Tag: Logan Paulsen

What everyone said after Commanders’ road win over Giants

What did everyone say after Washington’s win? Here’s a collection of postgame quotes from players, coaches and analysts.

It wasn’t nearly as dominant as two weeks ago (Panthers) or as exciting as last week (Bears), but the Commanders took care of business, defeating the Giants 27-22 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Here is a collection of postgame quotes from players, analysts, coaches and media personalities.

Jayden Daniels

“We did a tremendous job getting downhill and running the ball…Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, those guys are hell of players. So to not get sacked by those guys, kudos to my O-line.”

“Knowing where to go with the ball, knowing when to get the ball out helps a lot, but a tremendous job by the O-Line of using their fundamentals and giving me enough time to get the ball off.”

“You have to live in the moment. This could be all good, but hey, we have a game next week. I’m just happy for the fan base that they can be proud of the product we are putting out on the field.”

Nick Allegretti

Nick Allegretti had to pop one of Brandon Coleman’s fingers back in place mid-game. “I almost went down because I’m queasy,” Allegretti said. “He said just pull it so I just looked away… we got it back in. Never had to do it to a teammate. Glad it worked; didn’t enjoy that.”  via John Keim

Dan Quinn (on Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels)

“It’s really about winning. That is a big deal. That’s what Terry McLaurin thinks about, winning. He absolutely delivers…I feel his energy. I feel his presence in the game, whatever it takes to go…Terry is a pro’s pro, we are fortunate. He has been so much fun to coach.”

“For a quarterback to really have the regard for the football and the decision-making process — he’s playing the position well, not just throwing it well.  “…That, to me, is one of the things I’ve been most impressed by.”

Dan Quinn on Chris Rodriguez

“I want to start off by recognizing Chris Rodriguez. He didn’t know he was going to until 90 minutes prior. When you get into that spot and demonstrate you are ready, it goes a long way to your teammates. There’s a lot of unseen work to be ready. You don’t get all the reps. Sometimes that comes in the after practice time, the before practice time to be ready. I thought a strong finish at the end of the game by him.”

Terry McLaurin

“Shoot, His ability — I’m just going to say it straight up, it was like he walked that ball to me. … The receiver position is one of the most dependent positions on the football field. There are so many things that you have to depend on to go right for an opportunity, but when you play with a quarterback that you can continue to build with, how competitive he is, how smart he is and his ability to make the throws when we need him most, that’s fun for a guy like me.”

Andrew Wylie on Jayden Daniels

“He can do whatever he wants back there…It’s something special to watch.”

Grant Paulsen

“The Commanders went on the road and beat the Giants. Swept them for the season. 7-2 for the first time since 1996. 5-1 in the NFC and 2-0 in division. Most wins in the NFC as of right now. WASH ran for 150 yards; pounded the Giants into submission in the second half.”
Denton Day
“This is one you hang your hat on  and say, ‘We went on the road to a division rival’s home, you beat them twice and oh by the way, you have now played the Giants twice and you have punted two times.”
Craig Hoffman
“Look around the league. Look what happened to Baltimore last week. Wakcy things happen in division games, especially on the road and Washington avoided that. They handled business against a team they should have beaten. In the fourth quarter, New York never had the ball with a chance to take the lead.”
Olamide Zaccheaus on Dan Quinn
“He does a lot of things well. He does a good job of bringing the right people into the building. I feel like we have a great group of selfless individuals, who just want to play hard and win. He gives us the space to be our selves…He’s a straight shooter. What he says, he means.”
Logan Paulsen
“It was impressive today how all three backs played today, in their roles. And when you give the backs credit you have to give the offensive line credit. I thought those guys really threw it down today. They were really getting after it in pulls and protection. They did a great job, and you don’t get this kind of production from your backs unless the offensive line is playing physical.”

What everyone said after the Commanders’ Week 5 win vs. Browns

What everyone said after the Commanders’ win over the Browns.

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders easily defeated the Cleveland Browns, 34-13, to improve to 4-1. Here is a collection of postgame quotes from players, former players/analysts, and coaches.

