Head Coach Dan Quinn

Opening Statement:

"It is, yeah, cool to be here with you guys today. As we're entering into day two of minicamp. This is, it's really coach's time in some ways, and I'll explain that as the systems on all three phases. Can the players have a deeper understanding of that? And I thought [Offensive Coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] and [Defensive Coordinator] Joe [Whitt Jr.] and [Special Teams Coordinator] Larry [Izzo], they have really put it in, in that space. And the other group is the year two players assisting the first-year players into it, whether it's a first year as a free agent joining the team or first year as a rookie and that's such an important thing. So, that's really where I feel like in the offseason, this is the coach's time. They've got to get these systems in place so the guys can really do their thing. And if we can isolate the skill, then there's these next 40 days that'll be coming up for the players to really work those. You'll also see some high school coaches here today, quite a few over a hundred which is awesome. And they play such an important role in the lives of the kids that they are coaching and that was certainly impactful in my life, and I know that they're having that impact now. So, with all that said, let's get rocking with you guys and begin."
* On if the defensive line is doing more than what they previously had been and on if that can translate to stopping the run:*
"Yes, on both. Yes, they're doing more as a group together and I really lean on Joe [Whitt] on that. I thought he's one that's also thrown a great offseason. What things can we incorporate? How do we add certain things? And some of that comes from doing more time together. So, when you're starting last year in a first OTA's and where you're going and how you're doing. And so, when you have being together for a whole calendar year, that's a big deal. And so, for so many of these coaches to be back here, wanting to elevate ourselves to see can we take it further to help the players take it further, that was one of my offseason goals. As a staff, can we collectively help one another take it up a notch and a number of them have. So yes, it's by design that they spent more time together and yes, usually the things that you emphasize during that time you get to see it come to fruition."

On having players entering the final year of their contract:
"You know what, to me everything's custom and sometimes having the security can be just the thing the person needs. Sometimes it's the carrot that can be just something that they need. So, I think it's just customized to where we're at. The fun part about our group is that they're really connected and stay tight together. And so, there's so much fun knowing that the better we play, more opportunities are for everyone. And so, they have a very good understanding of that."

On Assistant Quarterbacks Coach David Blough returning for a second year and on if his responsibilities will change:
"Yeah, no, we changed some responsibilities. And the purpose behind them was to get more development chances. And so, he spoke in front of the team today, so that's one of those things of, what are the more responsibilities that are going in? We did a presentation on the ball and so it was good to see [Defensive Backs Coach] Tom Dontell and him in conjunction presented today. So yes, there's more responsibility and with that it's also like, 'Hey, we care about your development as a coach and we're going to work really hard to help develop you, much like we are with the players.' And so, that was by design."

On continuing to build the culture in the building:
"Some things are different. Sometimes as a coach you also need to remind yourself, you don't have to say this differently. Repetition doesn't spoil the prayer. You can sometimes say the same thing about the ball or tackling and those are things that I don't have to have a new way to say that. What's nice here is seeing the other leaders develop here. And so, that's to me where I take great pride in to see other players into this spot where they're elevating one another. And if it only had to come from me, I think you're right where you would have to really think, how do I say this different? But when it's also coming from the next person, the next person, they'll say it in their own way. So, message isn't just what we say, it's also how we live and how we act and how we treat one another. And so, the messaging is really how we live, and we show examples but there's some things that we highlight that are all the time things. And a lot of them are the skill work at practice and we work tackling a lot in breaking tackles and leverage and disguises on defense and tempo on offense. And so, those things I don't need to say it in a different way, but I want to make sure it's always emphasized."

On players who have taken a leadership role:
"I think there's quite a few. And it'll be the easy ones where some guys who've already had leadership things like a [QB] Marcus [Mariota], but also it's [S] Percy [Butler]. I see it in some of the second-year players that we were talking about yesterday. I thought in [LB] Jordan Magee, in terms of the way that he's put in so much work, [TE] Ben Sinnott is one I thought had just a fantastic offseason and I'm seeing that come to fruition in this timeframe that he's been going. So, seeing different guys into different spaces, it's been good. But there's quite a few actually, and it's not all in the same way. Sometimes it might be out in the field, somebody else might be in the meeting room, somebody else might be down in the weight room and with the guys in their training, so different voices. And some new players that's made an impact on me, [DE] Deatrich Wise and [CB] Jonathan Jones. Just such a good standard about how they do things. So, it's cool to find different guys."

