Press Pass: Doug Pederson

practice this week. Brent Selik with his with his rib, he'll he'll be okay to practice. Camu will be out there. He's been one that's been injury here the last couple of weeks. Jason Kelsey has a quad contusion from the game, but we'll be able to practice. He'll be fine. Benny Logan, Um, a little bit sore, but he's gonna be fine. Came through the game game okay, Uh, Leo with his hamstring got through it fine. And obviously you made a huge play at the end of the game. And then destiny

uh left calf contusion was kicked. He'll be he'll be okay to practice. UM, and UH good to go this week's play in the three the last three games when he was filled in for Alan and yeah, how much. Yeah, it's great to First of all, it's great to have a guy like like Wiz um veteran experience, played a lot of games prior to you know, joining our football team, and that's great to have that kind of backup guards

center combination out of him. He's played, he's played well, you know, Um, he's been a solid addition in there. I've been real consistent. Um, you know, a little limited as an athlete, but but a very smart makes up for it with with his with his brain and and being in the right position in the protocol and with Leote still kind of had the hamstring injury. Do you feel the need to do anything different in terms of personnel at cornerback at this time now and it's too

early in the week to make that decision. Well, it's one of those things. Well, we'll see later in the week. As they progressed the drive to go ahead in the fourth quarter, lots we made of the previous drives this season where we all didn't get them done. What did you take from those previous drives and what were you looking at what they were giving you? Could you take us through that drive a little bit. It looked like the second and ten run of scrolls was a real

key to that. And what were you thinking that you went through that. You know, the biggest thing was coming out of this game and as opposed to some of those other games, was you know, we did a little bit better on first and second down yesterday than we did in those previous games where we kept ourselves in some third and longer situations. At least we were in some manageable down and distances there that gave us opportunities to stay on the field. The obviously the run to

Sprolls was huge. And then you know, just our offensive line just taking control I think of the line of scrimmage and playing playing on their side of the ball was a big benefit. And uh, you know didn't have to necessarily um, you know, have to throw the ball as much. I mean, our running game obviously was was kind of taken over and wanted to continue that late in the game. The third team that likes to pack the box a lot, so second in ten they were

probably they probably was showing a lot. But what's sprung that second and ten or what what did you think worked in that on that play. Well, you know, yeah, they're Atlanta, is they? They? They there are an eight man box defense. And uh, you know a lot of times, Um, sometimes by formation you can you can spread them out, but at the same time, you know you you're going to have to let one guy go. You just don't

have enough blockers. And and um, you know we had a hat for a hat on the play except for the backside guys and allowed Darren to you know, get outside on that on the on the run, and and and and make a nice make a nice game and help us, you know, help us finish that football game. But UM, a lot of times it's it can be by formation or the design of the play that that helps you get that done. Peter said yesterday, he's kind of your year. How do you think he's playing this year?

And how much time do you think he has? Um, I'll tell you what he's playing. He's he's playing extremely well. And UM, you know, the for me as a coach and and just knowing him as long as I have, I mean, the the proud thing for me is is where he is physically healthy, you know, and he's he's in a great position right now. And you know, we're managing managing him during the week to get him just enough reps during practice to get him to game day.

And he feels he feels great. He's getting plenty of rest earlier in the week that helps him and and um, you know, I'd love to see him play, you know, as long as he can, you know, and and uh, but yeah, he's playing. He's playing extremely well right now. President to managing his time, did you have a player in mind? I mean, what he said yesterday was he feels pressured And was there a guy in your past that you said him going to try to do it?

Like because Jason Peters, I mean, you know, because just knowing, knowing how we handled him in the past here, Um, you know, just looking back, he's such a dynamic athlete and powerful man at left tackle that you know, guys like that you want to because he works so hard during the week, you want to just again give him enough rest during the week that he's he's fresh and ready to go. And it's and it's a tribute to

to us. The way he you know, prepares himself during the week and the way he um his hydration, his nutrition, all of that plays a part, especially this late in the season. How well these guys take care of their bodies off the field is a big part to their their recovery, UM, and their health, especially the older you get as as a football player, it's your confidence level enough, No one can't go this week, you know. In the backup guy corners, UM really inhesitant to use him in

the game. And what you turn to first, you know, between Aaron Rive and CJ. Yeah, you know, obviously Jalen has done a great job in that in that in that position. Um, you know CJ right now has the most um probably the most experience or at least the most reps you know, playing at that corner position. Who who's been active and playing more special teams. Aaron is still kind of working into the system just a little bit.

Um just you know, he's only been active a week, so we just got to keep keep bringing him along with some more reps. But um, you know, it's it's

attribute though to uh. I think our defensive line with those situations when we talk about the corner position, because when we do put the pressure on quarterbacks like we've done, especially yesterday, UM allows our guys to kind of kind of free up a little bit and and and if you got to double a guy, you can double a guy and and and use that to your advantage than Jordan, not the other receivers I think for two catches for Santa CON's been back. Thus, what's kind of going on there?

