Opening remarks: "Alright, let's cover that last ball game real quick. I have to do a better job. We all have to do a better job. We all certainly had opportunities in the middle to late of that game to get something done and just didn't take our opportunities to do that. And so, let's get to the next game. This is a heckuva defense [and] they're hot. They're hot as a team, they're hot as a defense, I believe they've given up between 10 and 11 points per game; you look at it and they've given up eight, three, 10, and 20, so there's been a couple teams that have, really one team in the first ballgame, put some points up on them and they had 11 big plays all in the pass game. And then, there was another game where they scored in the high 20s and they had seven of those big plays in the pass game. They're aggressive, they're talented, it's an excellent scheme and they play fast. So let's open it up to questions."
On whether he's had conversations with QB Michael Vick about sliding more to avoid big hits: "Well, we've discussed that since day one so we'll see."
On what he means when he says we'll see: "Well I want him to get down underneath hits, I want him to get up and out on the sideline, [quarterbacks coach] Doug [Pederson] has drilled that with him time and time again, I want to see that. Now when the juices get flowing – unless it's a game-winner or something like this, a critical point or something like this, and with one other caveat if he thinks he can shake-and-bake and score without getting a hit on him, okay? So we'll see what happens with him in a game. And that needs a little bit of maturity and I certainly think he's maturing here."
On whether it is hard to learn how to slide when you're not used to sliding: "That's easy."
On whether the actual slide is easy: "The actual slide is easy. The actual sliding part is easy, it's the mentality of sliding. But the slide part's easy."
On whether Vick has the mentality that he's going to score on every play: "Well I've always thought he was going to slide, and then there's been a couple times when I'm thinking, 'Get down,' and then he scores. So that has happened. But we'll see. And he does need to protect himself and for the rest of his career he needs to do that. But look, the rib shot came in the pocket too, so he needs to protect himself there as well."
On his thoughts about why Vick hasn't had a rushing touchdown yet this year: "Well, sometimes that's cyclical. And we're using [RB] LeSean [McCoy] more; I think he's fifth in carries in the league, you know, and he's scored a lot of touchdowns. And so, I would rather do it that way, if you can. You know, when the quarterback runs usually, normally, you get an extra guy offensively, an extra blocker somewhere near the box. So if you have to do it that way we certainly would."
On his thoughts about why Miami's defense has improved so much: "I'll tell you what they've been good throughout the whole season, I've watched every game on them [and] they've been very good. Now, the first ballgame New England threw it long and got them. And since then they've been excellent. They're very high against the run and their secondary has been holding up very well. You know they have an excellent pass rush and they have an excellent scheme. Now, Mike Nolan is just a terrific coach. He's had defensive success virtually everywhere he's been. I remember when we played in San Francisco on many occasions he had an excellent defense. And they have talent. So you mix that combination and I think they have a lot of confidence, you know some crazy things happen to them early in the season, they lost a lot of close games. So there's credit due there with this football team, there. They were 0-7 and they went hot. They were playing good football, certainly playing good football on the defensive side."
On his thoughts about Miami's defense giving up big plays and whether the Eagles are a big play offense: "Well we have, I believe we're third, fourth, fifth in the league in big plays; however, the touchdowns. We've gotten big plays and then we get tripped up and we don't score, you know these types of things. So we're still rated very high in big plays, but the problem and we emphasize it pulling out all of the things I've learned with my experiences, we're ranked very highly in almost every category. The ones that we're low, and there are important ones where we're low, are directly correlated with turnovers, done and you can directly correlate it. We're 20th or 21st in the redzone, heck we'd be in the top five if we haven't turned the ball over eight times, right? So everything there, and there's only a few where we aren't very high, are directly correlated with the turnovers. So the players know that. Our players are proud guys and they're working hard and preparing hard, okay? And we're doing everything we can to eliminate them yet still stay aggressive. So statistically speaking that's where we're at and I don't like it. Heck, we're third on offense, we're first in not going three-and-out, but hey the biggest statistic that correlates with winning or losing is turnovers, done."
On whether the offense this year is one of the most mistake prone offenses he's ever coached: "Well, there have been times, and here's the situation, turnovers are caused in a lot of different ways and there are a lot of variables there, okay? So some of it has been a defensive tipped ball, some of it has been us you know perfect throw [and] tipping it up, some has been a choice, some has been [us not] fighting for the ball, and some has been we throw it anyway as we're getting hit instead of taking a sack and so on. So we've certainly been learning a lot. And sometimes great successes are just littered with failures and we've failed in that part of our game and I don't like it and the players don't like it. So we're doing everything we can, hard work and preparation and a big emphasis to get this thing done."
On his thoughts about the QBs and WRs being the players turning the ball over: "Yeah. McCoy's having one heckuva year, isn't he? I mean, LeSean McCoy's having a heckuva year and we're going to keep that thing going, that will be important; and then, we're ninth, 10th, 11th passing. I mean, heck if we catch the football instead of turnovers we could be, at some point, be a top-five team in both. That's a very difficult thing to do, but if you stay away from the turnovers you'll be in good shape. We have a great opportunity, here, flying down to Miami and we have a great challenge with this defense. I mean, they're playing well so this is a great opportunity."
On whether they are emphasizing taking care of the football at practice: "We emphasize it daily in training camp and we emphasize it each day we're with the players. So I put some big emphasis on it throughout the year on occasions. I've backed off it a couple times [and] I've tried it every which way so that's where we're at. Our players are proud [and] one thing I can guarantee you is we will work hard and we will prepare. And players understand where we're at with the turnover situation, they're proud guys, they don't want to do it. So yeah, that's one thing I can guarantee you that we will work hard and we will prepare."
On whether having Vick, WR DeSean Jackson and WR Jeremy Maclin back and healthy will help open things up on offense: "When somebody's down or unavailable, we're expecting the next guy to step up and play as good or better as the man that they replace, it's just that simple. I think sporadically we have done that but it just hasn't been quite as consistent. So again, it's always good to have Jeremy Maclin [because] he's a heckuva player and he's been through quite a lot this year. So it's good to have him back and healthy again. We'll see later in the week how he's doing."
On whether having all of starters back means a lot for the offense because they're starters for a reason: "Sure, that's a good thing. As you go through the season there are many times when people are unavailable and I want to do better there."
On whether he is satisfied with Jackson's output and effort: "Specifically right now? Absolutely. Yeah. The last several weeks have been just terrific. He's been working hard [and] he has great preparation. He has never really faded from the hard work and preparation. He's been through a long year himself [and] he's had a few things going on the last couple years and he's growing as a professional. So I would expect him to be…he's certainly all-in, yeah."
