Dolphins - 13, Commanders - 6
DAN QUINN: A number of the players absolutely emptied the tank, and here in the locker room you could see guys who were gassed and they were also pissed because they really got better.
We had two opportunities to come do that at the practice and at the game, and I think we absolutely did that. It's not going to show that, you know, in the win column today but you do learn and you get better in these moments. And knowing that as the games come down to the end, there's value in that.
So I love the guys, how tough they are, how hard they played for one another. And like I said, the end was an absolute blast just to be on the sideline and putting guys in different spots who hadn't been there. And, you know, Chig (phonetic) inside at nickel and Whiteside at safety and McCaffrey punt returning, all the things you wanted to see the guys in their most competitive element, that's what tonight was.
So it was just a really good four days for us to find out a lot about our team. Hats off to Mike and their team for being great hosts in the practice and the game -- we knew it would be a good fight and it was.
Q. These guys are trying to get their name called and (indiscernible) their spot. It was down to the final drive. You said you enjoyed that. What did you see out of your guys? Your guys were trying to make --
DAN QUINN: Yeah, what I saw defensively, I really felt the running and the hitting coming to life. Some good third down stops, a stop after a turnover. So I felt that part more than anything defensively, of coming to life.
On the offensive side I thought what a cool moment for Trace to come after no practice -- I said keep that to yourself, that you can play without practicing -- but to battle and be right in it at the end. It was fun going through it.
We were in four downs, we're going for two. We had a clear vision of what it was going to look like.
I want us to feel really comfortable in those moments. You've heard us talk about situations a lot. And obviously the more we practice them, the better we're going to get at those things. I want it to feel normal for us to be in those spots.
Q. When Trace had the 13-yard run, on the sidelines, we can guess what the conversation was.
DAN QUINN: Double secret probation he is on. But for him I thought he had another real good outing, honestly. I don't know passing-wise, what it was, but the accuracy, the decision-making of where to go, he really is a unique competitor. So, but, yes, he was definitely in trouble again with the head coach.
Q. Top Gun (indiscernible) Animal House?
DAN QUINN: That's exactly right. He does not have a 0.0, I'll absolutely assure you. Did that coming out on the TV? I was telling him to slide or get down?
Q. Is that an emphasis for you guys?
DAN QUINN: No, I think that's how it happened. I think early on we had a double move called to block up. Sometimes they're there on the shot, sometimes they're not, depending on what the coverage is. They've got a good aggressive defensive on some blitzes and that can be a factor when you're getting the zero blitz or all-out, you want to get the ball out quickly.
So it was probably more a product of what the defense was doing and how to get rid of the ball and move it that way.
Q. Where are you guys at with the (inaudible) situation?
DAN QUINN: That's certainly not completed. And so for us hitting it at 2-for-4, I believe is what we came out for, we've got work to do. We've got practice next week. We'll see where it takes us.
But I was pleased to see Riley come back. He had an early miss. I said, man, we'll get a lot more chances to go for it. And to see a player come back in that spot when you go through adverse time, hey, clear the mechanism. Let's go back in. You know the process and what to do. That's all I explained to him -- get right back to it because he had a fantastic day Thursday.
I think you guys were there who were at practice. I think he was 6-for-6, maybe three of them over 50. In pregame I think hit over 60 yards today. So he was ready. So those are hard when you don't nail the performances when you really feel ready. So we've got work to do there.
Q. (Indiscernible) talked about the takeaways (indiscernible) of the preseason. (Indiscernible) of the preseason. Are you feeling better about that practice bearing fruit?
DAN QUINN: I'm feeling better -- yes, I answered too quickly. We've got a lot of work to do in that spot just to make it part of what we do. Like most things, habits aren't created in one game or one preseason game or one time. It's over and over of us doing it.
And the tackling, the takeaways, breaking tackles, making explosive plays those are just kind of pillars of our program and how we're going to get down. So that's going to be an emphasis from here all the way through.
The thing I was pleased about tonight was to really see -- I felt speed and tackling and aggressive style of play. That's what I want you and our fans, anybody who watched us play, these guys absolutely bring it.
Q. How did you feel about the third running back?
DAN QUINN: I saw B-Rob early, I thought he ran heavy and strong -- and it wasn't a lot of carries, but I have a very good sense for what he is. He's hard to tackle. So for the other players on their side.