“I was pleased to see the big guys inside in the run game to stay square and plan blocks. And what it does is it creates advantages, then when you have to call a third down, we have some longer ones. That was a big deal. And this is a quarterback that has mobility, can get outside the pocket, and they present their own challenge when the second play begins. So, it was really cool to see them finishing on that.”  Dan Quinn on the play of the DL

“This style of winning is unusual. They are winning in this demonstrative way. They are putting an exclamation point on every single game…it’s great to see them stack big wins, forceful wins, declarative wins. And I think that is what makes this so special.”  Logan Paulsen

“Had they gotten one more score (but they obviously shut things down with 12 minutes to go) had they gotten to 35 points, it would have been the first time since 1983 this franchise scored 35 points three games in a row. That is the rare air they are existing in.” Craig Hoffman

“I thought quite honestly, it was a grimy start for the offense. It didn’t go [well.] And I had told him (Jayden) inside, sometimes you learn as much from that start as you do from the 27-for-29 [passing] because different ways. But at the end what I can tell you is, he processes quickly.”  Dan Quinn on the offense’s slow start

“Yeah, and we knew there’d be some spaces, and I thought [WR] Dyami [Brown] especially would have some chances to run through some ones to go. And I felt his speed, his energy down the field, so to score at the end of the half and get on top of somebody and play in man-to-man, those are the times where you say you have to win in man-to-man.” Dan Quinn on Receivers filling in for Noah Brown

“On the first game, the narrative was too many runs and this. So yeah, he knew that but now that you’re going into finding different ways to do that, when to get out of bounds, when to slide, when to remain a passer to take your shots. And now the defenders can no longer come up, you’ve got to stay back in coverage because now there’s certainly a dual threat.” Dan Quinn

“I mean, no, not at all. I mean salute to the fans. I appreciate them but I haven’t even really paid attention to that but I love that the fans came out to show support.”  Jayden Daniels, on more fans wearing his No. 5.

“I ran out of bounds the play before and then kind of saw some of the defense, I had seen they were playing man coverage and I was turning back around and I said man let’s take a shot to [Offensive Coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] and he called the play and we did it.” Daniels on the Dyami Brown touchdown reception.

“Honestly, I’m just excited for those guys. For them to have this feeling. It’s an exciting time to get back and go to work and we’re on to the next week now.”  Daniels, on hearing vets saying this team is different

“Shout out to the defense. They played a hell of a game. Gave us an opportunities, even when we weren’t clicking at first to get back on the field and get back into a rhythm. Without them we would not be in this position today.” Jayden Daniels praises the defense

“It’s a long game you have to keep battling…Go out there and stay the course, don’t get too high or too low, everything’s going to work out.”  Daniels, on not scoring the first two possessions.

“We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard, take accountability. It just says that we’re going to fight. We’re going to be able to battle through adversity no matter wins or losses. We’re not going to give up or anything like that.” Jayden Daniels on the win

“There’s plays you want back but that doesn’t mean anything about last possession you can’t really dwell on that. You have a whole series of them to focus on.” Jayden Daniels regarding a tough play

“I mean honestly a lot of fun. I love playing football and it makes it even better when you’re winning football games but regardless I’m just blessed to go out there and be able to play football.” Daniels on this being fun.

“Yeah, he’s playing with a lot of confidence and making plays, being very professional and doing whatever he needs to do to help his team win and you have to give him props for that.”  Deshaun Watson on Jayden Daniels.

Watch: Commanders’ broadcast team goes wild over McLaurin’s game-clinching touchdown

Commanders’ radio booth couldn’t believe what they was seeing.

Monday night was a big night for the Washington Commanders. In their first year under new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders picked up a massive win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was phenomenal, completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 39 yards and another score. Despite how well Daniels played, and he was virtually perfect, the game was still in doubt late.

But Daniels ended all that uncertainly with his 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Facing a third-and-7 from the 27-yard line with 2:10 remaining, Daniels faced heavy pressure from the Bengals and threw a strike to McLaurin to put the Commanders up 12 points, essentially ending any chance of a Cincinnati comeback.

