Q. Good morning, Doug. When we talked with you last night you talk about the changing pace. That's why you were rotating back and forth between Jalen and Carson for a couple snaps. We only saw Jalen for a few of those snaps. I'm curious why we didn't see more of that rotation and if we will see more of that rotation in the future?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, you guys watched the game, and of course we were living it out real-time. One of the things -- for us I guess to use any of our personnel, and in this case we're talking about Jalen and Carson, you know, for me it's about getting in a rhythm, getting into the flow of the game, getting in a consistent flow where we're positive on first down.
That particular sequence, I believe the first down, first and ten, was right before the second quarter. Then it became a second down play, second and ten actually. Went with Jalen. We had a false start. Went to second and 15. We threw a pass it Alshon that was a short route. Supposed to be a little bit deeper; it went a little bit short; it was complete. Now we're third and eight, I believe, and went back to Carson on third down.
It's kind of how our whole first quarter and a half went for us, just no rhythm. So for me, would I like to get into a flow and use Jalen in a couple situations? I think that's feasible. It's possible. It's been productive for us.
But our first and second down production has to be better.
Q. Kind of a follow-up on that. You talked about flow and rhythm. You played quarterback for a long time. Just your personal philosophy, you know, if you were playing and somebody pulled you off for a couple plays, how would that affect you in getting into that flow and rhythm?
DOUG PEDERSON: Well, it happened to me back in 1999, so I have firsthand experience of that. You know, my philosophy is we do whatever it takes to spark the offense, whatever it takes to win a football game, be successful.
And, look, I mean, I know it may -- people may think it's different and you can't get a guy into a rhythm or whatever, but when you struggle as an offense you're looking for ways to create some plays.
The struggles we had last night weren't from the quarterback position. It was a bunch of mistakes from all positions that caused us to not be as successful.
But as far as the rotation goes, you would like to be in a little bit more of a rhythm. If it were Jalen in there, maybe he goes a couple plays in a row; obviously if Carson is in there, he takes the bulk of the action.
They're both professionals and they understand, and expect nothing less.
Q. On the top of the play calling, in the past when we've asked you about those responsibilities you've been resistant to giving them up. Is that still your position, or have you considered allowing a different coach to call plays as a way to try to spark the offense?
DOUG PEDERSON: Zach, that's such a harsh question, man. You used the word resistant.
Q. Because (indiscernible.)
DOUG PEDERSON: I take pride in play calling and I look at everything. I got to take everything into consideration. If I feel like I get stuck or in a rut, I definitely would consider giving that up.
So it's definitely on the table. I wouldn't say that's off the table. But that's also part of sparking the offense and maybe seeing the offense through somebody else's eyes.
Q. Speaking of sparking the offense, I think the thing that a lot of fans struggle with, I just re-watched the game, 20 minutes into the game you had four yards of offense. I know you guys work really hard all week and plan and you're competent people. Why? What's going on that this happens?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, it's honestly a really good question, and I struggle with the whys. You know me, I'm not going to sit here and throw people under the bus. We can do that during the week of preparation and practice.
Guys just have to understand the sense of urgency that it takes to play a game and to prepare not only coaching, but also players. It's a long season. The season is a grind. It's a tough sport mentally and physically, and probably more so mentally than anything else.
And it's frustrating because we do prep and practice and study and meet all week long, and coaches spend countless hours putting game plans together and trying to somehow come up with a plan that can beat your opponent.
And then whether it's execution or sometimes physically just get beat, you know, it's a frustrating thing. It's something that we have got to -- again, if it goes back to simplifying game plans, we can keep simplifying as much as we can. We've got a lot of moving parts, a lot of moving pieces, particularly in the offensively line. I alluded to that a little bit this morning on the phone, that continuity and stability.
That's also been an issue with us. Some young players on the perimeter, new targets that Carson is throwing to. So we're definitely not where we want to be, that's for sure. We're going to continue to work to improve.
Q. Were you on board with the Jalen Hurts draft pick when it happened?
DOUG PEDERSON: Yes, I was. Why?
Q. So because I'm wondering because he hasn't played out the way you guys -- at least the way that Howie originally said, that he would be utilized on offense. Seems to have undermined you to some extent, and Carson Wentz.
DOUG PEDERSON: I don't understand where you're coming from. Every year we look at quarterbacks. Every year we -- if we have an opportunity to take a quarterback, we're going to take a quarterback; at least look to the position.
Every position is looked at and studied, and wherever we can helps and add talent and depth, we're gone do that. The quarterback position is not exempt from that. This is a sport where there is only one quarterback that plays, and Carson is that player right now.
We go to work and we continue to coach Jalen, get him prepared if he has to go in and play.
Q. As you know when teams start losing the issue of job security comes up. Two-part question for you. First, have you received assurances that you'll be able to see it through this season as head coach?
