WEBVTT - Eagles 360: December 27 0:00:23.960 --> 0:00:27.080 We welcome you to the final week of the two 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:30.480 thousand and sixteen Eagles season. Hello, everyone on Dave Spinnerow 0:00:30.560 --> 0:00:34.280 along with Glenn mac Now it's Eagles three sixty, it's Tuesday, 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:38.280 the players back in the building after their weekend mini 0:00:38.440 --> 0:00:41.919 bye week, and Glenn, it's sad to say one more 0:00:41.960 --> 0:00:44.440 game to go. I know, and I want to start 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:46.640 it all over again because I do feel good about 0:00:46.640 --> 0:00:48.519 the future. Maybe we'll talk about that a little bit. 0:00:48.920 --> 0:00:50.600 And I hate to see it in It was a 0:00:50.600 --> 0:00:53.599 little bit disappointing this season. Everybody knows they started out 0:00:53.640 --> 0:00:56.600 three and Ozho had that five game losing streak. But 0:00:56.880 --> 0:00:58.520 I do feel good about a lot of aspects of 0:00:58.560 --> 0:01:00.240 the future. I wonder if there was one thing you 0:01:00.280 --> 0:01:03.440 could change about the season. Yeah. The one thing that 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:05.880 I can change, and it will be part of my takeaways, 0:01:05.959 --> 0:01:08.880 will be Lane Johnson's suspension. Yeah, I think more than 0:01:08.959 --> 0:01:12.160 any single thing that hurt this team. I happen to 0:01:12.200 --> 0:01:15.320 agree with that. And we will get Sigland McNeill's takeaways 0:01:15.360 --> 0:01:18.000 from the game on Thursday against the New York Giants. 0:01:18.040 --> 0:01:20.280 And we've got a great show for you. But first 0:01:20.400 --> 0:01:22.920 let's get you caught up with everything happening on this 0:01:23.000 --> 0:01:26.800 Tuesday at the Overcare Complex. The Eagles coordinators meeting the 0:01:26.880 --> 0:01:30.840 media on Tuesday, Frank Reich and Jim Schwartz. Alex Smith 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:32.840 is here to give you the update. It's our three 0:01:32.959 --> 0:01:37.120 sixty update with Alex Smith. Hi everyone, and happy holidays. 0:01:37.120 --> 0:01:39.720 I'm Alex Smith here with your three sixty update. The 0:01:39.800 --> 0:01:42.920 Eagles are getting set for their final regular season game 0:01:42.959 --> 0:01:46.000 of the two sixteen season as they welcome the rival 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:49.400 Dallas Cowboys into town on Sunday afternoon. And today we 0:01:49.520 --> 0:01:53.360 heard from offensive coordinator Frank Reich and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, 0:01:53.520 --> 0:01:55.800 and we'll start things off with hearing from Schwartz as 0:01:55.840 --> 0:01:58.440 he talks about the challenges and preparing for a Cowboys 0:01:58.440 --> 0:02:01.000 team when he's not certain yet as to whether or 0:02:01.040 --> 0:02:04.320 not the starters will play in this game. We probably 0:02:04.360 --> 0:02:07.160 have to prepare for three different quarterbacks, you know, not 0:02:07.240 --> 0:02:10.120 just Prescott, who we've already played once and you know 0:02:10.160 --> 0:02:12.200 we have a lot of film one, but Romo, who 0:02:12.240 --> 0:02:14.640 has a track record. You know, if they if they 0:02:14.680 --> 0:02:17.880 play him and then Sanchez, so it does spread you 0:02:17.880 --> 0:02:19.280 a little bit, then a lot of it goes to 0:02:19.440 --> 0:02:22.920 the quarterback position. You know, their run game's not going 0:02:23.000 --> 0:02:26.760 to change regardless of who's getting the ball, but wide 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:29.720 receivers and you know how they how they work through 0:02:29.840 --> 0:02:32.799 those wide receivers. That certainly goes into game plan and 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:35.600 you know you'd attack each those quarterbacks probably a little 0:02:35.600 --> 0:02:37.680 bit different, so you know it a little bit like 0:02:37.720 --> 0:02:39.960 facing their offense. It's going to spread it then our 0:02:40.000 --> 0:02:42.320 preparational spread. Then we're gonna need a lot of focus 0:02:42.320 --> 0:02:45.200 this week and h and be productive on the practice 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:48.520 field because there is more than just one scenario that 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:51.639 you have to prepare for. As for Reich, he's been 0:02:51.680 --> 0:02:54.359 their Firstand to see just how far Carson Wentz has 0:02:54.360 --> 0:02:57.200 improved from becoming the number two overall pick to being 0:02:57.240 --> 0:03:00.200 named the starter just eight days before the regular he's 0:03:00.200 --> 0:03:02.639 an opener, and then going on to start every single 0:03:02.680 --> 0:03:06.400 game here this season for the Eagles, Yeah, I mean 0:03:06.440 --> 0:03:09.200 he's exceeded expectations in some ways. But I think when 0:03:09.240 --> 0:03:12.120 I think what you want to see is you want 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:14.880 to see accuracy. You want to see good decision making. 0:03:15.560 --> 0:03:20.079 You want to see the ability to sustain success when 0:03:20.080 --> 0:03:22.720 things are going well, to maintain focus and concentration the 0:03:22.800 --> 0:03:25.360 next week in preparation. You want to see to be 0:03:25.400 --> 0:03:28.480 able to bounce back after a poor performance. You want 0:03:28.480 --> 0:03:30.200 to see to be able to when things are going 0:03:30.240 --> 0:03:32.920 bad in the course of a game, for him to 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:36.400 not waiver. And I think on most of those fronts, 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:39.200 I think he's passed the test. All right. Well, that 0:03:39.240 --> 0:03:41.640 will wrap things up here today from the Novocare Complex. 0:03:41.680 --> 0:03:43.800 But tomorrow we have a whole gift bag of press 0:03:43.800 --> 0:03:47.200 conferences coming your way, including from quarterback Carson Wentz, safety 0:03:47.240 --> 0:03:50.120 Malcolm Jenkins, and others. In a case you missed anything 0:03:50.320 --> 0:03:52.560 from today's press conferences, you can check it out right 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:55.880 here on Philadelphia Eagles dot com and the official Eagles 0:03:55.880 --> 0:03:59.560 mobile app. Thanks so much, Alex, We've got a lot 0:03:59.600 --> 0:04:02.320 to get. Two in the show, head coach Doug Peterson 0:04:02.400 --> 0:04:04.480 drops by, He'll be in studio with me. We'll take 0:04:04.480 --> 0:04:07.080 a look around the NFC East, which is one win 0:04:07.160 --> 0:04:11.400 away from having three teams in the conference playoff picture. 0:04:11.920 --> 0:04:14.640 But when we returned to Eagles three sixty, we will 0:04:14.680 --> 0:04:18.200 talk about Glenn mac Now his perspective on this two 0:04:18.240 --> 0:04:21.880 thousand and sixteen season could include a little bit about 0:04:21.880 --> 0:04:24.359 the Giants game. Lane Johnson back in the lineup, the 0:04:24.360 --> 0:04:26.400 Eagles win four and one with Johnson. There you see 0:04:26.440 --> 0:04:30.160 the trend. We're coming right back. This portion of Eagles 0:04:30.200 --> 0:04:33.880 three sixty was presented by Toyota. Now is your chance 0:04:34.120 --> 0:04:36.320 to vote for the Toyota Player of the Week. 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We welcome you back at Eagles 0:06:25.440 --> 0:06:28.160 three sixty Dave Spidero and Glenn Mac Now time now 0:06:28.200 --> 0:06:30.839 for Glenn to give us his five takeaways from this 0:06:30.920 --> 0:06:34.479 twenty and sixteen Eagle season. All right, well, let's start 0:06:34.520 --> 0:06:37.119 with the biggest thing, which of course was Carson Wentz. 