The HC Dan Quinn Discussion Thread

[skinzplay]

Teams win, teams lose. It's part of the game. But the way you lose says something, and though many might not believe it, DQ-as-HC was in jeopardy last season.

 

[Conn]

JLC is already spreading around that McDermott is a name to watch if this team spirals and has a terrible season again.

Can’t see us going with another defensive guy tbh, but way too early for that discussion. I just know eventually someone will post the tweets in here.

 

[skinsinparadise]

JLC is already spreading around that McDermott is a name to watch if this team spirals and has a terrible season again.

Can’t see us going with another defensive guy tbh, but way too early for that discussion. I just know eventually someone will post the tweets in here.

 

[NoCalSkins]

How likely is it that coordinators survive a head coach firing if say for example the team ends up missing the playoffs with a Top 5 offense? I ask because it seems that the coaching staff this season is constructed to where it is easier to clean house if things go south. Are coordinators going down with the ship just part of the job description or would promoting one to HC be a realistic option should the W/L justify a HC firing but one of the units ends up really good?

 

[burgold]

Very unlikely.

Head coaches always want their own lieutenants. it's really unusual for them to keep OCs or DCs. Sometimes, a position coach survives.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Does it REALLY make sense to dump Quinn, who took the team to the NFCCG in his first season, with McDermott who got no further in 8 years with Josh Allen?

Would our FO and owner really be that dumb? Also, another defensive HC?

Really?

I'd bet against this.

 

[Conn]

Does it REALLY make sense to dump Quinn, who took the team to the NFCCG in his first season, with McDermott who got no further in 8 years with Josh Allen?

Would our FO and owner really be that dumb? Also, another defensive HC?

Really?

I'd bet against this.

Yeah, idk why that’s something two different people allegedly heard, something that on its own feels ridiculous from an org that doesn’t leak hardly anything, never mind such big picture thought processes that would have to come straight from Peters—Harris wouldn’t have a preference at this juncture or know that much about hypothetical future candidates at this stage.

Seems made up. If we crash and burn they’re not going with another retread defensive guy imo. I have close Bills fan friends and they were calling for him to get fired for multiple years despite the success the org had with Josh Allen. Another guy who didn’t maximize the team’s chances on game day.

AP would go for a young offensive guy to pair with Daniels in that scenario imo, there just weren’t great options in 2024 after things crashed and burned with Ben Johnson. Maybe someone willing to continue mentoring Blough (who absolutely wouldn’t be ready after 1 year even IF he’s a future HC type—not convinced of that). And then you just hire an experienced DC who already failed as a HC, or whatever, if you can’t attract a young future HC type defensive playcaller.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Does it REALLY make sense to dump Quinn, who took the team to the NFCCG in his first season, with McDermott who got no further in 8 years with Josh Allen?

Would our FO and owner really be that dumb? Also, another defensive HC?

Really?

I'd bet against this.

Yeah I doubt too it would be three defensive coaches in a row

 

[burgold]

Yeah I doubt too it would be three defensive coaches in a row

I'd also hate it to be three retread defensive head coaches in a row.

Heck, I'd hate it to be three retread head coaches in a row period. Let's hope we never have to find out.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Yeah, idk why that’s something two different people allegedly heard, something that on its own feels ridiculous from an org that doesn’t leak hardly anything, never mind such big picture thought processes that would have to come straight from Peters—Harris wouldn’t have a preference at this juncture or know that much about hypothetical future candidates at this stage.

Seems made up. If we crash and burn they’re not going with another retread defensive guy imo. I have close Bills fan friends and they were calling for him to get fired for multiple years despite the success the org had with Josh Allen. Another guy who didn’t maximize the team’s chances on game day.

AP would go for a young offensive guy to pair with Daniels in that scenario imo, there just weren’t great options in 2024 after things crashed and burned with Ben Johnson. Maybe someone willing to continue mentoring Blough (who absolutely wouldn’t be ready after 1 year even IF he’s a future HC type—not convinced of that). And then you just hire an experienced DC who already failed as a HC, or whatever, if you can’t attract a young future HC type defensive playcaller.

Yeah I'd assume it hasn't escaped them as to how the Bears turned around fast with Ben Johnson at the helm -- especially if there was anything to the idea that they weren't impressed with Ben in their interviews. Ben as we recall fired back basically with the thought that he wasn't impressed with the Washington brass-operation who interviewed him. You'd think if there is anything to any of that, it has to be something that they'd be digesting if they make another hire.

The article to me reads simply that other FO guys from other teams thinks its intuitive that he's on the hot seat. And yeah to some of us, of course he is. The national narrative seems to be more on the you don't have all the time in the world to work a roster with Jayden on a rookie contract, urgency is needed, that vibe feels stronger than some of the local media and some of the local fans feel -- and or more questionting the current roster from the national types than locals. That's how I know you and some others feel too -- though some really really dislike harping on that thought or disagree with the premise of it.

But to me its about basic and as logical as it gets. It's a season they need to win IMO. This isn't building a team with Heinicke. The clock should be ticking here, urgency matters, not just with the FO but the coaches, too. But my vibe is JLC asked some executives and they just said how they feel about it, they'd have no idea how Harris feels. Peters I'd guess survives a bad season but then he'd be on the hot seat, I'd be surprised if Quinn survives a bad season.

League Sources See Dan Quinn on the Hot Seat Despite Commanders’ Recent Success

The Commanders and coach Dan Quinn are under pressure to perform in 2027, with quarterback Jayden Daniels entering his third year and possible contract extension. Speculation of a coaching change looms amidst staff shakeups and the NFC East's increased competitiveness. Inexperienced ownership...

www.sportsboom.us

Once Daniels begins to make massive quarterback money, anything close to his rookie season would ensure that the ability to construct a roster becomes much more difficult.

