WEBVTT - 1-on-1 with Carson Wentz | Episode 32 0:00:02.080 --> 0:00:11.920 Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. We 0:00:11.960 --> 0:00:14.080 are nearing the end of training camp week two here 0:00:14.120 --> 0:00:17.440 in Ashford. There's a lot of excitement surrounding quarterback Carson 0:00:17.440 --> 0:00:21.600 Wentz and Washington's various offensive weapons. London Fletcher and Santana 0:00:21.640 --> 0:00:24.680 Moss joined me to chat with QB one about training 0:00:24.720 --> 0:00:28.320 camp and building chemistry with his teammates. Carson, We've been 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:30.040 waiting to have you come join us a couple of 0:00:30.120 --> 0:00:32.360 days now into practice, a couple of times with the 0:00:32.400 --> 0:00:36.519 pads on not your first rodeo though, first time here 0:00:36.520 --> 0:00:40.280 with Washington. How is this process for you? Trying to 0:00:40.400 --> 0:00:43.280 learn a new offense, learn new guys and as camp 0:00:43.360 --> 0:00:46.040 kind of like ramps up each day to get more familiar, 0:00:46.080 --> 0:00:48.440 to get that chemistry down. It's fun, honestly. I mean 0:00:48.440 --> 0:00:50.639 it's a lot of work. It's it's a grind, as 0:00:50.680 --> 0:00:54.040 you guys know, but it's a lot of fun too. 0:00:54.160 --> 0:00:57.040 Coming together. You're building a culture, you're building a kind 0:00:57.080 --> 0:00:58.800 of a family. You're building that bond, and the only 0:00:58.800 --> 0:01:00.240 way to do that is out on the field by 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:03.240 going through the hot mornings together, by going through it together. 0:01:04.040 --> 0:01:06.640 I think OTAs was big and kind of developing some 0:01:06.680 --> 0:01:09.080 of those relationships, but now this um just kind of 0:01:09.080 --> 0:01:10.840 takes it to the next level. So it's been fun 0:01:10.840 --> 0:01:12.680 getting to know the guys, getting to know the playbook. 0:01:13.240 --> 0:01:15.399 Feel pretty good in a good place with it as well. 0:01:16.280 --> 0:01:17.880 We're not gonna be perfect out there, but that's why 0:01:17.880 --> 0:01:19.800 we're out here, you know. You're working on that chemistry, 0:01:19.920 --> 0:01:22.959 that timing, and it's been a fun process. Everybody wants 0:01:22.959 --> 0:01:25.440 you to be perfect though this early on, like you've 0:01:25.440 --> 0:01:28.360 been through enough camps to understand that it does take time. 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:32.040 Where where are you in feeling that you're getting closer 0:01:32.040 --> 0:01:34.280 to that? Though? Yeah, I feel good about it, you know, 0:01:34.440 --> 0:01:36.040 I mean I want it to be perfect too, you know, 0:01:36.080 --> 0:01:37.960 I'm kind of a perfectionist. So you miss a throw, 0:01:38.080 --> 0:01:39.720 or you miss a read or this or that and 0:01:39.840 --> 0:01:42.200 kind of kick yourself, but it's like, hey, it's still early. 0:01:42.319 --> 0:01:44.399 It's still early, and it's a process, so you can 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:46.960 you know, the mistakes that happen are often good because 0:01:47.000 --> 0:01:48.160 you can go in there and you can watch this 0:01:48.280 --> 0:01:49.920 film together and talk about it and be like, hey, 0:01:49.960 --> 0:01:51.520 this is what I was expecting or this is what 0:01:51.560 --> 0:01:54.320 I was seeing, and then you can fix it. You 0:01:54.360 --> 0:01:56.200 can fix it and learn from those mistakes, and that's 0:01:56.280 --> 0:01:58.680 that's normal. But at the same time, I wanted to go, well, 0:01:58.680 --> 0:02:00.680 I want it to be perfect, and so I have 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:04.080 high expectations every practice and so do the guys around here, 