Washington’s Coordinators talk about the Week 1 matchup against the Chargers

LIVE: OC Scott Turner speaks with the media following practice https://t.co/AuIqZnZzjk

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 9, 2021

OC Scott Turner to the podium: "Fitz has been great. The communication has been great."

— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) September 9, 2021

Scott Turner on his new tackles. He's liking Sam Cosmi's development. pic.twitter.com/J1AOSbKAqZ

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 9, 2021

Scott Turner is addressing the media. He said Sam Cosmi has made consistent improvement. He's earned his teammates' respect and trust because of the way he worked throughout camp.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Scott Tuner praised rookie RT Sam Cosmi for his approach and improvement throughout camp/preseason. Said he thinks Cosmi earned his teammates respect for the way he kept his head down and just went to work.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 9, 2021

Scott Turner on how Washington handles short-yardage situations with this RB room. pic.twitter.com/mToBCtUadi

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 9, 2021

As you probably surmised, Curtis Samuel was officially a DNP at practice today. https://t.co/9WtD6gV3H9

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 9, 2021

Scott Turner says Adam Humphries, Dyami Brown and Cam Sims will need to step up if Curtis Samuel can’t go pic.twitter.com/amdf8FQ6GJ

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 9, 2021

Turner said the way Terry McLaurin described Dyami Brown and Dax Milne -- they don't say much but take care of their jobs -- is a perfect way to describe them. They have great skillsets and he expects them to produce.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Scott Turner on the Chargers’ defense: “It all starts” with Joey Bosa. Ron told us all about Bosa’s first step quickness, while Terry – who played with him at OSU – says he gets after it on “every. play.” He emphasized that, hence the periods pic.twitter.com/bRECyKZCa1

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

Turner: "Our guys are ready. We want them to be fresh and they will be."

— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) September 9, 2021

Turner said Brandon Staley does a good job of putting his players in positions to make plays, so you can't focus on one specific spot. It's just a sound defensive scheme, he said, that highlights their playmakers.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Asked about what schemes are toughest to defend OC Scott Turner says what is smart: those with really good players. pic.twitter.com/uJWDC8mxaH

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 9, 2021

Scott Turner said the team was happy to make the playoffs and win the division, but he also said he and the team feel like they still have a long way to go. To be the team, they think they can be, there's still a lot of growth that needs to happen

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 9, 2021

"I hope that I've gotten better. I feel that I've gotten better," - @ScottTurner on year two compared to year one as a playcaller. Stresses it's about overall group. #WashingtonFootball @team980 @LockedWFTPod

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 9, 2021

LIVE: DC Jack Del Rio speaks with the media following practice https://t.co/09bPozVNy6

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 9, 2021

.@coachdelrio on Justin Herbert: "Talented young quarterback. All the different tools you look for. Mobility, arm strength, clearly a good decision maker."

Good on third downs. #WashingtonFootball @LockedWFTPod @team980

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 9, 2021

Jack Del Rio on Justin Herbert: "He can really throw the football."

Asked why Herbert was so accurate on third down, Del Rio points out the Chargers' receivers, specifically naming Keenan Allen.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 9, 2021

Del Rio likes where Jamin Davis is at heading into the season. Still developing, but had a good camp.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

@coachdelrio "I like where Jamin (Davis) is. He's got a lot of work to do, like we all do."

Says Ben St-Juste is in similar boat. #WashingtonFootball @LockedWFTPod @team980

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 9, 2021

Jack Del Rio discussed the gauntlet of QBs they'll face this season. Said mantra is 'fear nobody; respect everybody.' But also said "we have a standard in things we're expecting. We're not adjusting them down because we're playing good people."

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 9, 2021

Del Rio said the Chargers did a good job of changing the whole complexity of their offensive line. They've surrounded Herbert with some good protection, and that's one of the challenges the defense will need to prepare for.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Del Rio said the Chargers have "significantly upgraded" their offensive line: "What a weakness last year, at least on the board, they've added some really good players."

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 9, 2021

Jack Del Rio says that the team does have a production chart that they monitor, without getting into specifics. Says they don't want to see the numbers go down just because the team is playing better competition

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 9, 2021

Jack Del Rio said "part of what I'm excited in year two, we've put a lot of work in and now it's player led, hustling on and off the field. They're policing themselves; they're leading themselves. That's what you really want."

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 9, 2021

Jack Del Rio said the team's first walkthrough, very first one last year, was unacceptable and unprofessional. Contrast to this year, and the team is hustling. The players are policing themselves and the players understood the mental part of preparation is equally important

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 9, 2021

"I think Chase has taken it to another level," Jack Del Rio on Chase Young's situational awareness. "He's a pretty aware cat."

