Dan Quinn is managing an unexpected high-pressure situation near the end of the campaign. Putting the Washington Commanders in position to make the playoffs is one thing. Getting over the line is a completely different task.
With the spotlight shining on them, players — and coaches — will either prosper or fail. Quinn has seen both good and terrible in this aspect during his career as a head coach and coordinator around the league. Nobody anticipated the Commanders to get to the knockout rounds in Year One of his tenure. At the same time, seizing this chance is critical.
The Commanders have been in the playoffs for virtually the whole season. Falling at the last hurdle would be disappointing. Fortunately for Quinn, his team will be reenergized and ready to finish strong following their lengthy bye week rest and recuperation.
Washington has a new-look squad at their disposal. Some have been here before and know how to conduct themselves. Others are either forging their way or have had just mediocre experiences under prior regimes. This is an exhilarating adventure into the unknown.
Dan Quinn encourages commanders to take things step by step down the stretch.
Fans frequently look ahead and fret about circumstances beyond Washington’s control. That’s simply the nature of the beast. Quinn is taking a different approach, focusing on one game at a time and directing his teammates’ attention to the current objectives at hand. That’s the level-headed approach he feels will help the Commanders satisfy rising expectations.
“We make an effort to focus on the present moment. Honestly, what I discussed with the team was the concept of base camp. We’re not at the bottom, but we’re nowhere near the top. You simply aim to get to the next camp, then the next one. So, if we keep chasing it, that is where we will end up. So, this week, we’ll be continually chasing the question of whether we can improve and do what we need to do to prepare for New Orleans. We’ll repeat this the next week. I strive to make it a discipline. Can we be disciplined enough not to plan for three or four weeks in advance? That is what we shall continually strive for.”
– Dan Quinn\
Quinn became the Commanders’ head coach in large part because of his remarkable leadership abilities. He’s well regarded throughout the NFL for fostering good relationships and allowing players to self-police the locker room. The remarkable culture transformation that has occurred throughout the franchise attests to this.
Having someone like this to rely on during the next four games, before Washington’s playoff fate is decided, will be beneficial. When the stakes are at their highest, cooler heads usually triumph. Quinn has seen and done virtually everything in the game. That provides a solid security blanket for the players and staff to rely on.
Quinn is not panicked. His upbeat demeanour and methodical decision-making never waver, whether things are going well or poorly. The only consistency throughout the playoff mayhem is rigorous planning, high-level enthusiasm, and supreme professionalism. That is not a horrible leader to fight alongside.
It’s unclear what will happen next. However, if the Commanders follow Quinn’s instructions and take things game by game, they have a great chance of making the playoffs.
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