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:06.720 which is really cool because we hold everybody accountable and 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:10.160 in those high expectations. But yeah, it's not gonna be 0:02:10.160 --> 0:02:12.680 perfect getting and we realize that being that you have 0:02:12.760 --> 0:02:15.720 a chance. You had a chance actually to have a 0:02:15.800 --> 0:02:19.079 moment like umen right now last year going to Endy 0:02:19.160 --> 0:02:21.560 having to play in learn that system. I'm not sure 0:02:21.600 --> 0:02:23.040 how much you had to learn because you had the 0:02:23.080 --> 0:02:25.680 coach so that was familiar, you know, territory with you. 0:02:25.800 --> 0:02:29.520 But you're better in this game. Do you ever feel 0:02:29.560 --> 0:02:32.000 there's going to be a time where you're more comfortable 0:02:32.080 --> 0:02:35.320 than the other times? For our quarterbacks always kind of 0:02:35.720 --> 0:02:38.000 playing with their back against the wall and just saying, hey, 0:02:38.000 --> 0:02:39.600 I gotta go out here and make the knicks down 0:02:39.639 --> 0:02:42.160 better than the last. Yeah, that's a great question, And honestly, 0:02:42.240 --> 0:02:45.840 you try and not be complacent. I guess you're always 0:02:45.840 --> 0:02:47.959 trying to get better. You're always trying to learn a 0:02:48.000 --> 0:02:51.640 little nuances or just understand the concept of a play. 0:02:51.800 --> 0:02:54.680 As best as you can versus every single coverage, you know, 0:02:54.760 --> 0:02:58.160 And I think this year it's been probably a bigger 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:01.720 transition in learning a playbook for me, different system, different style. 0:03:02.840 --> 0:03:04.760 But the OTAs was huge for that, you know, the 0:03:04.800 --> 0:03:08.040 last couple of years, I haven't had an OTAs with 0:03:08.080 --> 0:03:10.160 COVID and everything going on. So we're coming in here 0:03:10.680 --> 0:03:13.440 in April and May and June. Was huge for me 0:03:13.520 --> 0:03:16.200 to to understand this playbook and then go through the 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:18.239 summer and study it and then come in here feeling 0:03:18.240 --> 0:03:20.040 good about it, you know, and coming out here and 0:03:20.480 --> 0:03:22.799 executing it. And so right now I feel like it's 0:03:22.800 --> 0:03:24.760 in a good place, but I'm always striving to get 0:03:24.800 --> 0:03:27.760 better and then understand it even more. You mentioned, you know, 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:30.840 having the OTAs this year, but also one thing that 0:03:30.919 --> 0:03:33.800 you did is you went out to California last month 0:03:33.880 --> 0:03:36.120 or a week with your Scale guys. How big was 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:39.000 that in terms of developing chemistry with those guys not 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:40.720 only on the field but off the field. And it 0:03:40.760 --> 0:03:42.720 was also your first time being able to work with 0:03:42.800 --> 0:03:45.240 Terry McLaurin. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. You know, 0:03:45.240 --> 0:03:47.760 I've done that for a while now over the years 0:03:47.880 --> 0:03:49.680 in each place I've been, and it's one of my 0:03:49.720 --> 0:03:52.760 favorite things honestly, because I mean the work is great 0:03:52.920 --> 0:03:54.640 on the field, work is great, and you know, we're 0:03:54.680 --> 0:03:57.080 trying to learn each other. It's that's fun. Everybody's working 0:03:57.120 --> 0:03:59.680 all summer. But it's the it's the chemistry off the field. 