Tag: HC Dan Quinn

Dan Quinn on Commanders defense: ‘They’re going to play more violent’

Quinn remains optimistic about the defense.

“Are you guys playing with the speed that you want to, that you need to, to be more effective?”

This question was posed to Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn early Wednesday in his time with the press at Arizona State University ahead of the Week 4 game against the Cardinals.

“Not yet,” replied Quinn. “I’d say we are gaining there. We’re still building on that. But we’re not hitting the mark that we want to yet. By no means is that where we’re going to end up.”

Quinn is certainly correct, as the Commanders are 29th in yards surrendered after three games. They simply can’t get off the field. The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have to punt once Monday night.

Furthermore, the Commanders are 31st in yards yielded per play, giving up 6.6 yards an offensive snap. They are tied for last with the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders as the only teams to have one takeaway in three games.

Yet Quinn was still believing in his guys, preaching them up and encouraging them to be what he believed or needed them to be.

“I love the crew. I love what we’re about,” Quinn said. “As we’re going to grow, we are going to play faster. They’re going to play more violent. So, the more of that, that we do, then you stack on some more and stack on some more. But we’re not to the space that we will be.”

The Washington defense is tied for 30th with the Los Angeles Rams, giving up 70 first downs in three games. They next face Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. Murray is quick, and he loves picking up first downs and sliding neatly, avoiding all contact.

Murray is going be another very tough challenge for the Commanders defense.

Commanders’ rookie LT Brandon Coleman is trending upward

The rookie left tackle continues to play more snaps each week and the arrow is pointing up.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn was asked Tuesday about rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman.

Coleman has yet to start in his three games, but he has seen action on 65 offensive snaps (34 percent), rotating with starter Cornelius Lucas.

“We continued to balance them up a little more, as we’re going to do, but we knew that was going to be one of the factors inside, to make sure (Trey) Hendrickson can’t ruin the game. I believe he got inside late, on one late (rush) where they got the sack and created the negative yards.”

“But by and large, I felt Brandon’s technique and energy, all the things when you are missing some time, start coming back into play. So, we’ve been impressed, and the arrow is definitely going up.”

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Also of note, in these three games, Coleman has yet to be penalized. So, he is not getting beat early and is holding on to avoid his quarterback getting killed.

Washington drafted the 6-foot-6, 320-pound rookie out of TCU in the third round with the 67th overall choice. He had received first-string reps before injuring a pectoral muscle in training camp.

The coaches have determined to bring him along, play him each week, to help Lucas get some rest each week, providing both of them playing time and rests during the game.

Coleman has received progressively a few more snaps each of the three games. Against Tampa Bay in Week 1, it was 14 offensive snaps. Then, it was 22 against the Giants and 29 against the Bengals. Notice the progression: 24 percent, then 31 percent, and finally 49 percent.

Consequently, barring injury, Coleman may most likely play a higher percentage of plays than Lucas for the first time this season on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Terry McLaurin is back as Commanders beat Bengals

Breaking down Terry McLaurin’s phenomenal night.

Terry McLaurin was in the Commanders’ news all week.

He was in the news not for what he had done this season but for what he had not done. Through two games, McLaurin had 8 receptions for only 39 yards and no touchdowns.

But in this Week 3 contest in Cincinnati against the Bengals, McLaurin not only led the Commanders in receiving yards but also reached the 100 yard mark and scored the clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter. On his night, he was targeted six times and came away with four receptions for an even 100 yards.

Leading 31-26 in the fourth quarter, the Commanders faced a 3rd & 2 at the Bengals 49. Daniels rolled right and found McLaurin crossing from the left side for four yards and first down.

When the Commanders ran on both first and second down late, they appeared to be setting up a field goal attempt. However, on 3rd & 7 from the Bengals 27, Daniels lofted a pass high up the right sideline, which found McLaurin in the end zone for a 38-26 Washington lead with 2:10 remaining.

Early in the game, it appeared the woes for McLaurin were going to continue when he and Daniels failed to connect on a 1st & 10 at the Bengals’ 35 with the score tied 7-7. McLaurin broke wide open deep, and Daniels missed him badly — very badly. Badly enough, I wondered if there was a miscommunication in what route McLaurin was supposed to run.