Like those guys getting no you know, yesterday it was just uh gosh, I mean, the running game just was so big yesterday that that we didn't have to throw the ball as much, you know, like we've done in the past. And you know I've said all along that if we can keep keep Carson too. You know, there's twenty five attempts, thirty attempts. I mean, it's it's it's

a good day usually um. And and you know, the design of some of the there were some matchups we had with Sproles on their linebackers, you know, Earth's over the ball, some opportunities versus man coverage with Jordan and over the middle. Just just some design things that we had during the game plan that were not necessarily you know, a reflection on Nelson or any other guys. It was just a matter of the design, the contour of the play and who was who was the primary on that play,

how well the defense is a point. Is there a measure that you've used, whether it's it's points allowed, doors all out door downs, what's what's the key step? We have one more point in them at the end of the game. You know, I don't and I think Schwartz is the same way. I don't put a lot of a lot of emphasis on on you know, points, yards and if we just go out and just execute the game plan and do our jobs and and which we've kind of said all along, those kind of things, they

kind of take care of themselves. We knew, yes, we did know Atlanta. We know the explosiveness they have on offense. We knew the explosiveness that Pittsburgh had. We knew the firepower that that that Minnesota was bringing and their defense had. So but it's just it's just a matter of our guys just you know, embracing the game plan for that week. Um,

it was great to get Benny back yesterday. I think that was a that was a key part of our our rush yesterday and not having to blitz as much, you know, and and and anytime you can rush for and not blitz and still put that kind of pressure on your quarterback. Um, it's a great it's a great day, and so it takes away all the other other stats if you just can do that, I know, the hit on, the hit on Julia, just the way you're acting on the side, which it's pretty inherent thought that would have

been penally. Does the uncertainty nowadays NFL about what is a kind of leading? What is on? Does that have any effect on coaching? But it's strategy, teaching, technique, any sort of aspect because you may not have a real good idea of what exactly is confronting. It doesn't change anything on our our behalf as far as how we how we teach, how we how we go about our business, how we instruct our players. I would say this that a defensive player, Yeah, you have to lower your target,

you know. And some of these things listen, some of these things happen so fast and their bang bang type plays. That that to the naked eye at the time, maybe it maybe it looks bad when really it's not. That's why all these SlowMo cameras and stuff you see. You see a bunch of different angles. But it doesn't change how we approach, how we game plan um or or how we you know, you know, teach our teach our

players between you and the league. Yet regarding that bue, what when you went back and looked at it, and how do you feel like those things should be handled? Well?

I mean, again we talk about player safety and players safety being the being the number one importance, and you know, um, I'm not going to get into a bunch of it here, but you know, defenseless receiver trying to make it play, all of that kind of stuff, and it happens so fast that you know, and and you know, um, these guys listen, the officials are are are working extremely hard every week. UM. You know they they they pride themselves and doing the right thing. And they don't they don't

want to be the reason for wins and losses. You know, the best games are when you don't even know they're there. Um, so you know, give them credit. It happens extremely fast a lot of times. And and UM, you know, we could say the same thing about maybe defensive holding. I mean, the umpires now on the offensive side of the ball,

so there's there's things there. I mean, but you know, UM, by no means does that UM can't let it affect us obviously, UM, I need to probably be a little more cooler in those situations and and you know, but uh, you're also looking out and protecting your player too. It was very accurate in particularly on third down. Um, there are a lot of good throws, the scrolls, other conversions, you know, I mean some of the shorter throws have

kind of got gotten away from. What was the difference you thought in this this week one he was he was seeing the coverage, seeing the leverage, his target line with his feet. We've talked about mechanics. He you know, he's worked on that the last couple of weeks and he was a lot more accurate yesterday with those throws and just opportunity. Um, you know, Zach over the ball a couple of times, you know, sprowls in the flat,

different things like that, taking advantage of some matchups. Um. But Carson working in practice and fixing his feet and target lines and all that have been been a big part. He did differently this week in practice. So it was anything you noticed, No, No, it's still just him drilling, you know with coach d Filippo and Frank just working the details and working the working the drill work in

our individual periods in practice receivers. I know you said there were things you liked with Arts and Sprowls yesterday, but I mean it's really been an ongoing thing where Jordan has been the only receiver, uh that's really made an impact. DGB I don't think has a catch the last two weeks, strikes out the one, the one d ball. But I mean, are you getting enough from that position group rather than Jordan And can you win consistently with

with one wide receiver making an impact? I think I think if And it's a it's a tough question because there's one football and like five skill guys, you know. I mean, it's a it's a it's it's something too that maybe by design of the play, it's not necessarily designed for Nelson on this play or DGB on this play. We do have plays intended for those guys, um, but this offense, keep in mind, this is a progression offense, and if one's not there, two should be there, three