0:03:59.680 --> 0:04:02.600 It's understanding where everyone comes from, what's their background, look like, 0:04:02.640 --> 0:04:03.960 what do we like to eat, you know, what do 0:04:04.000 --> 0:04:06.000 we like to do. I'm just getting to know them, 0:04:06.000 --> 0:04:09.280 getting around them, um was really beneficial for me. It 0:04:09.280 --> 0:04:12.280 looks even more different this year now, being almost thirty 0:04:12.280 --> 0:04:14.400 and you know, it's a pretty young skill group and 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:16.240 so for me, I'm like the old guy out there, 0:04:16.800 --> 0:04:18.720 which is a little bit new for me. But it 0:04:18.760 --> 0:04:20.760 was a lot of fun. I'm just getting around them 0:04:20.760 --> 0:04:23.560 and doing something different off the field. Will that be 0:04:23.600 --> 0:04:26.960 something that that you continue. I remember my years of 0:04:27.040 --> 0:04:31.279 playing here, the way we did it on Thursdays. You know, 0:04:31.320 --> 0:04:33.839 we would gather up and go eat together offensively, and 0:04:33.880 --> 0:04:35.880 then the defense quote on some of the some of 0:04:35.880 --> 0:04:37.719 the you know skill guys quote on and say, hey, 0:04:37.720 --> 0:04:39.360 we're gonna go have you know, dinner with you guys. 0:04:39.440 --> 0:04:41.040 Is that something that you would do with the receivers 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:43.800 or just offensive linement, you name it, just picks and 0:04:43.800 --> 0:04:45.840 guys said, Hey, we're gonna go eat somewhere. Yeah, because 0:04:45.880 --> 0:04:47.560 I feel like that builds a lot of chemistry. You know, 0:04:47.600 --> 0:04:49.360 I planned too, and I've done that in other places 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.520 I've been, and it's been really cool to get off 0:04:52.560 --> 0:04:55.000 the field and go bond, whether it's a somebody's houses, 0:04:55.040 --> 0:04:57.520 go to the restaurant, all those things, and whether that's 0:04:57.520 --> 0:05:00.520 when we're traveling, you know, the four games, we're on 0:05:00.560 --> 0:05:03.000 a Thursday or on an off day. Um, it's it's 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:05.160 been really beneficial I've seen over the years. And then 0:05:05.200 --> 0:05:08.120 continue to look forward to continue to do that. What's 0:05:08.200 --> 0:05:10.640 up at things that you have done as a jokes 0:05:10.680 --> 0:05:12.600 to that. I don't think I'm a jokes are necessarily 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:14.800 but you know, you know it's hard out here. It's 0:05:14.839 --> 0:05:17.800 it's a grind right and everyone can take it very seriously, 0:05:17.800 --> 0:05:20.360 which I do on the field, no doubt. But um, 0:05:20.400 --> 0:05:22.440 at the same time, you want to keep it light. 0:05:22.560 --> 0:05:24.520 You want to remember this is a game. This is 0:05:24.560 --> 0:05:27.000 supposed to be fun, and when you're having fun and 0:05:27.080 --> 0:05:29.320 playing fast, it's a lot more enjoyable. It's a lot 0:05:29.320 --> 0:05:31.719 more enjoyable. And you're playing a lot more free, and 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:33.800 so I like to keep it light and um, just 0:05:33.880 --> 0:05:36.200 have fun with the guys and um, you know, I 0:05:36.240 --> 0:05:38.960 think that's something as I've as I've grown as a 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:41.279 man as well, and just being a veteran guy, you 0:05:41.320 --> 0:05:43.880 see a different perspective here and you know what it's 0:05:43.960 --> 0:05:45.720 like to be in their shoes and how it's it's 0:05:45.800 --> 0:05:47.920 very stressful and it's very there's a lot, especially as 0:05:47.920 --> 0:05:50.159 a rookie, there's a lot on your plate. As a 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:51.880 guy like him who's getting a lot of first team 0:05:51.920 --> 0:05:54.720 reps right now, um and continues to show up. There's 0:05:54.760 --> 0:05:56.480 a lot of coaches, a lot of boys, a lot 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:57.920 of things, and so I just want to build them 0:05:58.000 --> 0:06:00.279 up and keep it light with them at the same time. 