Q. Obviously the turnovers from Carson last night were concerning. What's your messaging to him and what do you hope he can accomplish this bye week taking a look back at his first eight weeks of the season?
COACH PEDERSON: Well, the first thing we know, that any turnover is unacceptable both my himself and us as a team. It just puts our defense in a position obviously on a short field, and we just can't do that. We can't do that consistently and that's been kind of the theme the first half of the season.
So you know, what we can do this week, is really look at all the turnovers, right and take a look and study those and see where there are opportunities to complete the throw, where there are opportunities to run, was it protection break down, whatever it might be and take a look at them and then, you know, when we get the players in here to really even go through that, and I can remember back when I was a player, we used to go through the turnover reel just to have sort of a sense of awareness, you know, moving forward.
But we all know that it's unacceptable, something that we definitely have to correct and fix in the second half of the season.
Q. To kind of follow-up on that, Carson said after the game he doesn't want to lose his aggressive mindset. He think that's what makes him the player he is. We've talked about this a lot but that's a fine line. How do you scale back in sort of the decision-making, not always trying to extend the play, not always trying to push things?
COACH PEDERSON: Well, this just goes back to, you know, the statement I just made. It's something that we have to show, we have to show the players, right. We have to go through the tape. We have to go through the cutup of the turnovers and see if there's decisions that we can make otherwise, and really that's the only way to begin to correct these types of mistakes is if, you know, it's no different if a player makes a few mental errors during the game. We have to show them the mental errors and we fix it and correct it and move on. It's no different with the turnovers. We've just got to make sure that we eliminate them, or at least reduce them, and give ourselves a chance to -- because we're leaving points on the field, right and a couple of these have come in the high red zone or the red zone where we have opportunities to put points on the board and that's where we have to really focus in and not turn the ball over.
Q. I'll get the injury questions out of the way. Darius Slay and Malik Jackson, what are their status?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, both those guys are okay. We didn't have any significant injuries coming out of the game. So this week is getting to us at the right time with guys getting healthy and those two guys should be -- should be moving forward next week.
Q. And then we didn't get the chance to ask you, with Lane Johnson, what happened Sunday that caused him to miss the game?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, you know, it was unfortunate. He had a really good week, trending in the right direction. You know, Friday, Saturday, practices were good and just woke up Sunday not feeling it, not there, and we didn't want to risk putting him out there and missing him for more, you know, weeks in advance. You know, it was just unfortunate that it happened, but you know, I thought Jordan Mailata stepped in nicely, got the reps there all week, really with, that position and did a nice job.
Q. You said that you didn't have any conversations about sitting Carson after that fourth turnover. Wondering what your philosophy is with that sort of thing. We say Andy in 2008 sit Donovan for a spell. What's the threshold have to be for you and what's your philosophy when it comes to riding with the quarterback?
COACH PEDERSON: You know, listen, Carson is our starter and got a lot of trust and faith in him that he can get the job done, and you know, by no means was I in a position to make a decision or make a move yesterday.
You know, it's just -- listen, it's just something that we've got to continue to coach and we've got to continue to get better. He understands he has to get better in that area. We also understand that, you know, our backup quarterbacks here, Jalen and Nate have got to be prepared, whether it's a situation like that or an injury situation where they have to go in and play.
We continue to coach. We continue to work every day and Carson understands that he has to get better. He's mentioned that. He's said that. And we move forward.
Q. Can you explain that a little bit? Why weren't you in a position to do that by any means, if you can flush it out --
COACH PEDERSON: It's pretty simple. My mind wasn't there. I wasn't going there. I was going to give Carson every opportunity to win that game for us, and he's capable of doing that, and I wasn't in that frame of mind.
Q. During the bye week as you self-scout, what are some areas you really want to concentrate on, and is this bye week any different because of COVID-19 and everyone kind of staying local, I guess.
COACH PEDERSON: Well, from the local standpoint, yeah, we have to test every single day. We have to do the COVID testing, so we're still testing every single day this week. So the players and coaches can't get away.
