Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Despite record, Birds have ‘ a lot to play for’ in disaster of a division
Doug Pederson played up the new theme the Eagles are using as a rallying cry amid their miserable 3- 6- 1 season.
At every chance during his presser Monday, Pederson rolled out “we still have a lot to play for” in response to questions too diffi cult to answer honestly. That was after conceding the obvious: That the Eagles didn’t play or coach well in Sunday’s 22- 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
It was the second straight week Pederson has been beaten by a rookie head coach, the honors done this past weekend by Drexel Hill native Kevin Stefanski.
Just the mention that the Eagles still are in first place in the awful NFC East despite two straight weeks of losing is wearing thin. On Thanksgiving, Washington or Dallas will be ahead of the Eagles, barring a tie. Both are 3- 7.
The Eagles won’t return to first place any time soon. Over the next four weeks, they take on Seattle ( 7- 3), Green Bay ( 7- 3), New Orleans ( 8- 2) and Arizona ( 6- 4). The way the Eagles run, throw, block and tackle, the shelf life of the new slogan will almost certainly expire in that stretch.
“And we still have a lot to fix,” Pederson said. “In this city it’s all about the QB and the head coach. Everybody else can almost go by the wayside I guess. It’s almost like a two- man band. But there’s enough work to be done at all positions. Receivers can play better. The whole line can play better. We played all nine offensive linemen yesterday in this game. Running backs, we need to hang on to the football. The quarterback needs to play better.
“Defensively we’ve got to get off the field on third down. We’ve got to be able to tackle better. The same way on special teams. We’ve got to be able to tackle in space. There’s enough to go around. We all hold each other accountable, coaches and players. That’s why I keep saying that we have a lot to play for and that’s what we’re going to do.”
For those who prefer starting quarterback Carson Wentz be benched, Pederson said Nate Sudfeld and Jalen Hurts were on the headsets and phones, talking with Wentz and the receivers Sunday in the absence of quarterbacks coach Press Taylor and wide receivers coach Aaron Morehead. Both coaches were ordered to stay away from the team because of contact with people who may have been exposed to COVID- 19.
While Pederson said Wentz would remain the starter and that the decision is his, upper management and ownership typically influence such choices. For now it doesn’t sound like owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman have had that conversation with him.
Pederson has his fingers crossed that veteran leadership will help the Eagles fight through the slump.
“We still have an opportunity in our division to win the division eventually,” Pederson said. “It’s going to take everybody. I guess it’s a hard task. It’s an uphill battle. But we just have to do our part. I’ve got to coach better. We have to practice better. And ultimately we have to play better to really get this back on track.”
• • • Since Alshon Jeffery has returned to action, rookie John Hightower has barely played. Though considered part of the Eagles’ future, Hightower has played a total of four snaps in the past two games without being targeted.
Jeffery has been targeted three times in 23 snaps. He was the intended receiver on Wentz’s second pick against the Browns.
Pederson didn’t appreciate being asked what the point was in playing Jeffery, much less why is he still a member of the team.
“Well, right now he is a part of the offense,” Pederson said. “He’s a part of what we’ve done and the success we’ve had here. He is coming off an injury and we do have to get him in the game a little bit more. You know, that’s, again, on me to get him in the football game, and also Hightower at the same time.”
Equally disconcerting is that since Jeffery returned, Travis Fulgham has totaled two receptions in two games. Fulgham has gotten 12 targets.
“I’m not worried about Alshon’s presence right now,” Pederson said. “I’m concerned about Travis’s production and getting him better and helping him get better. He needs to get better. As I’ve mentioned, we all have enough to do, enough work to do, and obviously he is part of that group.”
• • • The Eagles formally signed running back Jordan Howard to the practice squad.
Howard led the Eagles with seven touchdowns last season and was second on the squad with 525 rushing yards, but he played in just 10 games due to a neck injury.
Howard had 28 rushes for 33 yards and scored four TDs in five games for the Dolphins, who cut him last Tuesday. The Eagles can activate Howard prior to game day.