Working in his seventh NFL training camp, Daron Payne really likes the up-tempo defense Dan Quinn is instructing.
“We are really working on just flying around and getting to the ball, hunting. That’s the main emphasis right now, just you want everybody hunting,” Payne told the media Sunday, following practice.
Payne has been very dependable for Washington, missing games only during the 2019 season due to injury. He missed seven that season and has played in every other single game for the Commanders.
“Coach Quinn is just letting us be explosive. Be explosive guys! Get after the quarterback, get after the run games.”
The former Alabama defensive tackle likes how Quinn is not allowing the defense to be as predictable as it was last year. “It definitely gives the offense something different to see. They won’t be able to scheme us up and just focus on what we do.” Payne said he likes the design calling for more games and movement from the defensive line.
Evidently, the defensive linemen are being called upon to do a lot of running early in this camp. “I usually stay around here and train (offseason), train hard. But like I said, with the new defense we have, they want us hunting so we got to be around the ball. They want us flying, so I feel like that’s just getting me in shape already.”
Payne, after six seasons has recorded 30.0 sacks and he likes what new defensive line coach Darryl Tapp is drilling in camp. “We just don’t come out here and just do things to waste time. He thinks about it and preps ahead and does things to get us in good shape and have good technique.”
There is a huge roster turnover this season and Payne pointed out Sunday he thinks the defensive players are already listening to the lead of linebacker Bobby Wagner. “He commands the huddle and we listen to him.”
The DMV is hoping the new personnel and new coaching staff results in at least a few more wins in 2024.