Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn spoke to the media ahead of Monday’s practice and was asked what he was looking for from the team’s first day in pads.
“Well, I think really the line of scrimmage is where the emphasis is,” Quinn said Monday. “One, I wanna make sure we’re doing it correctly. Our leverage of how we’re entering into a block or taking on a block, the pass rush. So, you hear, you know, coaches and others say about pad level, and so you can get into some bad habits and lose leverage if you’re not using your shoulders and your body to be in those spots.”
Quinn again met with the media on Tuesday for his daily press briefing. What players stood out from the first day in pads?
Offensively, it was fourth-year tight end John Bates. Quinn was impressed with Bates’ blocking.
“John Bates, just from a blocking standpoint, the physicality, what I think he can do and how he did it, I thought for the first day made some real strides,” Quinn said.
Here’s Quinn coaching up Bates during Tuesday’s practice.
Dan Quinn coaching up John Bates pic.twitter.com/hwh6A6YEzC
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Defensively, two players who stood out were defensive end Dorance Armstrong and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.
Quinn praised Allen and how he uses his hands and offered this on the eighth-year pro:
“(ESPN’s) John (Keim), you’ve probably heard this: Player in shorts, he looks good, well, good news, Jon Allen, he looks better in pads,” Quinn said.
Quinn also praised rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil and wide receiver Kazmeir Allen in the return game and second-year safety Quan Martin for his tackling ability.