HC Dan Quinn Previews Cowboys vs. Commanders | Washington Commanders | The Gameplan | NFL

On this episode of the Gameplan, Head Coach Dan Quinn sits down with Logan Paulsen to talk this Cowboys vs. Commanders Christmas matchup. To conclude the show, they countdown to kickoff and discuss this Dallas matchup.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Welcome to the game plan. I'm Logan Pulsing here with
a man that needs no introduction, that's Coach Day and
Quinn and we were in the Big Bear AI Command
Center studio and coach Merry Christmas, Man.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Merry Christmas Man. It's a what a cool thing to
be playing on Christmas. I've done a few times, but
to be a standalone game that's a really big deal. Man,
to bring Christmas in all over the world. Like, that's
awesome it have you sa you've done it before?

Speaker 1 (00:37):
And like, how is it getting all the guys ready
to go on Christmas Day and the whole thing.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, I think like there's a cool element to that
that knowing that you know people are watching and uh,
you know for me growing up those days and the holidays,
whether it's Christmas or Thanksgiving and you know, seeing a
game and everybody's together and you're watching, So I know
that's going on. You know a lot of families and
a lot of homes, and so to get to be

(01:01):
the ones they are watching, I guess not lost on them.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
And I think it's awesome that we're playing a team
that we know really well. Yeah, big time rival Dallas Cowboys,
you know, the second matchup is always a little bit different,
and it's around Christmas, Like how you feel about the
ball game?

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, just going in division games are always a blast, man.
So we had four going into this, you know, right
in a row, Giants, Philly, Dallas and back to Philly,
and so I love the energy. You know that the
guys are brought in the first two parts of those
matchups one and one as we're sitting in that four
game tournament, but playing against Dallas, familiar opponent, how we
want to get down the important parts of the game.

(01:35):
And then having it here at home obviously that's a
big deal.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
And again like they kind of played you guys a
little bit differently than they had played before. Like how
much do you weigh that first game versus like what
they've been the last couple of weeks, Like balance that out.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, you have to look strengths and weaknesses. Where are
they and you know this just from playing there's a
couple of things that are going to be different. Yeh know,
both teams have some new wrinkles that maybe they didn't
show the first game or did something different off of
similar look. So it's part of the strategy that goes on.
I think it gets elevated in the division games.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Absolutely, And a guy that's been elevating the past couple
weeks is Bobby Wagner. Man like slowly ticking up that
tackle chart almost at two thousand, which is unbelievable. Yeah,
how has it been? What you I mean, you knew
him when he was this big, yes, and now how
does it see him now when he's on the verge
of that great milestone.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
It's really cool. And the reason why, man, is this
a person that puts in work. And I've always got
a special spot for a competitor like that that is
just never backing off logan and he just always sets
a high standard, always going after it. He's as tough
as they come, and so to be in that kind

(02:41):
of rare air of tackling, I think it's one of
the coolest things. And I'm certain he'll get it.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
I mean, he's he might get it this year, which
would be fantastic. Right, he's like fifteen away, so he's
been he's been playing us, and that's the only I
want to ask you. It seems like of last two
weeks he's just played better and more confident, and you know,
in games that like when the guy is leading that
way with that level of energy, it seems it gives
me chills just thinking about it, quite frankly to.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
See some of the big tackles he made and the
excitement and the enthusiasm that he comes up with. Here's
a big hit against the giants under down big stack
in this one. Just that kind of emotion that he
shows from the stoic person like it lifts everybody up.
And like I said, his square tackling ability, especially in
between you know, in the tackle box man, it's rare,

(03:28):
and uh yeah, we're all fortunate to get a chance
to coach him and learn from them. And so let's
go battle.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
Yeah, so obviously old guy Bobby Wagner and then some
young guys playing really well. Mikey Sandersol comes to mind,
has this dynamic play to start the game off. How
cool is it that you're like one of your starting
defensive players is making a play on teams for you.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, it's important and you know, if you play on defense,
ready to play on special teams. We knew how important
the ball was going to be in this game, and
so offensively from a ball security standpoint and defensively and
on teams ability to go take it. But I thought
I took the ball away. Yeah, you know, there's a
difference between a muffed punt this you had to go
take it away and another bruin had to fight for this.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Dude, Yeah, came, let's give him, Let's give him some bluff.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
It was one of the longest scrum that he had
it and wasn't giving it up, and so like even
at the end they were not pulling him off. He
was not giving that ball up.

