get to celebrate them with the team on Friday’s.”

On potential benchmarks for ‘Tell The Truth Monday”: “Not as much benchmarks as much as margins, us against the opponent. So, for instance, let’s say like turnover margin. For us to be into the plus, you got to create some. Tackling, they had 10, we had 12, so we were minus two. Those would be the margins, head-to-head, on the fundamentals, and the tackling, and the ball, and penalties. So, those are things that we know help winning, so that’s why we keep those kind of close. at home. But it’s really related to us doing those things well. And then on the other side of it, can we break tackles if we’re making them, and that way you create some advantages and explosive plays. So, not a marker but a margin.”

On a head coach’s role when advising a player dealing with an injury on what’s best for them and their families: ‘Yeah, it’s a fantastic question because you want to make sure all the decisions there, what’s best for the player. And one of the things that you don’t get to feel is how important and what it all means to them. Each one is so individually based, but yeah, you felt for him and for his family, and decisions that are ahead. But at the end, no, I would rather one of all support, because it’s their career, their family and the medical guys are so skilled in that space that my job in that instance is just to show ultimate support of the person, before the ball player. Yeah, so that was a bummer to see [Miami Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s injury.] I didn’t see it [live], but I saw it this morning and definitely felt for him. Had a quick conversation with [QB] Marcus [Mariota] about it, because I know they’re friends from back home. So, yeah, I was definitely hurting for him and it’s just hard, but from a medical side, no I don’t get involved at all. Just honestly want to support and if I was coaching him, I’d be in the same space and even from afar throwing him huge support.”