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Doug Pederson In Day-After Press Conference: "Not Everybody" Played Hard

By Joseph Santoliquito

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Eagles are a mess right now, going 2-7 over their last nine games, and Doug Pederson held his weekly day-after presser trying to explain the Eagles latest debacle, a 32-14 loss at Cincinnati.

In that game, Carson Wentz threw for 308 yards and three interceptions, completing 36 of 60 passes. It was only the third time in Eagles' history when a quarterback threw 60 times in a game.

Pederson did say he didn't see everyone play hard after watching a tape of the game.

"Not everybody, not everybody (played hard)," Pederson admitted. "That's the accountability that I talk about. I hold coaches accountable for that. I hold myself accountable for that, because it all starts with me. I pride myself each week to make sure the guys are ready to go. But at the same time it comes down to a mentality by every individual player."

"I'll challenge the leaders of the football team each week and make sure everyone does things right. It starts with me. I have to hold myself accountable."

Pederson was left trying to explain Wentz's regression, too. Or the fact the Eagles have been outscored 59-27 over the last two games. Or if his job is in jeopardy.

When asked if he feels he'll be the coach of the Eagles next year, and if general manager Howie Roseman and owner Jeff Lurie assured him of his place, "For sure, yes," Pederson said. "As I say every week, I look at myself, and we can take a lot from winning and losing."

But Pederson did maintain earlier in his press conference that the Eagles didn't quit during the course of the game on Sunday.

"I didn't see any quit in the guys, I mean we battled back, we scored two touchdowns, and had opportunities in a couple of more drives to score," Pederson said. "Defense was creating turnovers in the second half. Everybody was doing everything they could to get us back into that football game. I didn't see any quit in the guys. The dejection and the ill-feeling after the game in the locker room, when you look at those guys in the face and looked them in the eye shows me that this team cares about each other."

"They were disappointed that we obviously didn't play well. And we have another opportunity."

The Eagles were down 29-0 early on and it came after Pederson stressed the effort had to be better after their 27-13 loss to Green Bay.

Pederson said some of the pieces aren't cohesive, based on youth in certain areas.

Asked if his message is getting through, he said, "Being consistent with the messaging, I meet with the player committee every week, and we talk about these issues the feedback has been extremely positive, and that leads me to believe that we're still on track. Did we expect to go out and play the way we did the last few weeks, no, we don't. Do we expect to be 19-0 at halftime, no, we don't.

"Therefore, it goes back, I know where we are as a football team as far as playing with young guys on offense, and some younger guys on defense. There are pieces that aren't cohesive right now. When we had everybody in the early part of the season, Lane [Johnson] at right tackle, Allen [Barbre] at the left guard, things were rolling pretty well. We've had our share of adversity this season."

"Even the night before the guys were energetic and ready. I was reminded Saturday night how good they can be. I just felt that everything about this team right now is still right there for the taking. I don't see any quit in the guys."

Pederson admitted he had spoken to defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz about getting more pressure from the defensive line. But Pederson cautioned he didn't put anyone in a panic mode. Pederson did acknowledge that putting more pressure on might mean exposing the Eagles' porous secondary.

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