Leading 14-10, the Commanders were at their own 41, facing a 2nd & 5. There was no miscommunication on this play, as Daniels found McLaurin deep for 55 yards to the Bengals 4.

When the Bengals had closed to 28-20, the Commanders were starting at their own 30 when Daniels found McLaurin for 14 yards and a first down to the 44.

It’s good to see McLaurin making a significant contribution again in the passing game. Dan Quinn thought so, too, as cameras caught Quinn picking McLaurin up off the ground on Monday in celebration of his big plays.

Jayden Daniels spectacular in Commanders’ win vs. Bengals

What a night for Jayden Daniels.

Jayden Daniels was spectacular Monday night!

Daniels completed 21 of his 23 passing attempts for 254 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also collected 39 rushing yards on 12 carries and one rushing touchdown.

In completing 91 percent of his passing attempts, Daniels did something no other rookie quarterback had accomplished in NFL history (with a minimum of 20 attempts).

Dan Quinn was excited and happy in the postgame press conference. He praised Daniels, of course, calling him “a really cool customer.” He talked of how his ability to use his legs and keep his poise led to his strong performance. Quinn even slipped in that Daniels slid once after converting a key first down.

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Praising Kliff Kingsbury, saying all week Kingsbury prepared the offense with what they would have to do in critical moments. Quinn said Kingsbury called a great game.

Daniels threw his first NFL touchdown pass on Monday. Surprisingly, it was a tackle-eligible pass to Trent Scott from one yard out. Scott was ecstatic and exuberant in the end zone when he knew he had scored.

When the Bengals had closed to 31-26, Daniels, with the crowd noise growing against him, converted a 3rd & 2 with a 4-yard pass to Terry McLaurin.

Then on a 4th & 4 Daniels found Zach Ertz for 9 yards to the Bengals 30.

Not finished, he converted the 3rd & 7 from the 27, not with another first down, but with a 27-yard touchdown to McLaurin to put the Commanders up two scores at 38-26 with 2:10 remaining.

Daniels is still a rookie, there will be times he misses open receivers, but tonight, he got his first road NFL win, and also his first MNF win.

Hey, the Commanders are 2-1, tied with the Eagles in first place!

Quinn names game captains, provides Newton, Forbes injury updates

Quinn updates the Commanders’ injury situation ahead of Monday night. He also named the captains.

At his Saturday press conference, Dan Quinn announced the three captains for the Commanders’ game on Monday night.

Quinn announced the three captains will be receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, punter Tress Way and linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Zaccheaus signed as a free agent in the offseason. He plays with the Falcons (2019-22) and last played for the Eagles in 2023. The former Virginia Cavalier has played in two games this season for the Burgundy and Gold. He has four receptions for 29 yards and returned a punt against the Giants for 24 yards. Quinn Saturday spoke of how Zaccheaus is working hard, “chasing better and better.”

Wagner, a future Hall of Fame linebacker, Quinn said Saturday he really likes Wagner’s “consistency, dependability, if you need something, you look to Bobby. His tackling, his hitting will certainly be a presence this game.” Wagner leads the Commanders with 19 combined tackles, 9 assists and 4 tackles for a loss through two games.

Way is the longest-tenured Washington player, dating back to 2014. “The impact in our building goes way beyond being a great punter, and he has a real presence with our guys,” expressed Quinn. Way has punted three times, averaging 46.3 yards a punt, with 41.3 net yards per punt.

Quinn also spoke positively about rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Recovering from foot surgery after the draft, Newton missed the season opener but saw his first action last week against the Giants, playing 12 defensive snaps.

Quinn preached throughout Newton’s rehab and now returns that he was going to be patient with Newton throughout training camp, choosing to bring him along slowly and have him become more acclimated to the speed of the NFL.

Newton did not record a statistic during his 12 snaps last week, but Quinn said this week in the practices with Newton, “You felt the speed, you felt the movements. And we’re excited to get him more reps.”

Lastly, Emmanuel Forbes did get some practice reps on Saturday. Quinn said they will monitor him, and he could be available on Monday; however, Quinn added Forbes would be more likely to play the following week.

