John Bates talks 'confidence in everyone' on Commanders offense with Chris Russell
Everything seems different at Washington Commanders training camp this year – the first under head coach Dan Quinn – but it has "been a really good start," after two weeks said fourth-year tight end John Bates.
Bates said that it can be a little easy to come out of OTAs a "little bit rusty" and not be on top of things, "but from the second we got back to training camp and started practicing we've been right where we left off."
"It's a really good feeling from a team standpoint, just where we're at mentally what we're able to put out there," Bates continued. "Then individually, the best camp I've had yet, I feel the best my body's ever felt, so far and I feel like just all-around from a blocking and pass-catching, perspective, I feel like I've put my best ball together."
Bates credited new tight end coach David Raih – "one of the most positive coaches" he's worked with during his football career – with helping him get better on the field this camp.
New addition Zach Ertz has provided Bates with another role-model for his game to "pick his brain" in meetings and "pay attention to stuff he does on the field and create space to get open."
And Bates will be hoping he gets found plenty by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was recently listed as the top QB on Washington's depth chart. But the tight end believes there's good things happening in the new offense no matter who is under center: "I think at the end of the day we're very comfortable with whoever is gonna lead us because we've got so many reps with all the guys and various play styles, and we just have full confidence in everyone on our team and this offense. It doesn't matter who is out there, good things have happened."