I will give players and coaches some time at the end of the week to relax and sort of get away and spend time with their families like we normally do. We're going to bring the players in on Wednesday. Want to work with the players. And we've got to get better. This is the time where we can look at the first eight games and really self-scout and evaluate and find ways to improve all three areas of our team. It's also a chance to get some guys healthy and prepare.
So that's what we are going to do. We are going to spend Wednesday with the guys. Obviously tomorrow is election day, so they are going to be out of the building. Coaches are going to work from home tomorrow, and it's a workday, but work from home tomorrow and get back in here on Wednesday with the players.
Q. The other day you were talking about Jordan Mailata, and he ended up playing right tackle but you talked about how a player can learn and benefit from sitting. You mentioned Nelly back in, whenever it was, 2016 when he stepped back. Could that apply in a way to Carson? Could he benefit maybe from taking a break from, from sitting a game out and watching, and if not, you know, how do you know when that applies to somebody and when it doesn't?
COACH PEDERSON: You're asking to sit the starting quarterback for a game or more, is that what you're asking?
Q. Yeah, you talk about fresh eyes, learning from watching and that kind of thing.
COACH PEDERSON: You know, I was in a situation in 2015 I think it was. We started the season 1-5 with Alex Smith as a starter and Coach Reid and I made a decision not to bench Alex. He was our starter, and we're going to get it fixed, and we did. I think we won 11 straight after that. Not saying that we are going to win 11 straight here, but what I'm saying is, we are going to work through our issues. We are going to work through our problems.
You know, Carson understands that we've got to hold everybody accountable, and it starts with me, and I'm going to look at myself in the mirror. I'm going to look at some of the decisions and calls I've made in the first eight games and that's part of what this week is about, and it's about getting better. The only way we get better, especially with some young players on offense that are playing, who are getting valuable reps, is to continue to work and they have to work with Carson.
That's what we are going to do, and that's our focus moving forward.
Q. So turnovers aside, the offense in the second and third quarters just looked to painful and yards were so hard to come by, even running or passing. What was that about? What did you see when you were watching the tape that made that such a struggle? Did Dallas's defense improve? I know they got rid of some people and had new people in. John Lee played for the first type. But what did you see rewatching that? Why was the offense such a struggle for half the game?
COACH PEDERSON: You know, yeah, they made a couple adjustments in the second half and quite honestly taking a look at the tape today, there were just a couple of execution errors. We didn't surface a couple blocks up front. We missed a couple of reads from the quarterback position. We dropped some passes on some key third downs in the game, and so it was just compounded errors on the offense's part that kept us from are staying on the field.
Credit the defense. This is why it's a team -- a team sport. I credit the defense for how well they played, and I know we're bashing the offense here, but we need to give the defense some credit. They played their tails off yesterday and kept us in this football game, and you know, scored on defense, as well.
So it's a team sport. We're in it together, and we're going to get better together.
Q. You said generally speaking that Jalen Hurts needs to be ready obviously if Carson were to get hurt, but is he ready at this stage of his career as a rookie? Would he be able to start if need be? Is he caught up? How would you assess where he stands right now?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, Jalen's doing a nice job. He's prepared during the week and he understands the game plan.
I think that, you know, you can't do go in and say, hey, learn the offense like Carson knows it right now, but I think you can do some things with him that allow him to be successful if we had to. But he's in a good position. He studies hard during the week with Nate, and you know, he's prepared if called upon.
Q. It sounds like a 2020 thing to say, but here you guys won to stay in first place in the division, you beat the Cowboys yet a lot of people are treating this like a loss. Now that you look at the tape do you see why Eagles fans feel that way, and how do you package last night's game big picture? Why is it that it's a first-place win, and yet it feels kind of somber?
COACH PEDERSON: Because you and the fans don't get a chance to go back and watch the tape today like we did. To see the plays that are you left on the field where -- listen, we understand, we have to get better. We know that, that's -- myself included, we all have to -- we are all towing the line the same direction, and we have to get better there.