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:02.840 And so I've been fun developing that relationship with him. 0:06:02.880 --> 0:06:05.240 For sure. It's definitely important to remember that it is 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:07.559 supposed to be fun. I mean, because it does get heavy. 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:10.200 It is a grind, it is hot out here. But 0:06:10.320 --> 0:06:12.160 also you've got to be able to get in sync 0:06:12.160 --> 0:06:14.960 with these guys too. You're just kind of learning. Terry McLaurin. 0:06:15.000 --> 0:06:19.280 Everybody loves him here in Washington, John Dotson coming and Curtis. 0:06:19.279 --> 0:06:21.400 Samuel's a player that we've been waiting to see him 0:06:21.440 --> 0:06:23.640 on the field and what he can do. How are 0:06:23.680 --> 0:06:27.280 you feeling like assessing their different talents and what they 0:06:27.320 --> 0:06:30.240 can bring to this offense, especially with the skill set 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:32.320 that you have of being able to take advantage and 0:06:32.360 --> 0:06:34.559 maybe some of that speed that they have to stretch 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:36.479 the field. I mean, that's the first thing you notice, 0:06:36.680 --> 0:06:39.120 without a doubt, is their speed. I Mean, they're all 0:06:39.040 --> 0:06:42.120 a little different in the sense, but one thing they 0:06:42.120 --> 0:06:44.880 all have is speed in their quickness and the ability 0:06:44.920 --> 0:06:48.960 to threaten a defense deep quick and I think that's 0:06:49.000 --> 0:06:50.680 so huge for our offense and how we want to 0:06:50.720 --> 0:06:52.760 attack defense, is whether they're getting the ball or not, 0:06:52.800 --> 0:06:55.360 they're just making such an impact and getting the tight 0:06:55.480 --> 0:06:58.440 ends open, getting the running backs open, and opening up 0:06:58.440 --> 0:07:01.239 the run game, you name it. And so that'll be huge, 0:07:01.279 --> 0:07:02.880 that'll be huge for us. And then just learning what 0:07:02.920 --> 0:07:04.960 they each do well. You know, Curtis a guy with 0:07:05.040 --> 0:07:07.040 the ball in his hand and it's so dangerous. You've 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:10.920 seen over the years. Johan just a supernatural route runner, 0:07:10.960 --> 0:07:14.560 catches the ball supernaturally. Terry, you know, we've seen him 0:07:14.560 --> 0:07:16.440 for years. It was on the other side, seeing him 0:07:16.600 --> 0:07:18.160 when he was a rookie when I was in Philly 0:07:18.720 --> 0:07:20.720 light us up then, and so everyone knows what he 0:07:20.720 --> 0:07:22.320 can do, what he brings to the table. So it's 0:07:22.320 --> 0:07:24.560 been fun getting to know. They all do a lot 0:07:24.640 --> 0:07:26.800 of similar things well, but they all have you know, 0:07:26.840 --> 0:07:29.280 their their niches as well and what they do, and 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:30.800 so it's been fun getting to know him, and I 0:07:30.840 --> 0:07:33.040 look forward to seeing how Coach Turner's going to kind 0:07:33.040 --> 0:07:35.880 of use them to make a dynamic offense with them, 0:07:36.000 --> 0:07:39.760 speaking of, you know, utilizing your skill guys and all 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:42.240 the talents that they have. We know it's not gonna 0:07:42.240 --> 0:07:46.320 always beat pieces and cream on the field. As a quarterback, 0:07:46.360 --> 0:07:48.360 you get you have to show them more of the blame. 