If you think fans were excited, you should’ve seen Washington’s radio broadcast team. Play-by-play man Bram Weinstein, who grew up a fan of the franchise, and former tight end Logan Paulsen were on the call and couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Check it out:

https:/twitter.com/BIG100Radio/status/1838998270695071917

Weinstein and Paulsen lost their minds and celebrated in the moment. This was yet another excellent visual from Monday’s win.

 

What everyone said after the Commanders’ Week 2 win vs. Giants

A collection of postgame quotes after the Commanders’ win over the Giants.

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders defeated the New York Giants 21-18 on Austin Seibert’s game-winning field goal as time expired.

Here are some selected postgame quotes regarding the Commanders’ win.

“I think you got to feel very, very strong about today’s performance by the Washington Commanders offensively, with the caveat that they kicked seven field goals, and some of those need to be touchdowns.”  Logan Paulsen

“There is not a lot of pass rush happening right now. Whether it is the guys in the middle who are getting paid a lot of money or these edge guys. Is that as much of a problem as it feels like it is, and then what do they do about it?”  Craig Hoffman

“Washington worked so much on the red zone throughout camp. But, man, it has not yet paid off, to put it mildly. Too many mistakes/penalties each trip.”  John Keim

Austin Seibert, in a postgame interview, said the Commanders are “the best work environment you can imagine.”  Wow, did we ever hear that during the Dan Snyder era (1999-2023)?

“We did a great job competing to the end…we communicated much better this week. Everybody was feeding off of each other.”  Mike Sainristil

“That’s what you live for…”  Jayden Daniels on the final game-winning drive.

Benjamin St-Juste, on the forced fumble, said he “lost his contain and knew he had to hustle from behind.” This was a huge turnover.

“We’re still undecided,” and will keep looking to compete.” said head coach Dan Quinn on the secondary.

“Everyone came out and played hard. You know guys competed their a** off.” Brandon Coleman on his first NFL win.

“We got a win; that is all that matters. Doesn’t matter how you do it. Austin Seibert, Way to go, brother. We needed to get a drive. They got that drive, and he (Seibert) knocked it down the middle.”  Brian Mitchell

“Who would have thought that we would be saying we actually won a game without scoring a touchdown. It’s great to see everybody come together and go out there. We got a good win.”  Santana Moss

 

Logan Paulsen responds to Commanders trading Jahan Dotson

The former Washington TE offers some excellent insight into the trade.

Logan Paulsen is level-headed, reasonable, and really attempts to be fair when evaluating Commanders’ personnel, coaching, and management.

So, what did the former Redskins tight end have to say upon learning the Commanders had traded Jahan Dotson?

Paulsen chatted with Craig Hoffman (The Team 980) an hour following the trade. Here are some selected quotes from Paulsen.

“I wasn’t really surprised. I think a lot of people are surprised when I say that.”

“I like Jahan as a person. I like some of the stuff he does as a receiver. Obviously, I was very high on him coming out in the draft. However, when you watch him, compared to the rest of the receivers in the room, there just seems to be a lack of urgency at times.”

“When you look at his production through practice and through the games, is he really offering that much more than a guy like Luke McCaffrey, who you brought in? When you talk about Luke McCaffrey, one thing you will never say about him is that he’s not urgent. He is one of the most urgent and deliberate players I think I’ve seen as a rookie.”

“This is just my opinion, I haven’t talked to anybody in the building about this specifically. But it appeared to me that Jahan was not engaging with the new culture, the way the other players we just mentioned are and have done (Jamin Davis, Emmanuel Forbes, Phidarian Mathis, McCaffrey).”

“This is a tough thing because I think we all have become fans of Jahan. We all wanted to see him succeed. I was really high on him coming out. But I do think in terms of watching practice and watching the games, it didn’t seem like it was working out for whatever reason.”

Here is the video of the entire discussion.

Commanders’ Brandon Coleman impressing former NFL player

“At a bare minimum, they definitely have a guy that can play football at a high level for this organization.”

The Commanders having concluded their seventh day of training camp practices, former Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen is impressed.

Paulsen appeared on the “Chris Russell Show” on Thursday, with Lynell Willingham filling in for Russell.

Willingham asked Paulsen if he was speaking in hyperbole if he thinks the Commanders may have already found their left tackle in Brandon Coleman.