0:06:37.160 --> 0:06:40.039 And he started out the season just brilliantly made it 0:06:40.080 --> 0:06:42.440 look too easy, which, of course, it isn't that easy. 0:06:43.160 --> 0:06:45.560 Wentz played with a makeshift line, he played with a 0:06:45.680 --> 0:06:48.280 dearth of talent at wide receiver and running back, and 0:06:48.360 --> 0:06:50.360 I think he made the most of his rookie season. Dave, 0:06:50.480 --> 0:06:54.040 he's got poise, he bounces back from adversity we saw 0:06:54.080 --> 0:06:57.360 the last few games. How much he can use his legs, 0:06:57.360 --> 0:06:59.719 how much he can extend plays. I think we'll see 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:04.120 that on the line. You know, he had some mechanical issues. 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:06.320 He overthrew it too far. He has to learn how 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:08.080 out to throw into coverage. But I feel now for 0:07:08.120 --> 0:07:11.000 the first time since Donovan McNabb left after O nine, 0:07:11.000 --> 0:07:13.400 that the Eagles are set at quarterback for years to come. 0:07:13.480 --> 0:07:16.520 I would think, Glenn, that that is a unanimous thought 0:07:16.520 --> 0:07:19.720 out there. Maybe maybe not, but kind of hard to 0:07:19.760 --> 0:07:21.920 see how you could watch him play for fifteen games 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:24.360 and not arrive at that same conclusion. There you go. 0:07:24.840 --> 0:07:27.000 Number two. We talked about a lot, about a lot 0:07:27.080 --> 0:07:30.080 about Lane Johnson, and that really is a big issue 0:07:30.160 --> 0:07:34.120 because to me, other than Wentz, no single player had 0:07:34.160 --> 0:07:37.840 a bigger impact on this season than Lane Johnson. What 0:07:37.960 --> 0:07:41.080 he meant in run blocking. You saw the first drive 0:07:41.160 --> 0:07:44.760 back against the Giants. There's your Giants talk. The Eagles 0:07:44.760 --> 0:07:46.600 improved to four and one with him in the lineup, 0:07:46.600 --> 0:07:49.160 and against the Giants, two thirds of their rushing yards 0:07:49.200 --> 0:07:51.840 came in the two gap, three gap right to his left, 0:07:51.920 --> 0:07:55.400 right to his right. He was contrite when he came back, 0:07:55.520 --> 0:07:57.320 says he needs to grow, says he's not going to 0:07:57.360 --> 0:08:00.440 make the same mistake. I want to believe that I 0:08:00.480 --> 0:08:03.000 want to think that next year, Lane Johnson will play 0:08:03.040 --> 0:08:05.680 all sixteen games and the Eagles will benefit from that. Yeah, 0:08:05.680 --> 0:08:08.160 and you wonder how much the Eagles can trust him 0:08:08.240 --> 0:08:12.000 or how much they will bridge that trust with some reinforcements. 0:08:12.040 --> 0:08:15.040 Should Lane have another strike in that policy which would 0:08:15.080 --> 0:08:18.360 cost him two full seasons. Okay, So number three, let's 0:08:18.400 --> 0:08:21.640 talk about the entire offensive line, which I think I 0:08:21.680 --> 0:08:23.960 may feel more optimistic about than a lot of people, 0:08:24.080 --> 0:08:28.280 maybe even you. They'll talk to me, well, if Lane 0:08:28.320 --> 0:08:30.400 Johnson does have the next year that we think he 0:08:30.400 --> 0:08:32.520 can have by playing all the games, if you bring 0:08:32.559 --> 0:08:34.480 back Jason Peters and he gives you what he gave 0:08:34.520 --> 0:08:38.319 you this year, really nice bounce back year, I will 0:08:38.360 --> 0:08:40.720 see whether or not Kelsey comes back. I think Barrett 0:08:40.720 --> 0:08:44.200 Brooks kind of dealt with Brandon Brooks. Excuse me, I 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:46.880 heard Barrett on their way. Brandon Brooks dealt with some 0:08:46.960 --> 0:08:49.839 of his problems, and I think you can count on 0:08:49.960 --> 0:08:51.960 him going forward. You want to believe that, And I 0:08:52.000 --> 0:08:54.400 think with Vitai and with Sam Aloud, they got some 0:08:54.480 --> 0:08:57.640 young reinforcements. They have a lot of needs. This offseason. 