0:07:48.760 --> 0:07:50.800 You know, as a receiver, if we drop a pass, 0:07:50.880 --> 0:07:52.920 that's all we're dealing with. You're dealing with a little more. 0:07:52.960 --> 0:07:54.720 You're not a guy that had to play defense, but 0:07:54.800 --> 0:07:57.640 you have to score touchdowns. You have to lead the team. 0:07:57.840 --> 0:08:02.200 How do you kind of uh block the noise? Yeah, 0:08:02.280 --> 0:08:04.920 I know how I'll deal with it. I didn't watch TV, 0:08:05.000 --> 0:08:07.440 I didn't listen to the radio. I did my job. 0:08:07.800 --> 0:08:10.080 What is it takes for a guy like yourself as 0:08:10.120 --> 0:08:12.240 a quarterback, being the lead of being a CEO of 0:08:12.320 --> 0:08:15.840 this organization, on this franchise. How do you do or 0:08:15.880 --> 0:08:18.200 what you do without hearing too much of the noise? Yeah, 0:08:18.200 --> 0:08:19.720 I mean the same thing. You know. I don't watch 0:08:19.920 --> 0:08:22.360 TV if it is it's on the golf channel, you know, 0:08:23.400 --> 0:08:25.880 smart man. I don't listen to the radio. It's it's music, 0:08:26.040 --> 0:08:28.840 you know, it's podcasts, it's different things. But for me, 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:33.000 my faith, my faith, it just keeps me grounded and 0:08:33.160 --> 0:08:35.079 keeps me center. It allows me to remember there's a 0:08:35.120 --> 0:08:38.120 bigger picture, you know, trusting the Lord through it all 0:08:38.160 --> 0:08:41.800 and just knowing that I trust him and I know 0:08:41.880 --> 0:08:43.760 what my identity is in him, and so it doesn't 0:08:43.760 --> 0:08:46.240 really matter what people say, think or feel about me 0:08:46.280 --> 0:08:49.200 as long as I'm right with God. So that keeps 0:08:49.200 --> 0:08:51.440 me grounding. My family, my two little girls, and I 0:08:51.480 --> 0:08:53.640 go home and see them, my wife, they don't care 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:55.840 if I threw five touchdowns my pix. They love me 0:08:55.880 --> 0:08:58.160 for being dad, you know. And so all those things 0:08:58.200 --> 0:09:00.240 keep me grounded and try and keep me folks. But 0:09:00.240 --> 0:09:02.160 at the same time, I'm striving every day to be 0:09:02.200 --> 0:09:03.800 the best. You'll be the best I can be in 0:09:04.040 --> 0:09:06.480 and I hold myself to those high expectations, so I 0:09:06.480 --> 0:09:08.960 don't need to hear from other people outside because there's 0:09:09.000 --> 0:09:10.480 there's no need for that. I already put a lot 0:09:10.520 --> 0:09:13.360 of pressure on myself to be the best. But those 0:09:13.360 --> 0:09:15.040 are the things that really keep me ground and keep 0:09:15.040 --> 0:09:17.880 them focusing. Part of part of the training cap is 0:09:17.880 --> 0:09:21.040 the trash talk of the competitive you know spirit that 0:09:21.200 --> 0:09:23.520 takes place between the offense and the defense. And you 0:09:23.600 --> 0:09:26.520 mentioned whether you throw up five test stiles or five interceptions. 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:29.559 You threw a couple of interceptions during training camp this week. 0:09:29.600 --> 0:09:31.800 And the defense, I know they're gonna be chirping and 0:09:31.920 --> 0:09:34.360 doing those types of things. Are you a trash talk 0:09:34.400 --> 0:09:37.280 I played against Tom Brady, he was a major trash talker. 0:09:37.600 --> 0:09:40.440 Peyton Manny would talk a little bit. What's you know? 0:09:40.720 --> 0:09:43.360 I didn't say anything. Do you talk a little trains out? Really? 