THE MODERATOR: Coach should be joining us momentarily.
Q. As you assess the Cowboys' offense, from what you saw with Tony Pollard back there as opposed to Zeke Elliott, how does it change and how does it look?
COACH PEDERSON: First of all, want to say Merry Christmas to everybody and hope everybody gets a chance to spend some time with family and get away from this craziness for a day or so.
But getting back to your question. I think one of the things you're seeing with the offense, you're seeing a little bit more of the RPO variety run game. Not as much of the downhill powerful football game, run game that the Cowboys have used in the past. It's a little more mid zone, RPO, the advantage throws. Things like that where they're using Pollard. Plus, they're using him obviously in the passing game a little bit more.
So he's really done a nice job. He's had some really nice games here lately. And he's been a really good back for the time that Zeke's been out.
Q. You had some success with the screen game last week. What helped get that on track? And is there any connection to defenses worrying about Jalen in that being successful?
COACH PEDERSON: I thought that was something we could actually use a little bit more against Arizona last week. We made a conscious effort to put a few more screens in the game plan, work him in practice and had some success. And it's something that we've got to continue to try to do and use.
I think it's a way to slow down pass rush, a way to just get the ball in your skill guys' hands and let them be athletes. And it's a way to use Jalen, again to put the ball quickly in his hands and let him use his talent. So we'll continue to find ways of using the screen game.
Q. Did it take a little bit of time to get used to Jalen Hurts' personality, just because he seems like such an overly laid-back guy all the time?
COACH PEDERSON: I think with him specifically, I guess one of the things, I guess from my standpoint and being around quarterbacks my whole career, it's a little easier to get to know guys in the quarterback room, say, than the defensive line room, for instance, or the DB room. But it always takes a little bit of time to get to know a person to see what makes him tick, how he thinks, what he likes as a quarterback, plays and things like that.
And I've been real impressed with his openness, with his willingness to talk and learn and ask questions. And of course he's got a great demeanor around the guys, around the coaches. And he's a guy that wants to learn and improve and get better.
You've heard that in his comments this week, how disappointed he was about the game this past Sunday. That's just who he is. But being in that room more, I'll tell you, the other thing, it's just hard with the way we have to do things now, with the intensive protocols, you really don't get a chance to really get to know somebody like you would want virtually through the computer. We only get a limited amount of time during the week to spend with our guys.
Q. Have you ever seen him really kind of fire up on the sideline or in a meeting or anything?
COACH PEDERSON: Yeah, I mean, fired up from -- an excited fire-up. And you saw it -- I saw it last week in Arizona, he went up and down the bench, especially with the offensive guys, just talking to them, getting them going a little bit. And even the interactions I've had with him, he's energetic and gets a little fired up. And that's good to see.
Q. Speaking of that demeanor with Jalen, we talked to him yesterday, and there was a question about some of the outside noise, obviously the quarterback controversy questions. And he mentioned you've got to stay away from the rat poison. And Nick Saban kind of told him about the social media, about the outside noise. I'm curious, how often do you have to address that with the players, or individuals? Does it come up much?
COACH PEDERSON: It comes up all the time. And it's one of the things that, when I call the team up at the end of practice, I just remind them about the media obligations and social media and just try to remind them to be smart and not to read too much into things and just stay focused on what we're doing internally.
So it's a constant reminder for me, but not only for me but for me to the team, to remind them to stay away from the so-called rat poison. It's a good way of using it. But the guys are smart. They just gotta understand that everybody's a reporter, everybody has a camera, everybody has a microphone out there.
And even the player themselves, right, with the social media accounts that they have, they've just got to be smart with the information that's being portrayed, either about themselves or the team. So it is a constant reminder to me to stay on top of that.
Q. This week you guys activated a practice window for DeSean Jackson. And I was kind of wondering where he is in his recovery and if it's possible that he could play either this week or next week?
COACH PEDERSON: He's getting close. We activated it because -- for that reason. We feel like he is close. He was able to get some snaps in yesterday with the offense. And we'll integrate him more today and just see where he's at. It's the first time he's been able to do any kind of football activity with the team, more football maneuvers -- running routes and blocking and things of that nature.
So we'll see how he is, see how he feels today, but we'll try to ramp him up today and keep him coming.
Q. To follow up on Jalen's personality a little bit, when you have a guy like that in that position and he can sometimes be quiet because he's working so hard, he's young and he's very diligent, all things we've heard about Jalen, can he sometimes come off as arrogant? And do you have to reinforce with him, hey, maybe sometimes let your personality show when you're playing or when you're around the guys, or when you're with the coaches?
COACH PEDERSON: You know, I say that quite a bit with the guys, to let -- I do want their personalities to show, particularly on game day. I want them to be them. And I want the players to be who they are.
I don't want them to hide behind anything or feel like they're inferior or they've got to sort of put up a persona that's not them. I just want them to be who they are. And it got them, the players, it got them to this level for a reason. And we don't want to put a blanket over it and kind of smother it. We want them to be free.