When a team makes as sweeping staff changes as Washington did, the industry views that as putting the head coach on notice.

In other news, the Commanders have also been linked with a move for Stefon Diggs and several other big-name wide receivers ahead of training camp as they look to bolster their offensive weapons for Daniels.

 

[DWinzit]

This is the kind of BS distraction the team doesn't need right now. They are are trying to gel with all the new players, coaches and schemes.

We all know DQ and maybe even AP could have their backs against the wall this season. Why are names being dropped in June.

And yeah, I highly doubt they'd go with another defensive HC.

 

[Conn]

This is the kind of BS distraction the team doesn't need right now. They are are trying to gel with all the new players, coaches and schemes.

We all know DQ and maybe even AP could have their backs against the wall this season. Why are names being dropped in June.

And yeah, I highly doubt they'd go with another defensive HC.

That’s just not something you can ever avoid in this league (people talking about you). If that places an extra burden upon the team and hurts their chances, then we really don’t have the right people in place. They need to be able to perform with their backs against the wall, not just when people are pleasantly surprised by a good performance. They seem locked in and respond well to “nobody believes in us” rhetoric anyways. They struggle with expectations if anything.

 

[burgold]

This is the kind of BS distraction the team doesn't need right now. They are are trying to gel with all the new players, coaches and schemes.

We all know DQ and maybe even AP could have their backs against the wall this season. Why are names being dropped in June.

And yeah, I highly doubt they'd go with another defensive HC.

It's also the kind of thing that can go both ways. Sometimes, the team really rallies. It's the "no one believed in us except us!" chip on the shoulder stuff.

 

[Boone]

This is the kind of BS distraction the team doesn't need right now. They are are trying to gel with all the new players, coaches and schemes.

We all know DQ and maybe even AP could have their backs against the wall this season. Why are names being dropped in June.

And yeah, I highly doubt they'd go with another defensive HC.

I hope Dan Quinn sees and hears this stuff. That would be a positive 'distraction' - he needs to feel the pressure. I think there are too many smart people (including Al Galdi on our recent pod with him) indicating the hot seat For Quinn is real, not imaginary, for there not to be some truth to it.

 

[NoCalSkins]

I am kind of torn on the idea of Quinn being on the hot seat in 2026. To me it almost tells me more that he was a Plan C (or lower) choice to begin with because if you look at the results of his first two seasons as HC contrast with the actual player personnel on the roster, I don't think it is accurate to say he has done a bad job, even if you personally think Quinn isn't the answer at HC, which I actually happen to not even necessarily think myself.

If Quinn was a hire that the organization settled for rather than a hire they were overly enthusiastic about, then it makes more sense that ownership would be biding their time quietly until options they deem better come along and the 2025 results are just something that helps expedite the process along and makes it seem more justified on the surface.

 

[DWinzit]

That’s just not something you can ever avoid in this league (people talking about you). If that places an extra burden upon the team and hurts their chances, then we really don’t have the right people in place. They need to be able to perform with their backs against the wall, not just when people are pleasantly surprised by a good performance. They seem locked in and respond well to “nobody believes in us” rhetoric anyways. They struggle with expectations if anything.

Yeah you all are correct, it can be turned into a catalyst for the team otherwise we don't have the right people in place. No weak sauced people!

I just dislike actual names being mentioned so freaking early, even if it was a great coach. McDermott is just okay...not that it makes a difference

 

[SkinsLife]

also.. sun is hot and grass is green.. yeah no shit .. of course Quinn is on the hot seat.. and he absolutely should be. Peters too most likely.. but he might get more time.
Another D headed coach who cant put together a good D is absolute worst choice though... it has to be a hot OC guy.. enough is enough.

 

[HTTR]

Maybe they should give Quinn a full salary cap worth of players instead of shorting him by 20–30 mil or more every year… otherwise, if he’s on the hot seat, OK, but management sure isn’t doing him any favors.

 

[Conn]

I am kind of torn on the idea of Quinn being on the hot seat in 2026. To me it almost tells me more that he was a Plan C (or lower) choice to begin with because if you look at the results of his first two seasons as HC contrast with the actual player personnel on the roster, I don't think it is accurate to say he has done a bad job, even if you personally think Quinn isn't the answer at HC, which I actually happen to not even necessarily think myself.

If Quinn was a hire that the organization settled for rather than a hire they were overly enthusiastic about, then it makes more sense that ownership would be biding their time quietly until options they deem better come along and the 2025 results are just something that helps expedite the process along and makes it seem more justified on the surface.

Given what we know about the Macdonald situation (not even taking into account anything regarding Ben Johnson) it’s pretty obvious Quinn was at best plan B. Plan C would be another level of speculation, but not impossible.

Anyways, yeah. They’ll try to make it work and I think they do love Quinn the man (and probably the coach as well tbh), but while we know they were higher on him than outsiders thought via Keim at the time, I don’t think it’s clear at all that he was plan A. There’s pretty strong evidence that we dragged our feet and lost out on Macdonald who was actually shaping up to be our plan A (or B at worst)

 

[skinzplay]

JLC needs something to generate interest in his otherwise meaningless and frequently wrong posts/predictions. He should stop doing other people's bidding when it comes to claiming DQ-to-McD is a likelihood. As DWinzit said, an unnecessary distraction, geared by definition at generating more questions. The odds of McD being our next HC are nil. NIL.