 

Clelin Ferrell ‘out’ for Commanders on Monday vs. Bengals

What does this mean for Jamin Davis and Javontae Jean-Baptiste?

Head coach Dan Quinn likes to be positive, but on Saturday, he announced that the Commanders would not have Clelin Ferrell on Monday.

The former Clemson defensive end started both of the first two games and also collected a quarterback sack in each game. However, Ferrell’s left knee problem is still lingering; therefore, he wasn’t able to practice Saturday, so the team has already declared he won’t be available Monday against the Bengals.

“He’s a warrior presence for us in terms of the toughness and all that he brings,” said Quinn. “But it just hasn’t turned quickly enough for him to be fully him.”

This is not good news, seeing that a key to Monday’s game is that the Commanders absolutely must get to quarterback Joe Burrow. If they don’t manufacture enough hurries, quarterback hits, and quarterback sacks, the Bengals’ receiving group will most likely dominate the Commanders secondary.

This would indicate that Jamin Davis, who was inactive against the Giants, will now fill Ferrell’s spot on the active roster against the Bengals. Quinn had ample opportunity to discuss this, but what is worth noting is how Quinn used his opportunity Saturday to refer to rookie end Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

“I would say with Javontae, I’ve really felt the pass rush starting to turn. He spent lots of time with (DL coach) Darryl (Tapp) and (pass rush specialist) Ryan (Kerrigan) over the last few weeks. And it doesn’t come at once; these bursts, they happen again. I felt that with him this week. He’ll get more reps, he’s earned them, he’s ready for it.”

Consequently, it appears Jean-Baptiste will get more of the snaps and that Davis and Dante Fowler will also get an increase in game snaps.

In the first two games, Ferrell had contributed four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and two quarterback sacks.

 

Commanders’ DT Johnny Newton trending closer to playing

Commanders hopeful Johnny Newton can make his NFL debut.

Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton missed the opener last week in Tampa, rehabbing from a Jones Fracture that required surgery.

He worked in pads last week but was deemed not yet ready for a regular-season intensity in the Tampa heat and Buccaneers offensive line.

He’s continued to get in some work this week in pads, and head coach Dan Quinn is watching Newton closely in hopes that he will be ready this week.

“I felt really good, honestly, going in,” Quinn told the media. Friday. “So we’ve stuck to the plan, so we got a good bit there, some more today (Friday). And we’ll take it into tomorrow really, to make the assessment to see how the workload of the last couple of days (results). It was really cool to see him get going. So he is trending in the right spot for us for sure.”

Newton was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and thus drafted by the Commanders at No. 36 overall. However, shortly after being drafted, he required surgery to repair his Jones Fracture (foot). He has now had surgery on both feet since completing his senior season at Illinois.

If Newton can go on Sunday, it would immediately mean some more breaks for Jon Allen and Daron Payne during a game. It would also mean he would take some snaps from Phidarian Mathis or Sheldon Day.

Commanders’ rookie DT Newton pushing hard to make NFL debut

The Commanders are hopeful about rookie DT Johnny Newton making his debut soon.

Johnny Newton, a defensive tackle out of Illinois, was drafted 36th overall by the Commanders last April and is apparently closer to playing.

Newton had to undergo surgery to repair a Jones fracture shortly after the Commanders drafted him. Head coach Dan Quinn was asked Wednesday regarding Newton’s rehab and return.

“When you are coming back from this, you may see him out today (Wednesday), but that’s to set up for tomorrow,” began Quinn. “So we pushed it hard with him conditioning yesterday (Tuesday). Hold today, but we wanted the padded day for him tomorrow then. So we are trending in the right way, much like we were talking about with Noah (Brown).”

The Commanders played four defensive tackles in the hot, muggy Tampa season opener. Of the defensive snaps, Jon Allen and Daron Payne both played 64% and 62%, respectively. They were given breathers by Phidarian Mathis and Sheldon Day, both seeing action on 36% of the defensive snaps.

The Commanders could use someone like Newton, inside making some penetration as Matt Ioannidis used to do, coming in to spell Allen and or Payne.