And, look, sometimes if it comes off as arrogance, it's okay, as long as they can back that stuff up and play well. And it's okay. And that goes with receivers. That goes with DBs. And it goes with everybody, every position.
So I just want the guys to be who they are. And it can go a long way into the shaping of, kind of the culture and excitement of the team.
Q. What's the value of having Alshon, you've got such a young group of receivers, to have Alshon there, his return kind of coincided with the Jalen playing, what has the value been to have that veteran receiver out there for Jalen?
COACH PEDERSON: The thing that I've appreciated with Alshon, even when he wasn't out there and going through his rehab and injury, is how he's really mentored these young receivers, taking a guy like Travis Fulgham, J.J., Jalen Reagor, Hightower, Quez, all these guys, and really -- I see him or I saw him, and he continues to do this, just talking to them and coaching them.
And I guess another thing I've really appreciated about Alshon is that he's so unselfish. He doesn't have to have every ball thrown his way. He doesn't have to score all the touchdowns. He gets excited when Miles scores or when Jalen Reagor scores or when Quez scored the other day. He gets fired up about that. And he's such a pro about it. And so his value has been about mentoring and sort of coaching and teaching these young guys how to play this game.
Q. What about on the field?
COACH PEDERSON: On the field, the same way. He feels good. Obviously he's healthier now. He's got his game legs back, and he's playing aggressive. And I just think he's in a really good spot right now mentally and physically.
Q. Sunday's going to be one of those rare games where you might actually have your offensive line all together for just, I guess, the second time this year. Have you noticed any difference in practice this week with that same line developing cohesion? And then, secondly, who is your reserve tackle there behind Pryor and Mailata?
COACH PEDERSON: The reserve tackle will be Brett Toth. He'll be the backup tackle, and then we have Ross and Luke Juriga. It's the second time we've had the starting five together this season. And you just see the communication with these guys in practice and they're not having to learn and look over, and, okay, there's Jack Driscoll to my right or Matt Pryor is now playing the left side or Mailata is on the right side. It's having that stability, and that communication really goes a long way in how well these guys can play.
And then, of course, they have to go and play on Sunday and play against another really good defensive line and a couple of really good defensive ends. And it's no small task. It's hard. And yet the fact that they can be together and listen to Kelce and the communication that goes on. And the fact that they're getting reps at that position and that position only just makes them that much better every time they get an opportunity to go play.
Q. What's made Greg Ward so good in the red zone this year?
COACH PEDERSON: Greg, I'll tell you, he's such a really good route runner. Being a former quarterback, he really understands leverage. He understands coverage. He's another one that just wants to learn. And he's just a sponge out there. He's been in the league now a couple years. But still wanting to improve and get better.
And he just knows how to set up defenders. He's obviously quicker than he is probably faster -- straight line speed. And that's okay, because down in the red zone or on third down is where you need that. He's been impressive. And not a real big guy, but he plays, he plays bigger than his size is. And he's having a solid year.
Q. Cowboys week, it's always such a big deal because of the rivalry, because of the crowd and the standings and the history. And this year you've got no real crowd and a quarterback who's never played in this rivalry before. How different is Cowboys week?
COACH PEDERSON: It's different maybe, like you said, from the participants in the game, probably for both sides, both teams. But it doesn't take away, doesn't take away anything from the rivalry from this game whatsoever. And it's something that I've reminded the guys this week about. Just not only the importance of this game but just the history and the tradition.
And I can think about the times that I've played in this rivalry. And it's just a great game. It's an exciting game. It's a physical game. And there's a lot to this game Sunday for both teams.
So that doesn't go away. That part doesn't go away. Some of the participants might be different, but it's still football at the end of the day, and we still have to go out and execute our jobs.
Q. What do you hope to get under the tree tomorrow?
COACH PEDERSON: Oh, maybe a little rest, how about that? Maybe a little sleep. No, obviously you think about this time of year and having my family in town. My three boys, three sons are in town and my wife. And just spending time with family and that to me is what it's all about.
Q. If I can take you back to August and September, the first plan was to go with Nate Sudfeld as the number two. When and why did you realize that you needed to change that to Jalen?
COACH PEDERSON: I think as a staff when we made that change is when we really started thinking about how we could use Jalen and Carson together on the field at the same time and how we could impact the offense that way. And so that kind of was more so the reason to bring Jalen along back then, was just to see how we could get him on the field with Carson and use those two together to provide explosive plays or plays that would extend drives early in the season. And it did. And then we had to just continue to evolve that.
Q. How did Nate handle that whole process?
COACH PEDERSON: Like a professional. And listen, Nate -- I know Nate was disappointed. I do know that. And rightfully so. Obviously coming in as the No. 2 and then making that change early in the season with Jalen there. But, again, he handled it like a pro. And he went out and he worked every single day as he does today.
And he doesn't want to be a distraction and wants to help the quarterback room. Wants to help the team win. And he and I still -- we still talk quite a bit, Xs and Os, on and off the football field. And he's been a big part of that had room.
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