Speaker 1 (04:22):
Well, it's funny. I was staying on the sideline and
I was like, he's got it. Obviously, it's one of
those things that takes so long, and like, well, who's
got it now?

Speaker 2 (04:28):
And so he was not backing off man, and so
like it was easily like a felt like a minute,
you know, just nope, not giving it up like guys
on top trying to roll off. Nope, not giving it up.
A lot of pride about how important it is, and
he was not going to back off for his team.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
That's fantastic. And then you know, Mike, he's a guy
that you know, obviously great play on teams, but I
think played outstanding on defense. Big tackle in a nice
Cover two past break up. Like, what have you seen
from him on the perimeter and maybe for fans at home, like,
how is it different from what he's been doing in
the slow Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
One of the things I've seen, I think the Cover
two ones and example, is how he's able to use
his vision from the outside. Now I can see routes,
I can see the quarterback, and so for him being
off some as opposed to playing download and I think
that's a big deal for him.

Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, absolutely, And it's just fun to watch him. And
he's got a big challenge this week with Dak Prescott,
who's I don't know. To me, he's playing like a
top five guy in the NFL, Like, how do you
get the guys ready to go and how do you
kind of try to disrupt a really fantastic player.

Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, the offense is absolutely ripping, you know, with Pickens
and c Yeah, Purpen and obviously Dak, you know at
the front of it. I think it would appear one
of his very best years in terms of throwing the
ball and the accuracy to go. And so it'll take
our best performance for sure.

Speaker 1 (05:41):
And you mentioned all the skill position guys they got,
like you know, Pickens just seems to kind of have
reached new level. What have you seen from him? And
like what makes him so dangerous?

Speaker 2 (05:49):
You know, I think you've seen like his route tree
grow as the season's gone. Where early in the season
CD was running some of the over routes you know,
has beaten you know, the Cover three match teams, and
then all of a sudden, now you saw Pickens do
it running through you know, Cover two to find some
spaces to get open. So it's been impressive, both of
them are. But now that there's more routes for him

(06:11):
that you see, it makes it considerably tougher.

Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, I bet and a guy that you know obviously
they have good receivers. We have good receivers, Terry. I
mean every time he's on the field just consistently shows up.
What have you seen from him? Again, like just his
ability to kind of make that explosive play, make that
big play when you need like that clutch gene. Yes,
how awesome is that be?

Speaker 2 (06:30):
That's a great way to say it, because he does
have that there's there's an explosive play to be made
and one you know, to go over the top. That's
to me, Terry yeah, and you know we'll need that again,
you know for certain versus Dallas to make those kind
of big plays and uh and getting the end zone
for sure, that's what's going to take in this game.
You know, I'm likely gonna be a three to three
game with guys like Terry and CD and Pickens and

(06:54):
Back and others. So it'll be a great battle.

Speaker 1 (06:56):
And the guy that I've really enjoyed watching the last
couple of weeks, and I'm gonna be a nerd here
coach is trailing Burks. Yes, not because the receiving stuff,
but because he seems to be throwing it down as
a blocker, which to me says like just shows his
passion for the team and passion for this opportunity. It's
got to be great to watch him every week. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:11):
The competitiveness, I think that's what stands out Logan, you
submit practice, he wants to return every punt you want,
but that that that speaks to you know who he
is and how he wants to compete in the blocking.
So his toughness with and without the ball, and if
you can do that and find your own marks, you know,
to make your impact. I think that's a that's a

(07:31):
really cool thing.

Speaker 1 (07:32):
Got a bunch of guys that benefited from not only
you know, Trailing's blocking, but the offensive line is the
running back group. And again you know Bill Crosskey Berrett
scores another touchdown, you know, kind of just giving us
a taste of how great he can be. How do
you feelt about his development? And you know, I guess
what is Anthony Lynn's role in his development?

