Linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Antonio Williams looking to settle in early during rookie minicamp with the Washington Commanders
Friday marked a chance for fans to see the new rookies sport their Washington Commander uniforms with rookie minicamp running through Sunday, May 10. With a chance to get comfortable with the Commanders systems, head coach Dan Quinn pointed to the 48 hour window as a chance to "see communication."
"We installed some things with them. Now can we carry it onto the field?" Quinn told reporters on Friday. "Some of the movements, but I want to see communication. I want to see their connection with their teammates. The individual portions are more important right now than the team parts."
Yet when it comes to former first-round pick and linebacker Sonny Styles, who will sport jersey number 52 in year one, Quinn pointed to getting "the fundamentals down" ahead of a potential impact role.
Quinn noted the two inside linebacker positions "have similarities, but there's also some nuances" with a chance to pick up Daronte Jones' system, yet Styles pointed to his coaches as reason why the defense is "easy to digest."
"I think when I was with [Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Matt] Patricia at Ohio State, he was just a great teacher and I think the same with Coach DJ . He's a great teacher. [Linebackers Coach Ken] Norton Jr. [is] a great teacher. I think some coaches do a really good job the way they articulate the game and articulate the way they're describing the playbook. It's easy for everyone to digest."
As for wide receiver Antonio Williams, who Quinn noted "can play multiple spots," reinforcing himself as the polished receiver that he has been viewed to be is part of his "responsibility to come and carry out the vision that they had when they made that call to me."
"It felt great. Just like another dream come true," Williams said. "Just stepping on that field and I just love being out here competing with this team and these guys just getting to know everybody."
Yet Washington will also have several others on a tryout basis, including former Iowa kicker Drew Stevens.
Stevens was initially invited to rookie minicamp before telling reporters that both the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans showed interest in bringing him in, leading the Commanders to sign him as an undrafted free agent. Stevens pointed to the fit as reason why Washington was the pick.
"They're paying Tyler Bass a gazillion dollars in Buffalo. That'd be probably harder," Stevens added.