0:08:57.720 --> 0:09:00.400 We'll talk about him, but to me, offensive line maybe 0:09:00.480 --> 0:09:03.000 better off than people think. Right. I guess my only 0:09:03.040 --> 0:09:05.199 point would be, are you going to be good at 0:09:05.280 --> 0:09:08.240 offensive line? Are you going to be very good? Or 0:09:08.280 --> 0:09:09.960 are you going to be dominating? And we see what 0:09:10.040 --> 0:09:13.760 dominating does in Dallas. I want to be dominating up front. Well, 0:09:13.920 --> 0:09:15.679 how much faith do you have in the two young kids? 0:09:15.720 --> 0:09:17.320 A lot of faith in those guys, Well, then that 0:09:17.360 --> 0:09:19.959 means a lot going. All right? Number four, Let's talk 0:09:19.960 --> 0:09:22.080 about Doug Peterson a little bit. Let's talk about his 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:25.120 rookie year. I think he is creative. I think he 0:09:25.280 --> 0:09:28.079 is gutsy. I think he is not kind of tied 0:09:28.160 --> 0:09:32.120 into the hide bound coaches conventional wisdom, and I like 0:09:32.280 --> 0:09:35.880 that about him. But creative can also sometimes look goofy, 0:09:36.240 --> 0:09:39.440 and this town can micromanage everything a head coach does. 0:09:39.480 --> 0:09:41.480 He dealt with some of that this year. I am 0:09:41.559 --> 0:09:45.160 the seasons with mixed feelings about Doug Peterson. He's obviously 0:09:45.160 --> 0:09:48.959 a guy who knows football. He understands how offenses work. 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:51.760 And it's nice to have a coach that treats people 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:54.840 around him. Well, we haven't always had that around this building. 0:09:54.880 --> 0:09:57.280 That's a good thing. I worry that he's got to 0:09:57.320 --> 0:09:59.480 be tougher with the players. There were a few times 0:09:59.520 --> 0:10:03.040 this year I thought that Doug Peterson has to really 0:10:03.120 --> 0:10:07.240 show that he's got teeth. I also, for what it's worth, 0:10:07.280 --> 0:10:09.600 think he's a little awkward answering questions, which leads to 0:10:09.600 --> 0:10:12.920 some communication issues. Like a lot of rookies, there's room 0:10:12.960 --> 0:10:15.080 for improvement. I think he's got it. We'll see the 0:10:15.080 --> 0:10:16.719 second year. We will see a second year. He'll be 0:10:16.800 --> 0:10:19.559 judged very, very sternly. Of course in year number two 0:10:19.559 --> 0:10:22.679 as well. All right, number five, Dave, here you go. 0:10:24.760 --> 0:10:27.320 All of that said, I think there's gonna be at 0:10:27.400 --> 0:10:30.360 least twenty new faces on the roster next year, maybe more. 0:10:31.440 --> 0:10:33.679 It's gonna be a very active it has to be 0:10:33.720 --> 0:10:36.679 a very active free Agenciason for the Eagles because you 0:10:36.760 --> 0:10:38.880 can't get everything you need in the draft. They need 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:43.000 a complete revamp at wide receiver other than Jordan Matthews. 0:10:43.040 --> 0:10:45.360 To me, I think you may turn over that entire squad. 0:10:45.880 --> 0:10:48.800 The cornerback situation needs to be addressed it. I think 0:10:48.800 --> 0:10:51.000 it's needed to be addressed year after years, since what 0:10:51.080 --> 0:10:53.599 twenty ten they addressed it. This offseason needs to be 0:10:53.640 --> 0:10:57.079 addressed again. I think I think they're gonna need an 0:10:57.120 --> 0:10:59.400 edge rusher. I think they have to redo the running 0:10:59.400 --> 0:11:02.760 back situation. I think they could use another linebacker. It 0:11:02.840 --> 0:11:06.040 will be a very active as season, through the draft, 0:11:06.480 --> 0:11:09.240 through non drafted free agency. You hope you hit one 0:11:09.320 --> 0:11:10.920 or two on those and they will have to be 0:11:10.960 --> 0:11:12.880 active in free agent. I think twenty is a really 0:11:12.920 --> 0:11:15.400 high number. I really don't think they're gonna roster. They're 0:11:15.400 --> 0:11:17.200 gonna turn this roster over like that. I'll bet you 0:11:17.280 --> 0:11:19.720 that meal that we never called. I did pay that off. 0:11:19.720 --> 0:11:21.280 I'll bet you another meal on that. I don't think 0:11:21.280 --> 0:11:23.000 you pay that off. So I