But you look at the tape today, and there's some things -- and I tell the guys all the time. We're not going to use the excuse any more that these players are young, right. You know, Jalen Reagor just came back for the first time. With as it perfect? No. But there's room to grow, you know, and Travis Fulgham has been a bright spot on the perimeter and Hightower has been a bright spot on the perimeter, and these are guys that are getting better each week.
You know, you go back to 2017 in that championship run, and if you remember back a couple years ago, there was consistency and there was stability around our offense, right. We had the same three receivers. We had the same three tight ends. We had the same running backs. The offensive line was intact and so we had continuity and things were flowing. With so many moving parts right now with the amount of injuries, so many guys are shuffling in and out of the lineup; it's hard to get continuity and rhythm and timing and flow. It makes it look really bad opponent the outside when, you know, quite honestly, from -- you probably don't believe it, but it's encouraging from our side that, yeah, one, we won the game, right. We're a game and a half up in the in NFC East. We have a chance to get healthy here at the bye. We have a chance next week against the Giants hopefully get some more starters back and see what happens, and correct some of the things that are going on.
It's about how we -- the season, it's a marathon. It's long, right. It's not a sprint. You don't sprint to the finish. Are we where we want to be? Yeah, we're first place in the NFC East, but at 3-4-1, it could easily be the other way, right. It could be 4-3-1 or 5-3 or whatever it could be. But there's a lot of positive that we see as coaches on the inside that, you know, give us the encouragement and, you know, the opportunity to get better as a team.
Q. The last three years you guys have made a trade at the deadline. Obviously there's a day and a half before the deadline good it's here. What are the conversations like with Howie as you enter a bye week with COVID happening not getting a guy in for another week if you do make a deal? What's the conversation like over the next 36 hours?
COACH PEDERSON: Listen, you're always going to take a look and see if there's an opportunity to help your football team. But honestly, like you said, with the way COVID is and getting that player in here, they are not going to be caught up to speed right away and it's going to be a week or so before you can really get them into the building. There's all kinds of things that we talk about.
Obviously we take a look at it and see, see if there's an opportunity there. But again, it just kind of goes back to what I've been saying. This is a great opportunity for us as a team to get better this week, get healthy this week and to really focus on us.
Q. With respect to Carson and the offense and the turnovers, how much do you build the risk of turnovers into your overall play calling philosophy in terms of what you want your quarterback to do and what you want your offense to be?
COACH PEDERSON: When it comes to the turnovers, say, an interception, my philosophy, and I learned this a long time ago as a player. Really goes all the way back to my days in Green Bay with Coach Holmgren. I would even take it back as far as Miami with Coach Shula and watching him and being around Dan Marino and those guys.
One of I think the greatest lessons you can learn or provide your team or a player is to put the ball right back in their hands. If it's Carson that makes the interception or throws the interception, put the ball right back in his hands to make a completion on the next series. If it's a fumble, give it back to that running back and give him a chance to redeem himself because that's all mental. That's the thing that they can learn from.
So for me, that's what that's about. I just trust the players enough to put the ball right back in their hands to make plays, and we can coach the mistake on the sideline and we can talk about it on the sideline and all of that, but for me, it's about putting the ball right back into their hands to make the play the next series.
Q. You were talking a little bit about a bit of an unusual bye week this week. Carson said last night with everything going on, it's a good time for a break. Is the emotional part or mental part more needed now, even though you're still testing just because of all the other outside stuff with COVID you and the players have had to deal with all year?
COACH PEDERSON: It's a good time. I love having the bye week in week eight, nine or ten in the season. I think it's a good time because then you kind of focus and get ready are to the second half of your season.
You know, right now, too, I think with COVID and the fact that we have to test every day, it keeps our team here. It keeps our team grounded right here in our city, and that's why it gives us a chance to really work, you know, Wednesday and bring the guys back in and get some stuff done and look at some tape and self-scout and show them, you know, with calmer eyes. We're not game planning this week, but yet we can go back and watch us and see where we need to improve, and also show them the good that came out of the first eight weeks. I think it important that we do that, and obviously if there is a positive with the COVID, is the fact that we get to stick together as a team.
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