NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones tells Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com that they feel “really good” about the foundation of the team moving forward, even after parting ways with some long-time veterans in recent years.

“There’s no question, we feel really good about it,” Jones said. “I mean [corner] Chidobe [Awuzie], working there with [DBs coach] Kris Richard, Kris believes that Chidobe could play himself into being a really high-end corner. So you throw that in with some really good linebackers in Jaylon [Smith] and [Leighton] Vander Esch working with a seasoned veteran in Lee, and some young pass-rushers.

“And the offense goes without saying, I think we have the best line in football. We have one of the best running backs in football, and I think Dak’s going to pick back up and roll again and have a great year. He can be one of the best in the business. We just feel really good about the foundation.”

Eagles

Former Eagles HC Chip Kelly offered some praise for current Eagles HC Doug Pederson in a conversation with Albert Breer.

“I don’t think it’s revolutionary,” Kelly said of the offensive changes being made in the NFL. “I think things trickle-up and trickle-down. And I think when you have good coaches, they don’t try to put a box of what they do. They say, ‘How do we adapt to what we have?’ And I thought what Doug (Pederson) did last year at Philly was as phenomenal a coaching job as I’ve seen in that way. He adapted from Carson (Wentz) to Nick (Foles). What a great coach does is he puts guys in position to make plays, and that’s what he did with those guys.”

Giants

• According to Albert Breer, Giants CB Eli Apple has “turned over a new leaf” and shown a desire to improve this offseason.
• Breer adds that Apple has been “flashing the athleticism that pushed him near the top of the draft in the first place.“
• There was talk earlier in the offseason that Apple was unlikely to be on the Giants’ 53-man roster, but it looks like the fresh start under the new coaching staff could be just what he needed.