did. I did? I 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:26.320 remember paid it off in Havertown, Derby Road. I did 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:30.240 a three man roster, twenty new players. All right, there 0:11:30.240 --> 0:11:32.880 you go on the record. A meal is on the line. Okay, 0:11:32.920 --> 0:11:35.440 good stuff. Glen McNew's five takeaways with one game to 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:38.200 go in this two thousand and sixteen season, He mentioned 0:11:38.200 --> 0:11:42.160 Doug Peterson when we return Doug Peterson head coach in studio. 0:11:43.080 --> 0:11:45.800 This portion of Eagles three sixty was presented by Rothman 0:11:45.840 --> 0:11:49.320 at Jefferson. The Eagles and Rothman Institute at Jefferson are 0:11:49.400 --> 0:11:52.440 partnering to celebrate the top high school football teams and 0:11:52.640 --> 0:11:55.559 coaches in the Tri State area with the High School 0:11:55.600 --> 0:11:58.920 Football Showdown. Visit the website to vote for the game 0:11:58.960 --> 0:12:02.480 of the week and support your school. Check back daily 0:12:02.600 --> 0:12:11.840 for new matchup. Their legend is legendary. They've seen the 0:12:11.960 --> 0:12:14.640 end zone more often than any other duo in history. 0:12:15.080 --> 0:12:20.040 They are professional football player watches. Become a pro fan 0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:23.640 only with Xfinity X one. Call or click today. Take 0:12:23.679 --> 0:12:26.839 your spring vacation with Eagles players and alumni on Apple 0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:31.439 Vacations Beach Blitz. Join me along with Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, 0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:35.280 and Jordan Matthews on an all inclusive vacation a whirl 0:12:35.360 --> 0:12:39.240 away from the ordinary at the luxurious now Jade Riviera 0:12:39.280 --> 0:12:44.439 Cancoon Resort. You'll receive NonStop round trip airfare, luxury hotel, accommodations, 0:12:44.600 --> 0:12:48.720 and special events with Eagles VIPs. Go to Apple Vacations 0:12:48.760 --> 0:12:54.120 dot com slash Eagles to book your trip today. All right, fellas, 0:12:54.200 --> 0:12:56.280 let's go out there and give him pack. Let's go 0:12:56.320 --> 0:12:58.080 out there and give them the one to tell Captain 0:12:58.160 --> 0:12:59.880 throw out there. We can really give them the business. 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:05.040 Let's sock it to him. Yeah, fair and square. All right, 0:13:11.960 --> 0:13:16.079 Holy slokes. The old game just can't compete, especially when 0:13:16.080 --> 0:13:18.600 it comes to innovative energy solutions like the ones NRG 0:13:18.840 --> 0:13:22.600 uses to power the Eagles. Visit pick nrg dot com today. 0:13:24.080 --> 0:13:30.480 Be noisy, be silent, be near, be far, be joyful, 0:13:31.080 --> 0:13:35.720 Be together, Celebrate joy with Duncan's Holiday flavored coffees, espressos, 0:13:35.760 --> 0:13:43.480 and donuts. America runs on Duncan Time Now for our 0:13:43.480 --> 0:13:46.760 weekly one on one with head coach Doug Peterson, presented 0:13:46.800 --> 0:13:49.120 by Wah Wah and Doug. We've got one game to 0:13:49.160 --> 0:13:52.319 go here. It's a Tuesday or looking at the Dallas Cowboys. 0:13:52.320 --> 0:13:53.720 But if I could ask you a little bit about 0:13:53.760 --> 0:13:56.240 Thursday night. First, I want to start with Carson and 0:13:56.360 --> 0:13:59.959 the athletic ability that he continues to show. It seems 0:14:00.120 --> 0:14:02.840 like he's loosening up in the pocket, showing more athletic ability. 