Scott Turner Presser: Alex Smith is very comfortable in this offense

Turner said Smith is very comfortable in the offense. The offense got some explosive plays starting with his third drive, and those add up as Washington tried to come back.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Turner on Alex Smith throwing for more yards (325) than he has in any other @WashingtonNFL
game: "When you hit chunk plays, those yards seem to add up."

Turner added that Smith showed a good comfort level in the offense.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Turner said Smith was able to go through his progressions better and make throws in the better conditions. Smith faced torrential rain against the Rams.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Scott Turner said that not long after @WashingtonNFL activated Alex Smith off the PUP list, it was evident that Smith could eventually make it all the way back. There was some rust, but that has gradually come off.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Turner obviously does not want to only have nine rushes in any game, but the circumstances Sunday (turnovers, playing from behind, penalties, etc.) forced them to rely heavily on the passing game. He added there were some run-pass options that ended up being passes.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Turner said Washington will need to be balanced in order to be an efficient offense. That was not the case against the Giants, but there were factors, like being down 20-3 at halftime, that prevented that from happening Sunday.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Turner said the game plans for Allen and Smith were similar. The game plan for Sunday was designed a little more for Allen, but Smith was prepared, even without the reps. Obviously he had the interceptions, but he still put the team in position to win the game.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Turner said offensive quality control coach Luke Del Rio (Jack's son) has spent some extra time helping QB Steven Montez learn the offense. As the third QB, Turner said Montez received the more scout-team reps in practice today than he has all season.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Turner said Cam Sims worked hard to make the most of his opportunities. His receptions really gave the team some juice, and plays like his three receptions give Sims and the rest of the team confidence.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Physically, Turner said, Antonio Gibson can do everything, but the team wants to balance the physical with the mental. The team is going to continue to give him the ball because the coaches believe in him, but they also don't want to overwhelm him.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Antonio Gibson hasn't really played on third down this season. Scott Turner: "It's just mentally, how much do we give him before it just overloads? ... It was a tough game for him on Sunday. ... Antonio is our guy. We're going to continue to give him the ball. We believe in him."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 11, 2020

More from Turner on Gibson: His role will continue to grow as he develops.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Did not have a very good game sunday -- fumble, some protection issues etc... But they said from the start they didn't want to overload him mentally. already know he can do it physically.

— John Keim (@john_keim) November 11, 2020

Washington has now put in three starting quarterbacks, but Turner says it's his job to get whoever is in the lineup ready to play. It's hard when one of those players is the QB, but that's part of the job.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Scott Turner says that physical traits are part of being a franchise QB, but that those come in all shapes and sizes.

Some other necessary traits: accurate thrower, good decision maker, accountable and hard working.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Smith said J.D. McKissic and Antonio Gibson are versatile, and that expands the things the offense can do, especially when they're on the field at the same time.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Alex Smith says Scott Turner has an "open-door policy" when it comes to putting together a gameplan. "Certainly got to be ready for a lot," he said.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) November 11, 2020

Smith said Scott Turner has an open door policy when it comes to the game plan. They want to have a plan for all scenarios. It's nice, he said, to have a full week of work to do that.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Why should Alex Smith be the starting QB? #WashingtonFootball

Here's Alex Smith's response:

Story: https://t.co/7ubLa0zshk@wusa9 @WUSA9sports pic.twitter.com/JTSW3BiCnF

— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) November 11, 2020

Smith said he feels like he is "ready to roll" and is confident in his ability to be the starter. He has the opportunity this week, and he's going to the best he can to win Sunday.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

QB Alex Smith was asked about the faction of the fanbase who might want to see Dwayne Haskins play to develop for the future:

"I get paid to play quarterback. I'm going to do whatever's asked of me. ... We're players; we go out and play. This is a team sport."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) November 11, 2020

Smith said it was great to watch his film against the Giants in better condition than the ones he experienced against the Rams. He wasn't focused on his injury. His primary concern was just playing.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Having taken a bunch of hits against the Rams, Alex Smith said he could just focus on playing football against the Giants.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Alex Smith spoke to the media about how he feels going into his first start in over two years.

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) November 11, 2020

Smith said he never focused on what it would be like to be the starter again. He was mostly caught up with just getting back on the field. It's a different feeling, but that's something he chased in his two-year recovery.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) November 11, 2020

Alex Smith said he did not envision what it would be like to start again. "I didn't get that far," said Smith, who was completely focused on getting back onto the field.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Alex Smith on starting against the Lions: "I'm ready to roll and I'm confident in that. I have the opportunity this week and I'm going to make the most of it. I'm going to go out there and do my best to win a football game." #WashingtonFootball

— Logan Campbell (@loganncampbelll) November 11, 2020

Cam Sims said his phone blew up after his first ever 100-yard game last Sunday. "It's great to have all the love butI got to keep going"

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 11, 2020

Unfortunately, because of COVID-19 protocols, Cam Sims was not able to celebrate his big game with his daughter in person. He said it has been hard being away from his daughter during the season. He's only seen her during the bye week.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Cam Sims says Alex Smith's work ethic motivates him to work as hard as possible. Sims said Smith
comes in early, leaves late and provides valuable advice.

Sims added that Smith gives him some tips on defensive backs and just how to get open.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Cam Sims said consistency will be key to building off his recent success. Sims is coming off his first-career 100-yard game.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Cornerback Ronald Darby is talking to the media now. He said the defense is not going to get takeaways all the time, but when they come, they have to take advantage.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Darby says the offense makes mistakes just like the defense does -- "that's why it's called a football team" -- so when the offense turns it over, the defense needs to do its best to at worst force a field goal.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020

Darby says man defense is more difficult than zone but not as complicated. In man, defenders only have to focus on one player. In zone, they have to account for multiple receiving options, so they have to keep their head on a swivel.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) November 11, 2020