Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (Post-Game Transcript)
On his assessment of the offense’s performance:
“I think more so specifically to the team, I go back to discipline and focus, and that’s what it comes down to when you’re playing this game and when you come into the first game, you worry about the little details, the things and situations you may have not felt in a long time; getting hit, protecting the ball, communication, intense environment. And so, I think as a whole team, it is just a matter of taking our discipline to another level and our focus to another level and then playing together and staying banded together and being able to control the things that we can control.”
On if he will speak to DT Jalen Carter about his ejection and if he referenced the ejection when talking about discipline (above):
“I’m referring to the team, not just one individual. I have had a conversation with him and we are on the same page, and so I know what type of player he is. Everybody knows what type of player he is, and it’s something that we all can learn from.”
On how he handles issues of discipline as a leader of the team:
“Like I just said, just being diligent with it. At the same time, there’s a sense of accountability and everything, and I know [Eagles DT Jalen Carter] he’s done that, and so it’s just something that we all can learn from, right? An unwise man will make a mistake and not look back on it and learn from it. So you have to look at those things and be able to take something away from it and we will.”
On what led him to use his legs especially in the red zone:
“I mean, it kind of just happens throughout the game. They did a really good job in the passing game in matching certain concepts and so, great job by them. Obviously having a new defensive coordinator from the past over the years, and now he’s in the division. It’ll be a challenge going against him for the games and years to come.”
On if the Cowboys did anything schematically to limit the opportunities to get Eagles WR’s A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith the ball:
I wouldn’t say so, I think they were just doing a really good job of matching things in coverage. There are some things we got to be better at and great job by him staying patient and in the big moment, making a play, the most important play of the game in my eyes, and then we were able to get ourselves in a position to convert that third down and wind down the clock. So great play by him.”
On if the delayed QB draw was the play call to help seal the game:
“No, it wasn’t.”
On what he saw during the play to Eagles WR Jahan Dotson:
“Well, he ran a great route, showed and had an opportunity to make a play. I don’t know that he even saw the ball, but he did a great job of tracking it very late. Great connection there.”
On what stood out within operating with Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo:
“Well, I think it was good. There’s going to be things we want to do and want to talk over and kind of trust our instinct with certain things. So first games, like I said, there’s so much unknown, but you’ve got to be able to be not on the reactive side of things, more so proactive and being able to play smart ball and put yourself in advantageous positions. I’m happy for him to come out here and get his first win as an offensive coordinator. I know he’s waited a long time for this opportunity and we just want to keep building. I know we’re all hungry for that.”
On staying sharp following a weather delay:
“It’s been a long time since something like that has happened, probably going back to high school. But when you look back on it, it’s just about maintaining the championship level focus. As I look back on it now, I don’t even remember it happening. That’s the type of focus that we all have to have and have to ooze through and to continue to do that, and we did that, we would have loved to come back and go up by two scores. We didn’t, but we played team ball. That team played together and were very disruptive on defense in that second half. So it’s a great job by them.”
On teams trying to take Eagles RB Saquon Barkley out of the game:
“I don’t think anything’s necessarily changed. When you look over the last five years of me playing the quarterback position here at Philly, what have they called in and said? ‘Beat him as a passer. Make him beat us as a passer.’ And so what does that change? It’s kind of been the same thing for our run game over the years. I think people look for the production of certain things and I’m just looking for the efficiency and there comes a moment where you have to meet the moment and take advantage of things when they come and I think as a team, we did that.”
On Michael Jordan’s attendance:
“Yeah, you have a special guest, a special friend in attendance. There’s only one thing you can do and that’s win. So I have a lot of love for him.”
On if he has gotten better at picking his moments to run:
“No, it is just finding a way to win and advance the ball. It’s about efficiency, it’s about finding a way to win and that’s my mentality with the game.”
On if lack of camp time with Eagles WR AJ Brown effected the game:
“No.”
On having offensive efficiency with little camp time:
“Well, we were efficient. It came down to execution and we were able to do that. Like I said, there’s so much unknown. We didn’t know what they were going to do or be, what this iteration of that defense would be under new leadership. I think for the most part, we did a good job of doing that. We have to play better in the end of the game so we can close it out on our terms and we ended up doing that, but you want to take advantage of the first opportunity to do that. That’s something that we’ll all learn from. But bringing it back to just finding ways to win, that’s what it comes down to. It doesn’t matter how it looks, it doesn’t matter how it goes, it’s just about finding ways to win. In this league it is very challenging, especially in these first games. They tend to come down to the wire, especially when there’s not a lot of ball on tape. I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of everybody weathering the different adversities that came our way today. It’s always good to get a win. Always good to get a win.”