“When he was coming out (of the draft), I had him as a guard,” began Paulsen. “He has good length, good feet, athleticism and good balance.”

Paulsen doesn’t want to be premature in assessing Coleman. “This may be the guy, but I am going to hold my judgment until they get through the preseason game and joint practices (Jets). I have been very positively encouraged with his progression and with his confidence.”

He continued, stating Coleman, in team periods, has locked some guys up impressively and, of course, also had some tough moments. “I think all the foundational elements for him are there. That is something that is very encouraging. When does this click for him? Does it click next week? The first week of the season?”

“But I do think, at a bare minimum, they definitely have a guy that can play football at a high level for this organization, whether that is at left/right tackle or guard. He is a ball player; it’s about when it clicks for him, and if it clicks fast enough for him that he can be your left tackle.”

General manager Adam Peters was criticized for not selecting an offensive tackle until pick number 67 when he selected Coleman out of TCU.

However, Paulsen certainly feels like Coleman is tracking in a good direction already, only seven days into training camp.

Who are the best offensive coordinators in the NFC East?

The former Washington tight end analyzes all four of the NFC East’s offensive coordinators.

How would you rank the NFC East offensive coordinators?

Former Washington tight end and current analyst Logan Paulsen provided his thoughts on this to Craig Hoffman on the most recent episode of the “Take Command” podcast.

Here are a few select quotes from Paulsen regarding each of the four offensive coordinators in the NFC East.

Mike Kafka, NY Giants

“I look at what he did last year and 2022. He consistently, week after week, makes chicken salad out of chicken s–t.”

“That O-Line is in tatters and they find ways to create a good protection plan, a good run scheme, good explosive plays…I wish he had better offensive personnel to work with…He does more with less.”

Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

“Each and every week, they do a great job of getting CeeDee Lamb touches, finding ways to be explosive.”

“They have the best quarterback in the division…All of these coaches are elevated by the personnel around them….This is good stuff, you are finding ways to elevate, put the defense in conflict, and for me, Kafka and Schottenheimer are up in that next tier.”

Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders

“I like the way he is trying to find matchups, find touches, his offensive philosophy. It’s not what I would do, but I understand it, and I think it is good.”

Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles

“I’m a little down on Moore at the moment. His offense seems like it is so reliant on us being better than you…They have one of the best O-Lines in football, even though they are kinda re-tooling.”

 

 

 

Commanders should sit Drake Maye for a least a year

If the Commanders draft Drake Maye, should he sit for one season?

Thursday, Logan Paulsen said he strongly feels the Commanders should draft North Carolina QB Drake Maye if they keep the second overall selection in April’s NFL draft.

Should the Commanders start Maye at quarterback in 2024?

If not, would they start Sam Howell? Or might they start another veteran?

Friday, on the “Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky offered his thoughts on Drake Maye starting in 2024.

“I think Drake Maye has to get the Jordan Love treatment. You have to sit Drake Maye for at least a year or two. Orlovsky recalled Tar Heel coach Mack Brown telling him, “Mechanically, Maye is so raw.”

Orlovsky continued, “If you sit him for at least a year, you have a chance to have a really good player. But you can’t play him early.”

Both Orlovsky and The Team 980 show host Craig Hoffman voiced on Friday that Maye really needs work on his feet. Hoffman went as far as to say that the UNC offensive line was not very good, and thus, Maye, unlike Jayden Daniels, couldn’t be as smooth due to the pass rush he was facing often last season.

Hoffman also feels that Love learned and improved his footwork, sitting, and learning from watching Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Hoffman suggested that Maye needs a veteran (other than Sam Howell) from whom Maye can learn footwork. He suggested Ryan Tannehill, Jacoby Brissett, and Tyrod Taylor.

If the Commanders hope to get the most out of Maye in 2025, perhaps the most effective method will be to spend the 2024 offseason and regular season being prepped daily, on reading defenses, mastering his footwork, while avoiding the fire of NFL pass rushes and blitz packages.

Rodgers, Love, and Patrick Mahomes are very good examples of current quarterbacks who have sat for at least a season and reaped the benefits.

Logan Paulsen: Are the Commanders taking Daniels or Maye at No. 2?