DOUG PEDERSON: I haven't been reassured one way or the other, no.
Q. The second part is do you feel like the way things are going that your job is in jeopardy following the season?
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, listen, I've been around this league a long time, 25 years I believe as a player and a coach, and we're always based on and evaluated on our performance.
Right now, that's obviously not my concern as far as that decision goes. That's out of my hands. But what's in my hands and control is getting the team prepared and ready for Green Bay this weekend.
So I'm not going there mentally. I'm looking forward to playing again this week, getting back on the grass tomorrow with the players, and getting ready for Green Bay.
Q. Along those lines, there has been some reports of mounting frustration from ownership. Curious what your interactions have been like with Jeffrey and how much pressure are you feeling from the very top of the organization?
DOUG PEDERSON: Our relationship is good. We have a lot of -- we communicate a lot throughout the week. We have our typical weekly meeting and cover a lot of ground.
But that relationship is good. Listen, some of these questions might be for Mr. Lurie obviously, but my job is to prepare the team and get ready for Green Bay.
Q. Along those lines, has Jeffrey weighed in on the state of the quarterback position and how to handle that for the rest of the season?
DOUG PEDERSON: No, he hasn't. You know, and, again, that's my decision as the head football coach. They make a lot of personnel decision, but this one is my decision if and when we make that change. Right now we're not doing that.
Q. Doug, we've heard you take blame for what's happening. We've heard players take blame and ownership for what's happening. In your conversations with Jeffrey Lurie, how much responsibility has the front office taken for the personnel decisions that have contributed to you guys being in this position?
DOUG PEDERSON: Rob, those conversations are -- I'm not going to get into that. This is not the time or the place to really get into those types of conversations.
Q. You're always very optimistic with your team, as you should be. And as a guy who takes a lot of pride in the offense and play calling and a guy who has been a quarterback in this league for so long, I can sense it's really frustrating for you to not have the answers on how to fix the offense. Could you describe that frustration? That's what it feels like.
DOUG PEDERSON: You know, again, like I said, I've been around a long time. The only way to fix the frustrations and get out of and underneath this cloud that we're in or under, quite frankly, is to just continue to go to work and practice hard and continue to show on tape the good, the bad, mistakes that are being made; make the corrections.
And, I mean, we've got a left tackle that this is -- basically football is new to him. He's learning how to play this game. Right tackle that doesn't have a ton of experience but he's played. He's learning how to play the game.
Gosh, we took an all-pro left tackle and he has given of himself to play right guard. Then there are young people on the outside. It's not perfect, by no means, and we have to continue to work. That's the only way I know how. There is no magic football play. There is no magic defense or special teams or -- it's a matter of just going to work, you know, during the week and climbing yourself out of it.
Everybody has to take ownership of it. Myself, the coaches, players. That's the only way I know how to fix it and work ourselves out of it.
Q. A little earlier you said that you would consider giving up play calling if you felt like you were in a rut. Do you feel that way? Also, do you think Carson is salvageable? What do you I see as far as being wrong with him?
DOUG PEDERSON: On the play calling front, no. I don't necessarily feel like I'm in a rut right now. I think that as I said earlier, things are still on the table. If I feel like I ever get to that spot then I would consider for a game, a half, or whatever, letting somebody else do that if that helps us win.
Carson, again -- that's a strange word. Yes, I do. I think that he is willing, wanting to fix not only the issues with him but with the team and with the offense. You know, he's one of the hardest workers we got, and we're going to work through it and battle through it and keep coaching and coaching hard and being accountable to one another and working ourselves out of it.
Q. Just why the hesitation to not at least give Jalen at least one series? Why not let him see if he can play his way through that. Team didn't have a first down to that point. Why go back to Carson in that situation?
DOUG PEDERSON: That was just my decision at the time, honestly. You know, that's it: my decision. I can sit here and look back -- I'm not going to hypothetical and I'm not going to say it would've made a difference, but that was my decision.
Q. I know you guys have been frustrated with the things that you've done on offense that kind of set you back behind the chains, false starts and penalties and whatnot. There was a time where you guys were able to overcome things like that. Third and long seemed to be like Carson Wentz's wheelhouse. It's not really that way anymore. Can you win with such a small margin for error?
DOUG PEDERSON: Not right now we can't. We can't be making these mistakes week in and week out and expect to win.
I will say, and you guys aren't even talking about how well the defense played, you know, last night with the two huge couple red zone stops and all of that, and really how well they played to keep us in this football game. Still had an opportunity whether it be an onside kick or make the fourth and four. Whatever it is, you have an opportunity to still pull out that football game.
So I know everybody is enamored with offense, as probably they should be, but this is a team sport. We have got to be cohesive in all three phases and play complementary football. That's something all season we have not done.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports