NFC East Notes: Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Eagles

• Eagles RB coach Duce Staley says he would still love to have RB Darren Sproles back and is in constant communication with the veteran. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Staley adds that RB Miles Sanders has the chance to be “special.” (Shorr-Parks)
• Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is the leading candidate to return punts for the team this year. (Zach Berman)

Giants

After trading away DE Olivier Vernon and passing on the draft’s top pass rushers, it’s clear the Giants believe the players on their roster, including LB Lorenzo Carter, can step up.

“They didn’t get a pass rusher but I didn’t look at it like that,” Carter said via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “I’m looking at me going into Year Two, what steps I need to make to be better. I guess they showed faith but I want to go out there and prove it to myself and prove it to everybody else.”

Giants DC James Bettcher said he’s already seen improvement from Carter as he enters his second season. 

“He is rushing with a plan,” Bettcher said. “A year ago he was trying to get off the ball as quick as he could and use his hands when he could. Now, you see a guy that is aware of how he wants to rush, aware of techniques that he wants to rush with. Guys that get in there as pass rushers, you see their best growth in the two and three years. You start to figure out what they are as rushers. He is really starting to figure that out. He is building his pass-rush toolbox right now.”

After being traded by the Browns and cut by the Bills and Patriots, Giants WR Corey Coleman knows he’s on his last chance to shake the bust label and resurrect his NFL career. 

“You haven’t seen the best of Corey Coleman yet,” he said via Art Stapleton. “I feel like I’m getting better and better, and I’m just trying to stay humble and do what they ask of me. I’m happy to be here, and I’m not worried about what happened and didn’t happen in the past. I don’t look back in time. I’m comfortable with this team and in this offense, and I’m excited to show everything people thought I could do and I know I can still do in this league. Nothing’s given to you, and it’s my job to prove it.”

Coleman and HC Pat Shurmur have looked at tape of WR Stefon Diggs in Shurmur’s offense in Minnesota together, and both believe Coleman could play a similar role as his friend, Diggs.

“We are going to see the best of [Coleman],” Shurmur said. “He’s the first one to tell you when he came in the league, he had a lot to learn. Now he’s got an opportunity to maybe be a front-line player.”

• According to Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com, the Giants could consider trading C Spencer Pulley to the Jets for DT Steve McLendon, as it would address needs for both teams. 

Redskins

Redskins S Landon Collins might be one of the only players in the NFL excited to try to tackle former Giants teammate RB Saquon Barkley. 

“I’ve been ready to tackle Saquon,” Collins said via NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton. “That’s my guy, though. All love to him and he’s been doing his thing as we all know. But when I get to meet him in the hole this time, it’s going to be full-go.”