Logan Paulsen weighs in Drake Maye vs. Jayden Daniels. He likes both a lot, but has a preference.

The Chicago Bears take USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall; who does Logan Paulsen feel the Commanders take at No. 2?

Paulsen discussed the Commanders’ choice with Craig Hoffman, kicking off hour 3 Thursday of Hoffman’s The Team 980 show. As always, Paulsen provided much thought-provoking content in comparing/contrasting quarterbacks Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.

Drake Maye:

“For me, Drake Maye is a guy I was not very high on when we started the process.”

“When I watch the film, the throws Maye is making are to me, more NFL translatable. Go to YouTube and watch Drake Maye highlights 2023. You will see throws over the middle of the field, fades, comebacks, timing throws, off-schedule stuff.”

“He is a good athlete, a good leader. His interviews went well at the Combine.”

Jayden Daniels:

Jayden was so dynamic, the best player in college football. His ability to extend plays, create off-schedule, to run, his deep ball, is very intoxicating.”

“I like Jayden a lot, but the complexity of the offense (LSU) isn’t there.”

“There were opportunities with Daniels with what I would consider NFL-open throws, that he is turning down and running. I don’t want to knock him for throwing to good receivers or speaking to his skill set. But I do feel I have seen guys with that ability turn down NFL-open throws and never develop into NFL passers.”

“(When you watch his 2023 highlights), you see explosive runs, and you see box fades, some of the most beautiful box fades you have ever seen thrown in your life. But that is not viable consistently at the NFL level.”

Paulsen, Whom do the Commanders select at No. 2 overall?

“When you look at his big-time throw ratio, pressure to sack ratio, throws over the middle of the field, big-time throws over the middle of the field, all of those numbers favor Drake Maye pretty dramatically.”

“I understand they are different football players, and Jayden Daniels finds explosive plays outside of just throwing the football. He runs and that’s another way he beats blitzes.”

“The way Maye looks at the field, handles protections, it seems like an easier jump to say he projects better to the NFL level. I still like Jayden Daniels quite a bit. But I think Maye is a more NFL-ready product. His arm is not Justin Herbert but it is still pretty good.”

“I think that is the pick at No. 2, quite honestly.”

Logan Paulsen would consider coaching career under new Commanders’ coach Dan Quinn

Logan Paulsen will be a phenomenal coach.

“Dan is a guy that, to me, is a great person first and foremost,” said Logan Paulsen.

A guest on Friday’s “BMitch and Finlay” (106.7 the Fan), Paulsen has been down in Mobile, Al., on assignment, watching players’ workouts for the Senior Bowl.

The former Washington tight end (2010-14) didn’t beat around the bush. He loves new Commanders coach Dan Quinn, and when he is coaching high school football, it is the passion and energy of Dan Quinn that Paulsen tries to emulate and be for his own players.

Brian Mitchell, after hearing much of the praise for Quinn, inquired if Paulsen himself might be involved with Quinn in the 2024 season. “We’ll see. I am going to give Dan a call probably later today and tell him congratulations, have a chat and see what happens. I am not trying to push that agenda right now.”

Then Finlay asked directly, “Dude, seriously, would you take a QC (Quality Control) job?

Paulsen admitted he had a chance to do that in Miami with Mike McDaniel but did not venture in that direction. “Being that it is close to home, being that it is Dan Quinn, hopefully, it shows the regard I hold him in. It is something I would definitely consider, yes.”

Continuing his praise of Quinn, Paulsen declared, “He is a guy that understands your value as a human being. He understands how to maximize you on the football field. He is a guy that makes it fun to come to work, and I can’t overstate how important that is.”

The former NFL tight end, who spent the 2018 NFL season playing for Quinn in Atlanta, expressed, “He just made it such a fun competitive environment every day. I was juiced to get out there on the practice field.”

“He created this player-led culture where players would keep other players after practice to work on drills, and I felt like that was all from him, from his energy.

Quinn is someone Paulsen still firmly believes is innovative, not simply a retread.

“One of the things I have always appreciated about Dan is he is always trying to make himself better. I think you can see that from his time in Seattle to Atlanta, to Dallas in how the defense changed, how the structure changed. I think he sees where football is going offensively and his defenses have changed accordingly.”