On what S Jeremy Reaves has meant to the team and the special teams unit:
"Yeah, that honestly makes me smile. This is a true Commander, one of our heavy hitters and an absolute all around BMF, in every way. It's no surprise he was elected one of the captains when the postseason began but he affects all sides of the ball. And that's kind of the best part about our team. It's not like, 'Hey, I'm just over here with the defense' or 'just on the special teams.' We're one team and I love that and Jeremy represents that about as strongly as anybody could. Now the performance side, man you feel him and the speed and the tackling and the toughness and we really value what he brings to us on and off the field. So, yeah when that came out, man, that's an absolute really cool moment for us."

*On bringing outside coaches as guests to practice: *"Yeah, I think it's really important for our game, number one. Off the field there's such an impact that high school coaches have. It's way bigger than football and I recognize that because that's true in high school, it's also true in college. And so, I wanted them to know how important that role is and how much I respect it of what they do. Then from the football side, I want them to see the techniques and see things that we are teaching and if we can do that and share that with them and help their programs become better, man that's paying it forward. And so, I'm really pumped there's over a hundred coaches here today and some flag coaches as well. And so, to have that kind of turnout quickly that's really cool."

On RB Brian Robinson Jr.'s offseason and on what he means to the team:
"Yeah, he looks, number one, really healthy. There was a cut, specifically yesterday, on a run where he was able to cut plant and downhill as fast as you could see. And those are the things that I've seen. We got him back on the return game as well on the kickoff side. So, you feel his urgency and intensity for it, but he's really thrown a good offseason, he really has."

On T Laremy Tunsil being here:
"Yeah, and I think most of the time, some of the very best leaders are excellent communicators and I felt that way with LT [Tunsil] right from the beginning. I got a chance to meet his family and what were the things in his background that made him unique and finding out about him. Then also on the football side, what are the things that he's excellent at? What are the things he wants to work on? And so, as he goes through an offseason, there's such a specific plan for, 'This is what I want to do during this time to get ready.' And having that kind of process of winning, I noticed that right away."

On what the team's outreach to the community means to him:
"Number one, I want them to know what they're doing really matters and we see the work that they're doing. So, if this is one way that we can pay it forward to the coaches to let them know a practice schedule, a way you set up something in terms of a drill. How do you teach our game really safely? And if we can do that better and it help them establish that in their schools and in their own communities, I think it just helps grow everything and all of us have that responsibility and we take that responsibility seriously. So, had a huge impact on my life growing up and for us to be able to have a chance to get back into that and pour into them, man, it's just as good as it can get because you know it's a way for them to make an impact."

On the NFL allowing players to participate in the 2028 Olympics and on how he would feel about one of his players participating:
"Yeah, good question. It's cool, right, that flag football is going as a sport and the process of putting a team together, I'm not sure what that looks like just yet, but I think it's really important that it goes well and they find the right thing. It's not the same exact game that they play, but there are a lot of really good candidates, so it'll be interesting as we get closer of who wants to do it and how they go about the selection process of the first flag football team. So, I think it'll be cool for sure, but the way they're going to go about it, I don't know but yeah, for sure I'll be watching."
* On areas he sees the coaching staff taking a step forward:*
"There's efficiency element for sure, okay, this, this, this. But what also happens is you're more open to suggest to receive feedback. And as coaches that's important when we're studying something different, have we thought about this? Can we go into it that way? When you do a first-time installation of your systems, it really stems from the coordinators, this is what's it's going to be. Then as you get into years two and beyond, now you have a chance to study some other things. Would this be something we'd add? Would it not be? Where last year we didn't really get a chance to do that. We were putting in, this is from a philosophical standpoint how we want to play. And so, now you're able to, 'We practiced it, we didn't call it a lot, let's take it out. This one we should have called more, let's give it more time.' So, you're able to put the puzzle together a little bit better. How to feature the guys better and the communication amongst the staff, offense to defense, how they share ideas across the hall. Those are things that probably don't fully develop until you're together a year and you've been through the good times, the tough days, and then you're able to share more information. So, that was one of our goals going into the offseason. Could we elevate ourselves to help the players and to a man, these coaches have really nailed that piece and so that's why we're excited for the camp, this is kind of the culmination of that. And then our times together are intense, and we'll need the break too before we come back. Much like the players do, when we're here it's kind of go go and you're hitting it hard and so we'll need that time to recharge and get ready as well."