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“We’ll kind of have a better sense for when we get to Friday,” continued Quinn. “But he’s definitely trending in the right spot. So, we’re close for sure. But I’ll trust my eyes and make sure he is going through all the whole process to get ready. But he’s definitely pushing it hard to get into this mix.”

It’s not certain the Commanders would have five defensive tackles active Sunday in the home opener against the Giants. If the Commanders declare four again as active, and Newton is active for the first time, he would replace either Mathis or Day.

Commanders announce two new roster moves

The Commanders officially add a new kicker and sign an interesting prospect to the practice squad.

Tuesday, the Washington Commanders made one expected move and signed a local college project.

As expected, the Commanders, after releasing kicker Cade York, officially signed kicker Austin Seibert to the active roster.

Tress Way will love this move, as Seibert and Way both played for the Oklahoma Sooners. Seibert scored 499 points in his college career, an NCAA record at the time. The Browns used a fifth-round pick on Seibert in the 2019 draft, while Way went undrafted and signed with Washington after being released by the Bears in 2014.

York missed both field goal attempts in a Week 1 road loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs. In addition, York also erred, sending a kickoff out of bounds. He had come to the Commanders via a conditional draft pick if he performed well enough to be on the Commanders roster for two games. Thus, Adam Peters made the move, releasing York on Monday, retaining the draft selection.

Astute Commanders fans will recall Seibert kicking for the Jets in this season’s preseason opener. He has played in 31 games in five NFL seasons, making 80.4% of 56 field goal attempts and 90.3% of his extra points.

“I think it just really goes to show we have really high standards,” head coach Dan Quinn said during his Monday press conference. “That’s kind of where we’re at to say, ‘Hey, we’re knocking back off of this’…not one time to keep attacking and finding ways to go get better.”

Seibert has already been around the NFL block a couple of times, kicking for the Browns (2019-20), Bengals (2020), Lions (2021-22) and the Jets (2023). Here are his complete NFL stats.

Tuesday, the Commanders also added rookie offensive tackle Anim Dankwah to the practice squad. The 6-foot-8, 353-pound tackle was a First-Team All-MEAC tackle while playing for Howard University. Initially, Dankwah was an undrafted free agent of the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Commanders: Some things changed, some things remained the same

The more things change, the more they remain the same — for the Commanders.

The more some things change, the more some things remain the same.

The old saying is still true in various aspects of life, and Sunday revealed it is true regarding the 2024 Commanders as well. What’s changed? The general manager, Adam Peters, is new, and so is head coach Dan Quinn, as well as most of his coaching staff is also new.

It’s also quite new that 30 players are on the active roster that were not Commanders in 2023. What’s also new is the name of the next Washington Commanders kicker, seeing Cade York was released after only one game.

York had come to the Commanders for a conditional seventh-round draft choice. The Browns were going to cut him anyway, as Dustin Hopkins continued to prove to Ron Rivera that he belongs in the NFL and was extended by the Browns. York had to be with the Commanders for two games for the draft choice to become a reality. This was enough motivation for Peters to release York.

What hasn’t changed is that the Commanders surrendered the most passing touchdowns in 2023, and they picked up right where they left off, yielding four more in the Week 1 loss.

Benjamin St-Juste was fighting out there. I will give him that. He even interfered with Mike Evans on one touchdown pass in the second quarter. Mike Sainristil looked like, well, a rookie. He was lost and beaten badly more than once. Emmanuel Forbes? Looked like the same rookie of 2023.

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You recall back to last year, when Ron Rivera was recorded saying the Commanders were hoping to draft Emmanuel Forbes that night in the first round. Were they actually that determined and hopeful to draft Forbes? Before selecting him, Rivera was telling Commanders Nation how Forbes had great ball skills and had set an NCAA mark for pick-sixes.

Other than the highlights film of Forbes at Mississippi State, how much of the game film did they actually watch? It’s unthinkable to consider this as a possibility. Forbes has gotten beaten so badly, so repeatedly, there had to be college games where his coverage was shown to be inadequate. How did they not see that? How did they not recognize that?

However, at this rate, will Forbes show that Rivera may have gone 0-4 in his four NFL draft first-round picks with Washington?