Everything Dan Quinn Said After Commanders’ Loss to Rams

There are still nine games left. Do you feel like you’re running out of time to turn this around?

“Yeah, I think it speaks to the importance of a division leader right away. And so it’s a difficult locker room. We got to turn the page quickly to get to that because we talked earlier, ‘OK, this is where we are,’ but we also know, ‘Man, we have to play at our best.’”

How difficult was that spot for Matt Gulbin to come into? How well has he practiced to earn the backup spot, and is Nick Allegretti still an option at center?

“In that moment, I would have felt comfortable with Nick as well, but I thought, let’s give the guy who’s got the most reps,” Quinn said. “That was the decision behind it. It’s difficult, but … this is part of the gig.”

Brandon Coleman had a couple of penalties again. In the middle of a game, how do you decide when to put somebody else in if a player is struggling?

“Yes. And I want to go back to look. We’ve put a lot of work … what could change to get some of these false starts off. So to have still two remain. I think Sam’s might have been a holding, right, on that one that was prior to the turnover. We’ve made adjustments on how many cadences, what types and that. So I just want to see if it’s a product of too much anticipation against a good rusher. And that’s different to me than a lack of focus. That makes sense, Dave. I’ll give you a better answer once I have a chance to look at him.”

Just to be clear on Allegretti, he’s healthy?

“Yes. Yeah, yeah. We’ve just been working him more at guard and Matt at center. And, you know, if we have to change, we’ll see what next week looks like as well.”

Going back to the last two plays, you mentioned you didn’t like the execution. Was the final play called that way, or was it a check Jayden Daniels made based on what he saw?

“Yeah, it has to be one that you get to a second play, and it’s the right adjustment to make it and going. So how long do you wait? You get the full protection and try to throw a Hail Mary, because it’s hard to, on a Hail Mary, get everybody scrambling and buy time when they’re bringing everyone. So that’s the juxtapose of, like, get to a max protection, buy time, or that’s another alternative play. The one before it was really the one I wanted to see more execution when there was maybe eight seconds at that point. There’s just two plays remaining in the game, and you want to give yourself a chance.”

Did that call have to do with the Rams keeping three defenders across the goal line on the previous play and expecting to see that again?

“I think just more tape history, too, of what could be and what they’ve done.”

You were shorthanded at receiver , and it looked like Stefon Diggs played less in the first half while you used a lot of 12 and 13 personnel. Was that part of the plan?

“No. No, it wasn’t any further design than another.”

Van Jefferson went from the practice squad and having no catches coming in to being one of your leading receivers, especially in the first half. How much of that did you anticipate?

“Yeah, I wouldn’t say it was anticipated, Ben, but I would say this is somebody that is a respected player around here. And I can remember after camp having a hard conversation and him coming back on a practice squad when we had a very healthy wide receiver room, knowing it would take a leap of faith to still come, knowing that there were six players already on the active. And so putting the trust into it to put the work in. And here he is getting a chance. And so to score early and came back, you know, getting banged up, and made another catch later.”

Matthew Stafford had about 33 passing yards in the first quarter, and the Rams didn’t convert any of their first nine third downs. What went well early, and what changed?

“I was pleased. I was pleased overall on third down, to be honest with you. I’d like to go back and look to see the fourth downs, of why. I’ve seen us play with good discipline on a lot of the third downs, and they put a lot of work into that. And so sometimes it can be easier to go to one person, one location. But the long one at the end, I think it was a big conversion in the fourth, that was the one, man, we’d certainly like to have back. So they’re gaining on some things. I like that we got the ball again. And so that might be five or six games in a row. So I’m feeling some of that. It was good to see that take place, and we’ll need more of that for sure.”

How would you evaluate the offensive line’s performance?

“I’d rather give you a better answer tomorrow. There’s a lot to go in and consider and see. What matchups did we chip? Where’d we help? What was in the run game? Why did some go early and some not? I don’t want to just cast out and say where I think it is, but I’ll certainly look at it tonight and watch it. And then, like I said, we’ll make any adjustments that we need to as we head into tomorrow because, you know, 72 hours, back on the plane and go get ready again.”

What did you think of Myles Garrett’s performance in his first game back from injury?

“Yeah, I was expecting him to play well. That’s usually what you see with him. He’s got unique get-off, JP, and leverage to go. So he looked like a guy who hadn’t been out. That’s what I saw. So, like I said, I want to look at our tape and see where they go and how they deployed him, but not surprised to see him perform well. We see that pretty regularly.”

Stopping Puka Nacua was a major focal point for the defense coming into the game. Was there anything else you could do with a guy like that?

“You can. And I do like their screen package. Sean’s had a good one. Running backs, tight ends, they tried the tight end one, the running backs to go. So there’ll be some that we’ll want back when we call, like, a cloud to a certain player. Man-to-man’s, it’s harder unless you’re doubling someone. But in the zones, it can be challenging due to Matthew’s ability to deliver the ball to the right location. And so that can be true in zone where, if the quarterback knows right where to go, that’s hard. But still, 150 is still 150, Liam.”

On that fourth down midway through the fourth quarter when you took a delay of game, did you have a play called there?

"Yes, we did."

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