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 9, 2021

Del Rio said Chase Young came in with a pretty solid tool box, but he's taken it to another level. He's a better idea of what to do to counter how offensive lines are scheming against him.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Cole Holcomb is "underrated by a lot of people who aren't here in this building," Jack Del Rio thinks. "He's ready to have an outstanding year for us"

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

.@coachdelrio on third-year linebacker -
"Love Cole Holcomb...love where he is" & 'he's underrated' by people outside the building. #WashingtonFootball @LockedWFTPod @team980 pic.twitter.com/AxIxArfVx2

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 9, 2021

Del Rio calls LB Cole Holcomb 'underrated." Also says Kendall Fuller is a rare combo of really good and really bright. Helps him play all over.

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 9, 2021

Nate Kaczor said he had a fever for four or five days, and his COVID experience felt like a bad head cold. Feels better now, and the hardest part was not being around people he's with every single day

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 9, 2021

Nate Kaczor on the exchange for field goals: “anytime someone is new, other than the kicker, it’s different.” Also said that adjusting to those differences takes time.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Nate Kaczor, special teams coach, calls the field goal operation "the ultimate chemistry situation." Says swapping out a piece of the group means lots and lots of work needs to be done to get into a rhythm

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

Kaczor said Troy Apke plays fast, is smart, runs really well and is productive. He’s very blue-collar, which translates really well to special teams.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

"He's quiet, unassuming, very blue collar... I'd say the speed and the technique — he's smart and he prepares — really helps him." That's Nate Kaczor on Troy Apke's special teams ability

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

In 2020, WFT's kick and punt returners were two different players. This year, DeAndre Carter will handle both. Nate Kaczor thinks that, like a RB, that can help Carter get more in the "flow" of the game. Sure, touchbacks limit KO return opps, but the dual roles can still be vital

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

ST coach Nate Kaczor calls DeAndre Carter a 'treat to be around.' "When you have a very likeable, charismatic person back there when it's good it's good. There are bumps in the road & when you're a liked, respected player...it's more tolerable than someone you may not care for."

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 9, 2021

LIVE: DE Chase Young speaks with the media following practice https://t.co/Vjzk0GVqiz

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) September 9, 2021

Chase Young on Rashawn Slater: "He has real good feet, strong hands. Their whole O-line is looking pretty good, so as a D-line, we're pretty excited to get after it."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 9, 2021

This is the matchup Young doubters and Slater stans have waited for all summer. https://t.co/4gvSO9tV3b

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 9, 2021

"If you see me make a crazy fast play...I've seen the formation," Chase Young on how he'll know he's improved in his situational awareness

— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 9, 2021

Young on what he learned from Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson: he's the guru. He still shows film to Johnson to this day.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Chase Young wants a packed stadium with crazy fans. He knows what it can be in DC when this team is dominant pic.twitter.com/AQb6uMw71o

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 9, 2021

.@youngchase907
"I hope it's crazy (on Sunday). I hope it's a lot of fans..that football atmosphere." #WashingtonFootball @LockedWFTPod @team980

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 9, 2021

JDR always talks about Chase Young's toolbox, so I asked CY about that. He said: "You have your toolbox and it's really about perfecting those moves. Practice is where you start to try a lot." On 3rd and 10, though, he said he goes to the move he knows is his "bread and butter"

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

.@youngchase907 "It's an honor. More motivation to keep doing my thing." on being named captain again.

Says he knows what he's doing on 3rd & 10 type situation --QB's know too.

Learned how to take even better care of his body for the longer #NFL grind. @LockedWFTPod @team980

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 9, 2021

Young's motto this year is to be where his feet are at -- a favorite saying of Ron Rivera. He doesn't want to get too high or too low.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Charles Leno’s shirt is wonderful pic.twitter.com/WDZDy0O9Cg

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 9, 2021

Leno said Fitzpatrick is a very upbeat and determined person. He’s a good guy to be around.

— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) September 9, 2021

Sunday will be Charles Leno Jr.'s 103rd career NFL game, but first in a non-Bears uniform. It won't be weird for him, though. He said he got all the weirdness out in the preseason. Ready to roll vs. LA

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

LT Charles Leno Jr.: Steak medium.

He says he used to like medium well, when he didn't know what steak was while living in Oakland. Someone in Boise got him right.

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) September 9, 2021

Today's presser with Charles Leno has been primarily about steakhouses and O-line dinners and the collective caloric capacity of an offensive line and why medium steak is preferred.

We are in regular-season form.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 9, 2021

William Jackson III: “It feels like I’ve known these guys all my life” in the secondary. Is pleased with where their communication is with each other pic.twitter.com/C5FwOkX5Rf

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 9, 2021

Some very good news for Washington- William Jackson III 100 percent for Week 1. WJ3 says the missed time during camp was just a precaution pic.twitter.com/5BcFwEm9yl

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 9, 2021

Brandon Scherff told us yesterday the OL gets their grub on at DC Prime. William Jackson just shared that the secondary dines at Ruth's Chris. Hope they can maintain locker room cohesion despite these differences.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 9, 2021

One thing William Jackson III said the DBs get together for 'fellowship' by going to Ruth's Chris. Said he opts for the Filet mignon; medium well.

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 9, 2021