There was a real sense of urgency about how everyone within the Washington Commanders went about their business during the early offseason program. Head coach Dan Quinn wants to keep it that way.
Players are now left to their own devices until training camp. It's a time to rest, spend time with loved ones, and enjoy some downtime before things get more serious over the summer and into the regular season. Even so, Quinn made his expectations crystal clear as they all went their separate ways for a few weeks.
Quinn does not want his players to lose any momentum. He wants them to put in the required work away from the team. And he wants everyone in the right frame of mind before intensity ramps up even further at training camp.
Dan Quinn warns Commanders players to avoid complacency away from the team
He called it "The Drift", when complacency can set in, and football might not be the first thing on their minds. That will not be tolerated by Quinn, who's confident the correct principles have been established to keep complications to a minimum.
"I spoke a little bit about what I would call like the drift, like the next 35 days. And we all could be vulnerable to that. You know, you're not here with your guys, doing everything together, setting the schedule for it, but they've got some real principles to lean back on their teammates the way we want to compete, the standards that we have. So, I said by adhering to those principles here, like that protects you from the drift."
Quinn knows that everyone got a little bit ahead of themselves last season. They went from reaching the NFC Championship game in Year 1 of his tenure to securing five wins during a dramatic fall from grace. Reputations were dented, and egos were bruised. Fortunately, this brought a positive reaction.
The veteran cornerstones set the tone, and the entire locker room followed accordingly. Quinn increased the urgency in practices at OTAs and mandatory minicamp. While the pads haven't come on yet, it's a clear sign of a collective willingness to turn the tide. And that shouldn't stop during their pre-training camp break.
Anyone who doesn't put in the necessary time will be found out quickly.
Washington will be running a tight ship this summer. Reporters noted how the vibes were off last year, and they were right. Quinn will not make the same mistake again, demanding more from every practice throughout camp to improve the team's chances of bouncing back.
There is time for fun, family, and reflection. But every single player must also keep their physical conditioning and sharpness at the forefront. Considering how much some (or most) are getting paid for the privilege of being part of this storied organization, it's a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things.
Put in the hard work now, and everything will be easier later. It's not too much to ask, and Quinn will be watching things closely when everyone gets back into the building.
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