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:04.800 How does that happen in terms of a progression of 0:14:04.800 --> 0:14:07.720 a quarterback. Well, I think just he's allowing the game 0:14:07.760 --> 0:14:10.840 to kind of unfold to him, and he's not forcing anything, 0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:13.920 and and he's really he's really just playing the game 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:15.640 as a as a as a quarterback, you know, and 0:14:15.800 --> 0:14:19.040 and uh uh, there were some great lanes, great opportunities 0:14:19.040 --> 0:14:21.440 for him to use his legs the other night and uh, 0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:24.040 he was able to do that, picked up some some 0:14:24.200 --> 0:14:26.480 some much needed yardage and really really kind of a 0:14:26.560 --> 0:14:28.840 spark in our offense to keep keep some drives alive. 0:14:28.960 --> 0:14:32.520 And uh, these are all things that as he sees 0:14:32.600 --> 0:14:34.840 the field better and he gets more comfortable in the pocket. 0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.720 You know, he's big, strong, he's powerful, and we want 0:14:37.760 --> 0:14:39.160 him to use his legs as much as he can. 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:41.800 Did you see that athletic ability at North Dakota State 0:14:41.840 --> 0:14:45.200 translating the way it has into the NFL? We did, 0:14:45.640 --> 0:14:47.760 We did. We saw it. We saw it there in 0:14:47.840 --> 0:14:50.320 college and and and then and then. You know, sometimes 0:14:50.320 --> 0:14:53.720 even in the National Football League, it doesn't always present 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:56.840 itself every week for your quarterback to run. But anytime 0:14:56.880 --> 0:14:58.640 he gets the opportunity, teams that want to play a 0:14:58.640 --> 0:15:00.720 lot of man coverage, obviously that the one guy they 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:03.800 forget about as the quarterback. And we encourage Carson to 0:15:03.880 --> 0:15:05.760 run as often as you can, but at the same time, 0:15:06.200 --> 0:15:08.000 you know, protecting his body. He did a nice job 0:15:08.040 --> 0:15:11.040 sliding and and getting himself out of bounds whenever he 0:15:11.080 --> 0:15:14.120 can um and and it's just those are just valuable, 0:15:14.120 --> 0:15:16.640 precious yards that you need as an offense. Someday in 0:15:16.680 --> 0:15:21.600 the offense. Is there a read option, uh, chapter that 0:15:21.720 --> 0:15:24.200 you will use for Carson or will you not? No, 0:15:24.320 --> 0:15:26.760 we'll use it. And we've used it some this this season. 0:15:26.840 --> 0:15:29.880 And and defenses are starting to catch up to that 0:15:30.000 --> 0:15:32.360 RPO stuff. That's the other thing that you see in 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:36.240 the league. Uh, you know, they're they're defending it better. Um, 0:15:36.760 --> 0:15:38.880 But we'll continue to use it and we'll find ways 0:15:38.920 --> 0:15:41.160 to be creative in the run game that way. And 0:15:41.160 --> 0:15:43.400 and and that's the one thing I think the defense 0:15:43.480 --> 0:15:45.800 is sometimes forget about, is the ability of your quarterback 0:15:45.840 --> 0:15:49.960 to run, whether it's designed runs or RPO runs. Um, 0:15:50.080 --> 0:15:53.040 you know, it's it's there. They kind of forget and 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:54.840 and I almost say they go to sleep. But but 0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:57.520 that just becomes another added element, another runner for your offense. 0:15:57.640 --> 0:16:01.040 He's also just been really good and really improved at 0:16:01.520 --> 0:16:05.040 making people miss in and around the pocket? Is that innate? 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:07.800 Is that something where the game is slowing down for him? 0:16:08.640 --> 0:16:11.680 It's a little of both. You know, It's it's him 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:14.560 understanding and being aware of the pocket and when when 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:18.040 pressure sort of uh kind of closes in on him. 