Tag: Dan Quinn as head coach

Who are the Commanders’ captains for Week 9 vs. Giants?

Who are the Commanders’ captains for Week 9?

What did it mean Friday that Dan Quinn had his cap facing forward during his press conference?

No, I am not making too much of it, but it was quite noticeable that Coach Quinn was not adorning his cap in his usual backward mode.

More significantly, Quinn named the three captains for Sunday’s Week 9 contest at the New York Giants. Quinn said receiver Noah Brown, safety Quan Martin, and tight end John Bates will lead the Commanders on Sunday.

“I just love the toughness these guys have, what they bring. So, it’s fun part of every Friday talking to the team about those three,” said Quinn.

With the cut-down day, all 32 teams had reduced their rosters to 53. The Commanders signed 12 players to their practice squad the following day. The next day, Brown was still available, so the Commanders grabbed him for free and signed him to the 53-man roster.


Brown not only has a Hail Mary-winning touchdown on his 2024 resume, but he also has 17 catches for 258 yards, averaging 15.8 yards a reception. Twelve of those catches have been for first downs, moving the chains, and his lone touchdown is one he will recall for the rest of his life.

Martin was a second-round choice in Ron Rivera’s last draft (2023). Last week, Martin recorded 11 tackles (nine solo, two assists), with one being for a loss. Starting all eight games thus far this season, he has 31 solo tackles and 13 assists.

In his fourth season out of Boise State, some might point to Bates only starting two games this season and only recording three receptions. However, Quinn quickly volunteered regarding Bates, “John, just all the energy he brings. There’s a lot of the dirty work that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. So, all three of those guys, they’ll lead us this week.”

Quinn concluded by expressing it had been a “good week of practice, tough division matchup, and seven weeks ago, good fight. Expect the same good fight, hard, however long it takes. Five quarters, longer mindset. And so that’s where we’re at.”

Perhaps the cap on the correct way indicated Quinn really means business this week (Insert wink)?

Why Tyler Biadasz is an important leader for the Commanders

Biadasz is one of Washington’s early-season unsung heroes.

When you think of Commanders’ offensive leaders, you might actually miss one of the more important leaders on the 2024 team.

Head coach Dan Quinn spoke with the media on Monday about center Tyler Biadasz and his importance in leading this offense in 2024. Biadasz signed as a free agent in March, having played his first four seasons (202-23) with the Cowboys. The veteran center has been important for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“One of the challenging parts about playing center, on so many of these plays you have to target who belongs to whom,” said Quinn. “On a traditional offense, you have a little bit more time. You can get the line of scrimmage; this is what I see. If they shift, you change it. When you’re going more quickly, those are when you really have to process quickly like a QB. So, on the runs and the passes, Tyler’s right in the middle of all that to make sure the declaration’s right, who we’re going to, how we’re going to go.”

The offense hummed like a well-oiled machine against the Cardinals on Sunday, leading to a 42-14 win. Quinn thought Biadasz did a great job with the Cardinals changing fronts.

“For a team like Arizona who plays multiple fronts, has a good blitz package and a safety that can just honestly show up in a blitz from just about damn near anywhere, he’s somebody he had to keep an eye on.”

Quinn also talked about how Biadasz is doing a good job getting out in Washington’s wide runs.

“I thought him pulling and being on the move there were some good plays that I saw on that, and that’s another added part of things when you get another big guy out on the edge on some of the lead blocking that went to Brian, I thought that was a big deal.”

GM Adam Peters’s first three moves with the Commanders involved two offensive linemen. Peters released OT Charles Leno, TE Logan Thomas, and C Nick Gates.

To address their offensive line, Peters signed Biadasz, G Nick Allegretti, and long snapper Tyler Ott in the first week of free agency.

It’s early, but Peters’ moves appear to be paying off.

Commanders are doing things differently on short week

Washington’s approach for Week makes it clear that this is a new era.

“We’re pumped to be here early and to get rockin’ for the week.”

That was Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn in how he began his Wednesday time with the media.

The Commanders, instead of returning to Ashburn on a red-eye flight following Monday’s game in Cincinnati, chose to fly directly to Arizona. If the team had flown back in the early morning hours of Tuesday, they would have had only a couple of days of preparation before flying out to Arizona later Friday.

https://Twitter.com/dolphincountry6/status/1838409531275038978

It is a shorter week playing on MNF, and then the NFL turned around and gave the Commanders another road game, this one in Arizona, Sunday, against the Cardinals. “What we do on a Wednesday, a Thursday and a Friday, we will go through that same process we would in Virginia with a few adjustments,” expressed Quinn.

“We are doing absolutely the same process. So the team came out early to set up our servers, video, all the stuff so we could just take Virginia, put it down in Arizona, and go play. We are really fortunate, the people here at Arizona State have been great, allowing us to have access to the practice field. So we are ready to go.”

The fan base can most of all thank new majority owner Josh Harris. It is hard to imagine the team making such a move in previous years prior to Harris taking over the reigns and responsibilities.

Imagine the bill for all the meals, hotel arrangements, equipment, and supplies—the meals alone for all those players and the coaching staff.

If Dan Quinn and the Commanders can win against the Cardinals on Sunday, it will be their third consecutive win, and Harris won’t be concerned about the bill.

The first Ron Rivera draft pick released by Commanders’ Dan Quinn

Others could soon follow.

On Wednesday, receiver Dax Milne became the first player Dan Quinn released who had been drafted by Ron Rivera.

Milne was actually the last player Rivera drafted in the 2021 class in the 7th round, No. 258 overall.

All eight of the 2020 Rivera draft class have already departed. Chase Young was traded to the 49ers last year. Antonio Gibson, Saahdiq Charles, Khaleke Hudson, Kam Curl, and James Smith-Williams were all allowed to look elsewhere for employment in the off-=season. Antonio Gandy-Golden played a grand total of ten NFL games, and Keith Ismael lasted two seasons in Washington.

Without question, the best player drafted by Rivera was guard Sam Cosmi. Others still around from that 2021 draft class are LB/DE Jamin Davis, CB Benjamin St-Juste, WR Dyami Brown, TE John Bates and S Darrick Forrest. Davis and Brown have largely been disappointments. Davis is being given some reps at defensive end by Quinn. If he does not shine in preseason, it’s very conceivable the 2021 first-round choice will not make the 53-man roster.

Of the 2022 Rivera draft class, only WR Jahan Dotson and RB Brian Robinson are guaranteed for the active roster. Sam Howell was traded, and Phidarian Mathis simply hasn’t been healthy enough to see the field. Percy Butler, Cole Turner, Chris Paul and Christian Holmes all need to prove themselves in preseason.

Finally, Rivera’s 2023 class only exhibited two players to produce last season (S Quan Martin and RB Chris Rodriguez). Both played hard and well on special teams and when given the opportunity at their respective positions.  Braeden Daniels looked like he was drafted entirely too early to play tackle last preseason. He has been taking some work at guard, and it may already be his last chance. C/G Ricky Stromberg was injured in 2023, while Andre Jones and KJ Henry watched Adam Peters sign multiple defensive ends.

This leaves the 2023 first-round selection, CB Emmanuel Forbes. Rivera raved about Forbes on draft day, even before selecting him. Forbes struggled horribly and says he has gained over 15 pounds in preparation for 2024.

How many former Rivera draft picks will make the Quinn 53-man roster?