Doug spoke today. He explained a couple of things in detail and then showed zero interest in taking another question from Jeff McLane.

Notes:

  • not enough of a sense of urgency to start fast and get into a rhythm offensively
  • the 3rd and 1 option play for Wentz: “It was a well-designed play. We anticipated in their short-yardage front for #90 to spike and come inside a lane. That’s what we expected, a power stunt. He actually, we were going to combo between him and Zach up to the linebacker and then we were going to basically option off of #38, and it was 3rd and 1 and Carson could have dove and got the first down. 90 didn’t spike, he actually stayed on lane outside. Just a great play by the Cowboys.”

Here’s the video clip of the play in question. I didn’t like the play call at the time just for the fact that Wentz is coming off of ACL surgery:

They were looking for Demarcus Lawrence to stunt there, which would have created a nice seal on the end for that combo block Doug mentioned. Lawrence didn’t do that, and so Jeff Heath was able to string that play wide and cut off the pitch.

More notes after the jump:

  • team is waiting on MRI results for Corey Clement and Josh Sweat
  • Isaac Seumalo is day-to-day with a pectoral injury

There was a long, two-part answer to a couple of questions from I believe Mike Sielski about the decision not to go for two near the end of the game. Doug explained the choice in detail in the first part of his answer:

“If we make an extra point we have the lead. I look at that, too. You know you gotta look at everything. I can’t just look at one situation. I have to look at the entire pie. So, the two point conversion, and I got a report on this but I can’t think off the top of my head exactly what the number is, but everything was in favor of going for one. We had the discussion on the field during the penalty timeout to make that decision. With Dallas having about 1:39 left I think, with two timeouts, it changes.

Follow me here: two situations, go for two – obviously you make the two point conversion and you’re up one. Dallas has two timeouts and every down available to stay on the field and kick the game-winning field goal, right? Obviously if we don’t make it, chances are the game’s probably over. If we kick it, we tie. now Dallas still has two timeouts, now they’re not as likely to go for it on fourth down. There’s a chance now, say 4th and 8, that they say “you know what we’re gonna punt the football.” And we have maybe one timeout at the time with no time left and you’re still playing for overtime. The decision to go for one obviously favors us and gives us a better chance of winning that football game vs. going for two.”

Doug went on to say that end of game situations are different than 2nd or 3rd quarter situations because you’re taking into account the remaining time on the clock and the number of timeouts a team still has. I personally think you just go for two at that point, since the defense was running out of steam. Whether you kick it or try the conversion, you’d still have to stop Dallas from getting into field goal range anyway.

More:

  • there was no thought to use a timeout after the sack at the end of the fourth quarter “they weren’t going to call theirs at that point.. they were probably going to kick it in the end zone anyway, you end up kneeling on it and you’re out of timeouts.”
  • they were optimistic that Jalen Mills would get better, but the foot just wasn’t where he and the team wanted it to be
  • Doug didn’t have much to say about the opening play of the game (the non fumble). “I’m not going to sit here and criticize. It’s not my place.” He suggested that they will send in plays to the league for review if necessary, and I don’t doubt that’s what happens here.
  • They’ll see where Avonte Maddox is this week.
  • There was another awkward exchange with Jeff McLane, which I think now happens in every press conference. This time they were talking about Carson Wentz’s average pass per length dropping from 9.1 to 7.68. Pederson said he has to “look at all of the attempts to see if it’s design or scheme..” After another follow up, Doug said “you’re confusing to me, if you play quarterback in this league, the mentality is you take what the defense gives you. That’s the mentality. If it happens to be a back or a tight end underneath, then you know what? First and second down, we stay ahead of the chains. We get a chance to stay on the field on third down. If that affects the overall, it’s probably going to affect the overall. But at the end of the day, I’d rather take a win over a two yard discrepancy or whatever you’ve got there.”

Safe to say Doug does not have any interest talking to Jeff right now, based on his reaction to that question:

This is commonplace. Whenever McLane asks a question, Pederson looks visibly annoyed.

Time’s yours.