should be there. So that's how we teach the system, and that's how we teach our quarterbacks, and a lot of it's again by progression based on what they see, so the ball, you know, and again yesterday just by the nature of their defense just gave us, gave us Sprolls, gave us Ertz, gave us Jordan on specific on those specific plays, and and we were able to make those plays. And again it it kind of stems back to the

run game a little bit. Being able to run the football alleviates some of that pressure on your quarterback and your receivers. Like seventy some snaps at some point, there wouldn't there be an opportunity to get the ball one of those other guys. Well, I mean, when you rush the ball for two hundred and some yards, it's it's hard. I mean, what are you gonna do? You're gonna give

something to take something. And and I just felt yesterday that you know, our running game and Ryan the way he was attacking the defense and the way our offensive line you know, got after him a little bit. I just I just felt like that was the way to go yesterday. And didn't have to dial up many throws that that, uh, you know, if we didn't didn't need them. Do you want to be normally as long as you don't get knocked off your script like you did, you know,

because the Giants or whatever. I think it's I think it's definitely a blueprint, you know, to to to winning games in the NFL. UM. You know, anytime you can you can rush the ball like that, it does, speaking from experience, it can. It can. It alleviates the pressure to make to always have to make that throw or that that that catch. UM, and you stay manageable first and second down is um. You know, it's so important to your success on third down. And we were able

to do that yesterday. Um, you know thirty six percent. I think on third down, like to have one more third down and then and then you're you're even better. But um, that running game is so important. Two ball, it starts two to those teams, this procedures, it's the issue for focus and concentration usually. UM. You know, we we we do a lot with our snap count. You know, we ask Carson to change it up quite frequently, so we're not always going on the standard one. UM. And

and we did that yesterday. And uh, it's just it just comes down to just each guy just has to focus, just listen in the huddle. And and uh you're so aggressive you you you know, especially on a well it doesn't matter run or pass. You want to come off the ball and anticipate the defender. Um. And sometimes you

can lose lose focus on the on the count. But that's something that has to be a weapon for the offense as we're pretty successful rust the top of yesterday, Do you find out something that like one doll Sma especially kind of excels out. Yeah, I do. I think he's very similar to Ryan and the fact that he can do that between the tackles and and in fact a couple of those inside zones you saw actually bend back and and and jump outside. So both those guys

have the ability to do that. Um. Wendell can do that for sure. Um. And uh, you know he showed that yesterday, the toughness that he has to get, you know, to mix it up inside those tackles. US mentioned that, uh, you know to having the extra offensive linement out there. Isaac get to you yesterday. Yeah, Isaac is Uh, you know, he's coming along and he's playing. It's a great way to get him on the field, you know. Uh, to

play him in that position. It's just a bigger body, usually against a defensive end and nothing against our tight ends, but sometimes a matchup helps in our favor and it did, it did yesterday. It's something we can continue to grow with and in our in our whether it be a three tight end package or two tight end package like you saw yesterday. Um. But it's great to have guys that uh and he's so you know, he's so athletic,

he's smart, puts himself in good position. Um, and it's good to have you know, that extra linement like that in that position. Yet how much you use that and that's the defense can generally disregard him as a receiver, whereas they can't necessarily do that with a tight end. Yeah, I mean you I guess the Tennessee is to to

probably run the ball a little bit more. We did have the one play action pass with him in the game and and um uh so it's just something that as we go we just we just keep track of the numbers and make sure that we're mixing it. You know, we're a good good mix. Getting a lot of contributions from your rookies. Was that sort of wentz aside? I guess was that sort of the intention coming in was to was to get these guys involved. And is that of my deal situation out of the rookies playing so

many snaps. Well, um, obviously we know with Big v uh and you know the lane situation that that uh you know in his case, it's it's it's tremendous to get Big v. Those types of reps probably wasn't going to happen. You know, if if lane we're still here. Um, and it's it's a listen, it's so valuable that these guys are playing this early in their careers, especially with Carson um and having a guy like Windell in the game. You know, with Carson and you know now you're now

we're we're we're putting Isaac in there. Um. So it's just it's valuable experience for these guys. It's game game experience. UM. Something we can continue to build, you know, build each week you had front about defense that you wanted to exploit.

You how do you build about it exploite? Well, the first thing is, you know, again they're an eight man front and you know, the one thing that uh I thought stout coach Stalin did a great job with designing was was same side runs mixed in with some some some backdoor runs and taking advantage of some linebackers, some fast flow linebackers that we talked about during the week that UM very aggressive to the to the ball, and and as long as you can stop the penetrators up

front and get yourself up to the second level defenders, you got it. You got a chance. And we did a great job in that yesterday and managing that that eight man front. Okay, thanks guys. One