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:20.000 You know, it's it's a it's a great ability, it's 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:22.520 an awareness that he has. It's sort of that that 0:16:22.680 --> 0:16:25.280 sixth sense that quarterbacks have sometimes to just kind of 0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:27.560 feel that kind of stuff. And did a great job 0:16:27.600 --> 0:16:29.880 the other night. You know, he ducked a couple of times, 0:16:29.880 --> 0:16:32.200 and he spun a couple of times and made me 0:16:32.240 --> 0:16:35.560 nervous a couple of times, you know. But he's such 0:16:35.560 --> 0:16:37.600 a great athlete that you know he can get away 0:16:37.640 --> 0:16:39.360 with that. I love to talk about the defense here 0:16:39.360 --> 0:16:42.560 in the performance through fifteen games, really hanging in there. 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:45.200 It's so obvious that quarterbacks are getting rid of the 0:16:45.200 --> 0:16:47.760 football so quickly, which Nick gates one of the strengths 0:16:47.760 --> 0:16:50.960 of his defense, and that's the defensive line. You're exactly right, 0:16:51.000 --> 0:16:53.680 And uh, you know the other night, Eli sort of 0:16:53.720 --> 0:16:55.440 prides himself and getting that ball out of his hand. 0:16:55.480 --> 0:16:57.840 He doesn't like to get hit, and he's got some 0:16:57.880 --> 0:17:00.720 great underneath skill on the outside that that that that 0:17:00.880 --> 0:17:03.600 can get open slant routes and little arrow routes and 0:17:03.680 --> 0:17:07.000 things that, um, where the ball's coming out relatively fast, 0:17:07.040 --> 0:17:08.840 and it does it doesn't engage your pass rush. But 0:17:08.920 --> 0:17:12.600 our defense, um the other night played extremely fast. I 0:17:12.640 --> 0:17:16.880 thought they were the more physical team upfront, our secondary, 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:20.280 the three interceptions were huge. Obviously the pick six by 0:17:20.280 --> 0:17:22.320 Malcolm was that was a big turning point in that game, 0:17:22.359 --> 0:17:24.400 even though you know we had a seven nothing lead 0:17:24.400 --> 0:17:26.480 at the time. And and those are those are things 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:29.480 that our defenses, you know, they've done that throughout the quarter. 0:17:29.520 --> 0:17:32.480 We just need that on a consistent basis each week. Um, 0:17:33.000 --> 0:17:35.159 and and then and then offensively, we were able to 0:17:35.200 --> 0:17:37.680 score when we needed to. I thought Caleb had another 0:17:37.720 --> 0:17:41.320 another nice game, you know, kicking the football. But uh yeah, defense, 0:17:41.359 --> 0:17:43.440 it kind of starts with them, you know, as you've seen, 0:17:43.480 --> 0:17:46.040 I've deferred to start the game, to put our defense 0:17:46.080 --> 0:17:48.560 out there to set the tone each week. Can you 0:17:48.560 --> 0:17:52.160 talk about the safety position as a group, including Terrence Brooks, 0:17:52.200 --> 0:17:55.040 who I know Joe Douglas had familiarity with, brought him 0:17:55.080 --> 0:17:57.760 in here at the waiver wire pickup time at the 0:17:57.800 --> 0:17:59.639 beginning of the season. He made the big play on 0:17:59.680 --> 0:18:02.400 Thursday night. As you look at it now and then 0:18:02.440 --> 0:18:04.919 moving forward, how do you feel about safeties? Safeties has 0:18:04.960 --> 0:18:08.240 been probably are one of our strength on defense. Um, 0:18:08.280 --> 0:18:10.720 you know, they're veteran guys. I think, you know, to 0:18:10.800 --> 0:18:13.399 start the season with Malcolm and Rodney back there, you know, 0:18:13.440 --> 0:18:17.200 two veteran guys that worked well together, great communication um. 0:18:17.280 --> 0:18:19.159 And then when Ron Brooks went down, it's sort of 0:18:19.200 --> 0:18:21.960 disrupted that just a little bit because Malcolm had to 0:18:22.000 --> 0:18:24.280 come inside. And then you got Jalen Watkins, who you know, 0:18:24.280 --> 0:18:26.960 and Jalen really has come a long way. He's he's 0:18:26.960 --> 0:18:29.520 a player that's gotten better each week. He's fitting into 0:18:29.520 --> 0:18:31.760 the scheme, you