Speaker 2 (07:49):
Yeah? I think the thing that you've seen, like how
much studying is going in if you you know, came
in Wednesday morning on their first day our Wednesday, like
who is already calling out the code words?

Speaker 1 (07:58):
Who is nice?

Speaker 2 (08:00):
And it was Bill. You know, it's like, this is
a guy that is putting in work and so other
people have come to trust him and know him. And
there's a guy that's doing the extra and wants to
demonstrate that. Dude.

Speaker 1 (08:12):
It's so fun to watch it. But it's so fun
to watch Chris Rodriguez too. Again they kind of compliment
each other, well, like there's this explosive player and then
a little bit more physical downhill and again his Chris's
story is so unique because it's up for practice, squad down,
back up, like it's got to be fun to root
for a guy like that.

Speaker 2 (08:27):
When you see somebody have an opportunity and they're just
not going to miss it. You know, that was him.
I'm going to be in the right shape, I'm going
to be in the right spot, and came to training camp,
he said, Okay, this is somebody that you can count on.
And so his ability to lift others is also really impactful.
So I couldn't imagine being a rookie and being a
better spot than Bill is with two veterans like Chris

(08:47):
and Jeremy just to constantly bring him and help develop him.
And I think that speaks a lot of who they are,
not just as ballplayers, but as teammates.

Speaker 1 (08:56):
And so for that running back spot, like you know,
what's the hardest thing for those young guys to pick up?
I know people say protection quite a bit.

Speaker 2 (09:02):
Is that the thing you I would say that, and
the case for Bill was taking what's there? So often
I can make this big play, I can make this
big play, and so like make sure press the gap,
then make the cut, and so take what's there. Sometimes
the three yard run, you know, that's the three yard run.
But if you're cutting back too early or not making
the right read. So don't press it, take what's there,

(09:25):
be aggressive and he's learned to do that for sure.

Speaker 1 (09:27):
And I can't wait to watch these guys run against
the Stalls defense. Obviously they've had some additions, kind of
big trades. Quentin Williams is there. Yes, what have you
seen from him? Again? He's kind of one of these
guys that kind of skates under the radar, but very
very talented football player.

Speaker 2 (09:37):
I think when you put him and said Digazua together
that can happen, you know from quinnin upfield pressure.

Speaker 1 (09:45):
I mean it was the same way right.

Speaker 2 (09:47):
Like he can penetrate, disrupt, and so the two of
them together have been a handful. In fact, he's Kenny
Clark and do some buy down and so when you
have those you add that to the group and definitely
a challenge for sure, and you know Quinn not being
there in the first game, but man, he's made his impact.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
Coach obviously Christmas Day, huge rivalry, Like what's the level
of emotion for you heading today's game.

Speaker 2 (10:20):
When the schedule came out and you saw that one
and you wanted to circle it, know, and that was
a standalone game and sort of know us in Dallas
on Christmas for this one to be seen you know,
all over and houses all over America all over the world,
Like what a cool honor man. And then to add
a division game into it where the stakes are raised

(10:42):
a little stronger, a little higher, of two teams that
like to battle one another, man, Like, it's one of
the coolest feelings.

Speaker 1 (10:48):
And so is there a managing of emotions in this
game for the guys, because I remember like the divisional
games for us were always crazy big and it was
almost like the coach I'd be like, hey, guys, you know,
like pick your spot here.

Speaker 2 (10:57):
And all of that goes around this one, like think
all the families are in town for that's right. So
all of that you have to manage and make sure
that everything's peaking, you know. So when it gets a
Thursday at one o'clock, man, we absolutely let it rip.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
Dude, I can't wait to watch a coach Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to everyone at home Christmas. I'm logan Paulson
Dan Quinn, and that's going to do it for today's show,
The Game Plan. Make sure to check us out next week.
This show was filmed at the Big Bear AI Command
Center Studio. Big Bear AI offers mission ready AI for
a rapidly evolving world, proudly protecting the Washington commanders and

(11:32):
its fans,