0:09:43.480 --> 0:09:45.520 I'm not really unless somebody, you know, rose me the 0:09:45.559 --> 0:09:49.040 wrong way. And you know, you can do subtle things 0:09:49.040 --> 0:09:51.360 some jobs, a little a little bit here and there, 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:54.320 maybe on the practice field, especially when a dB wants 0:09:54.320 --> 0:09:56.480 to keep chirping, Yeah, you'll throw it at him a 0:09:56.520 --> 0:09:58.920 little bit. But I try to just let the play 0:09:59.000 --> 0:10:00.679 du the talking for the most part, but every now 0:10:00.679 --> 0:10:03.199 and then you'll get into mix. Right. We kind of 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:05.240 talk early on a camp too that the defense usually 0:10:05.280 --> 0:10:08.040 is a little bit ahead of the offense. So they 0:10:08.080 --> 0:10:11.240 always say that, come to that point, though, let me 0:10:11.280 --> 0:10:14.520 ask me, like, where's our defense? Yeah? So far. I 0:10:14.520 --> 0:10:17.240 mean you've got you've got some big bodies coming at you, 0:10:17.320 --> 0:10:20.000 putting a lot of pressure on you. You got everybody's 0:10:20.000 --> 0:10:23.079 talking about how our secondary's communicating more and really kind 0:10:23.080 --> 0:10:25.640 of locking down. What are you seeing? Yeah, I mean 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:27.840 it's it's a great defense. You know. I've played against 0:10:28.080 --> 0:10:30.080 a handful of those guys for a few years a 0:10:30.080 --> 0:10:32.640 couple of years ago, and the D line was always 0:10:32.640 --> 0:10:34.360 the first thing that stuck out back then, and it's 0:10:34.360 --> 0:10:36.920 still the first thing that sticks out now. The guys 0:10:36.920 --> 0:10:39.800 in the trenches obviously missing chase out there right now, 0:10:39.880 --> 0:10:42.040 but the guys in the trenches on the D line, 0:10:42.240 --> 0:10:43.599 you know, set the tone and you can kind of 0:10:43.640 --> 0:10:45.839 see that at practice. But I've been impressed with the 0:10:45.960 --> 0:10:48.640 entire defense, the secondary flying around, some of those guys, 0:10:48.760 --> 0:10:52.240 newer faces that I haven't competed against before. Been really 0:10:52.280 --> 0:10:54.400 impressed with the way they communicate, the way they fly 0:10:54.480 --> 0:10:57.240 around and what coaches kind of doing the schemes he's 0:10:57.280 --> 0:11:00.280 mixing up back there. It's exciting to see and it's 0:11:00.480 --> 0:11:02.120 making us a lot better because they give us a 0:11:02.120 --> 0:11:05.040 great look. Every single time Iron Shop resigns. They're gonna 0:11:05.040 --> 0:11:08.080 be all right. You know. We are also talking about 0:11:08.080 --> 0:11:09.640 like durn Payne getting back there and if you want 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:12.600 to be like yo, dude, come on, give me give 0:11:12.600 --> 0:11:19.400 me a secranchise, no no touching card. Look that that's it. 0:11:19.559 --> 0:11:22.480 That said what everybody's wanting seeing. Excited to really kind 0:11:22.480 --> 0:11:25.040 of see this, come together, to have your moment, have 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:27.319 your day and uh, you know, over the years we're 0:11:27.320 --> 0:11:29.280 always kind of like it's Terry, Terry Terry. Now you 0:11:29.360 --> 0:11:31.600 have the chance to spread that ball around. So I'm 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:34.080 looking forward to seeing a lot of different options out there. 0:11:34.120 --> 0:11:36.960 It's going to be here before we know what. Folks, um, 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:41.719 thanks for joining us Carson for all your news and analysis. 0:11:41.760 --> 0:11:44.000 Be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights at five 0:11:44.120 --> 0:11:47.680 thirty ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:50.840 stream on YouTube and Commanders dot Com. Hail to the 0:11:50.840 --> 0:11:51.400 Commanders