As it goes into third and fourth running back and on down, you're trying to find a couple of different styles of players. I thought Wiley had some ones to go.
We're trying to find out guys on special teams. I thought Jeremy has been consistent in doing what we're doing.
So the next couple of weeks will bring that out. That's what games like this and special teams moments are for. But as far as like a completion for it, we're not there yet.
Q. How important is it for you -- some coaches might not even talk to a guy who had an error, (indiscernible) had a fumble, saw on you the broadcast. You were right there. The same thing, how important is it for you to make sure they know that you have their backs?
DAN QUINN: I think belief, you know, is a big deal for a player. And sometimes not talking to somebody can show you don't have belief and by ignoring somebody or just not showing them that.
And so I think the best of the best players can have a lot of confidence and are still going to have some times where it fails and doesn't go good. And so in those moments, you want to remind them, this is how to create it and correct it because if you keep hanging onto that to the next play or the next down, it can certainly affect you.
So it was just really about resetting and making sure, hey, this is the next moment, next time and go for it.
But at the end those are the ones that keep you up at night as a ball player and as a coach. We want to make sure we can get them corrected and find out why a missed kick happen or is my approach too close to the ball or how did it get knocked out. Sometimes you have to give it to the credit to the other guys. I didn't see the one on Kaz but I know the competitors are right.
Q. Did anybody stand out (indiscernible) --
DAN QUINN: I know that's a narrative in here but it's not as much as me. I want to be clear on that. I am glad you asked it. We're trying to feature all the things players can do. And it's easier because Terry's Terry and clear cut to where it goes.
A number of the other guys have brought some nice attributes to the team. Like I love Jahan taking deep routes in breakers, and I think you saw that in practice the other day. And I felt the army getting on top of people and keeping strong. I've seen O.Z. working the slot, aggressive hands.
By that position and finding what players can do, that's our job to put them into that spot. But I don't see it as one person has to be in this space.
I just want the guys to be absolutely flying and at their best and competing and playing with urgency. It's not about a number at a position, it's really about just the urgency, competitiveness, contested catches, route running, getting away from press coverage, beating man-to-man, those are all the things I look for.
But it doesn't have to be a 1, 2, 3; it just has to be really consistent. And I like the group. They're fighting hard. I couldn't think of a better guy to work with than Bobby to help develop them. And we're going to keep finding the things that they can do and try to hopefully feature them in those best ways.
Q. (Question about progress).
DAN QUINN: I think that was a big step. When you put that much work in, it's nice to be rewarded for that. He's really put in a lot of work with Ryan and Darryl to get that part of his game right.
And going into the game, we had some injuries at linebacker. And so would we put him back there -- I said I want to see him down on the line of scrimmage again. He's getting close to what we want to see, even before the sack he did a nice job on the keeper that was a rollout and you just felt his speed.
So it was exciting to see all the players get that excited for him. You can generally see when the sideline erupts for somebody, what their teammates think about them. And I think they're recognizing how hard Jamin is putting the work in for it. So it's good to see him rewarded for it.
Q. (Inaudible)?
DAN QUINN: No, I wouldn't read it yet. What I would read is that it was awesome. I thought they put some routes on the ground and that were good kicks, and I think that could be some of the things, if some kickers are capable of that, it makes it tough return, because you could actually take off when the ball hits the ground as opposed to waiting.
So there's some strategy to go through that. But, no, we're still digging for it. And I have lots of confidence in Jamison and his return on the punt side. Getting some other guys some work. You saw Kaz and Luke and some others back there, so that was a part of it.
Q. (Inaudible)?
DAN QUINN: We'll talk through all the stuff Monday when we get back. We've got a lot of players, 90 of them. So I'm not going to say one will play and 98 won't or something like that. But it will be awesome topic for Monday.
Q. (Indiscernible) said sometimes people jump on the negative plays with him. Have you talked with him about that at all?
DAN QUINN: Yes.
Q. And how to keep his face looking forward?
DAN QUINN: I have.
Q. What are those conversations like?
DAN QUINN: I think there's a narrative that can happen for any ball player outside the building versus inside the building. And I wanted to make sure he was aware of the decisions that we'll make, Adam and I, are ones that come from inside the building, not from outside.
I love the way he's competing at practice. I thought he had a really physical play down in the red zone in practice, and so I illustrated that to him on Thursday night to say I know he's been under the fire a little bit. But competitive plays like that go a long way. And so that's where I was at.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports