After Monday night’s game, Commanders coach Dan Quinn took his time introducing himself to reporters. He arrived nearly an hour after the game ended — and after quarterback Jayden Daniels met with reporters (which is highly unusual for any team).
Quinn knew everything about viral moment in which he appeared surprised after a fourth-and-2 miss from the San Francisco 13 in the second quarter. It looked like he didn’t know he was fourth. During the press conference, Quinn had an explanation.
“I really knew it was the fourth try” Quinn said, before slipping into a largely confusing word salad that explained to him that they were planning to take a chance on fourth throughout the game because they expected it to be a higher-scoring contest.
Even though Quinn’s body language suggested he was surprised to learn he was fourth, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He knew it was the fourth try. But little did the operation he’s responsible for know, once the penalty flag landed on the field (in full view of quarterback Jayden Daniels), that this wasn’t a situation in which failing to get to the line to win would put him on fourth-and-7 with a chance to score a field goal.
When play is not interrupted by a prior foul, a penalty for the infraction may be denied by the defense.
After the play, there should have been no confusion – on anyone’s part – as to what had happened. The 49ers would decline the penalty and the 49ers would take possession. Because he was fourth.
Although some will believe (like me) that Quinn (and his quarterback) did not know he was fourth down, the explanation does not exonerate the lack of attention to detail. Instead, it changes the conversation from “did you know it was fourth down?” to “Why didn’t you realize you still needed to gain at least two meters to retain possession?”
This speaks to the overall culture under Quinn. Mastery, or lack thereof, of situational football.
Quinn will have another chance to explain himself today, when he holds his press conference the next day (unless he was fired before then). As the Commanders enter their annual leave, Daniels and offensive coordinator David Blough will not be available to reporters until next week.
If/when we admit that a mistake was made, we know it what will be the exercise: “It’s my responsibility. I take responsibility. This won’t happen again.”
How many lessons will Quinn, Daniels and Blough learn on the fly? Teams don’t hire head coaches thinking there will be several years of training on the field when it comes to the nuances of the game. Quinn has coached in the NFL continuously since 2001, with the exception of a two-year stint in Florida in 2011 and 2012. He has been head coach of the Falcons for six years, and this is his third year with the Commanders.
By hiring Quinn, the commanders weren’t rolling the dice on a newbie. They were recruiting a fully trained football coach, who probably knows how the game works in every way.
The last two matches have proven otherwise. And that further complicates the decision that owner Josh Harris, still an inexperienced new owner, will make on whether to make a mid-season change.
Gn sports