know. And then then Terrence Brooks. You know, 0:18:31.880 --> 0:18:34.600 Terrence has been primarily a special teams player for us, 0:18:34.800 --> 0:18:36.840 but got some got some valuable time obviously at the 0:18:36.880 --> 0:18:38.560 end of that game. And sort of the anchor right 0:18:38.600 --> 0:18:40.680 now back there has been Rodney. He's been the been 0:18:40.680 --> 0:18:43.600 the one that's has been steady and and and Malcolm 0:18:43.600 --> 0:18:46.240 and you know, as far as I'm concerned, has has 0:18:46.280 --> 0:18:48.240 done a great job for what we've asked him to do. 0:18:48.280 --> 0:18:50.360 And he's he's moved around, he's played that nickel spot, 0:18:50.440 --> 0:18:53.800 he's been back at the safety spot. So he's a 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:56.479 valuable player for us and and and great leader on 0:18:56.520 --> 0:19:00.400 that defense. And but safeties are are you know, it's 0:19:00.400 --> 0:19:02.639 a tough position to play because we asked him to 0:19:02.640 --> 0:19:05.480 do a lot of things. Linebacker Jordan Hicks, do you 0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:08.639 see him as a building block. I do, I do. 0:19:08.760 --> 0:19:12.560 He's he's he's another one that. Uh he's smart, he's sharp. 0:19:12.640 --> 0:19:15.320 He gets our defense lined up. You know, he runs 0:19:15.320 --> 0:19:18.719 extremely well. Um, you know, body type, he's probably not 0:19:18.760 --> 0:19:22.600 the prototypical mic linebacker body type. But but he's a 0:19:22.600 --> 0:19:25.640 tough kid. He and Nigel Bradham both really or kids 0:19:25.640 --> 0:19:27.840 that you know, I say kids. They stick their nose 0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:29.960 in there. They take on big offensive lineman. They shed 0:19:30.000 --> 0:19:32.800 blocks and make plays. So he's a sideline the sideline 0:19:32.800 --> 0:19:35.479 guy and can run. Um, great leader on that defense. 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:38.800 Sunday is the Dallas Cowboys. Doug, what will it mean 0:19:38.880 --> 0:19:42.040 to beat the Cowboys to get to seven and nine? Well, 0:19:42.080 --> 0:19:44.399 it would mean everything. You know. We uh we obviously 0:19:44.480 --> 0:19:46.600 had an opportunity the first time, you know in Dallas, 0:19:46.640 --> 0:19:49.040 to to beat this football team. And it's a they're 0:19:49.080 --> 0:19:51.400 a good team. You know, they're obviously a playoff team 0:19:51.440 --> 0:19:54.000 and and uh you know clinch it not only the division, 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:56.639 but but home field and and um, you know, we 0:19:56.720 --> 0:19:58.440 get them, we get them again. That's the beauty of 0:19:58.480 --> 0:20:00.680 your playing your division. You get you get twice. So 0:20:01.160 --> 0:20:03.120 you know, we do have unfinished business. We'd like to 0:20:03.200 --> 0:20:04.880 go out on you know, on top with a win 0:20:05.000 --> 0:20:07.480 and and but it's going to be another four quarter 0:20:07.480 --> 0:20:09.879 battle and and uh, guys are going to be rested 0:20:09.880 --> 0:20:12.239 and had a nice had a nice Christmas break. How 0:20:12.280 --> 0:20:15.119 do you see this division, Doug? It the NFC East 0:20:15.240 --> 0:20:17.480 has been a beast this year. Is it here to 0:20:17.560 --> 0:20:19.919 stay for the long term? I think so? And the 0:20:19.960 --> 0:20:22.399 reason I say that is is you look at all 0:20:22.400 --> 0:20:25.240 the four teams and and and got great quarterbacks, you know, 0:20:25.400 --> 0:20:28.200 some young quarterbacks, even with Kirk Cousins in there, who's 0:20:28.200 --> 0:20:30.800 played extremely well this season. And now you got Dak 0:20:30.800 --> 0:20:34.000 and Carson in there, and and um you'll you'll wildly 0:20:34.080 --> 0:20:36.800 Vet and Eli you know. So now there's great skill 0:20:36.840 --> 0:20:39.640 and ability good quarterbacks. Uh, you know, it's a it's 0:20:39.680 --> 0:20:42.879 a it's the black and blue division of uh of 0:20:42.920 --> 0:20:45.840