NFC Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Regarding the Cowboys converting to a 3-4 defense this season, LB Jaylon Smith credited their coaching staff for adjusting through an abbreviated offseason program.  

“I feel like they’ve made it fairly simple,” Smith said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “I think everybody needs to just chill out. This is the third game coming up. We didn’t have too much of an offseason. We didn’t have a preseason. COVID(-19) presented us with a lot of different challenges.”

Cowboys executive Stephen Jones reiterated that DC Mike Nolan didn’t have adequate time to install their new 3-4 system. 

“Mike’s bringing in a new system, and we didn’t get any time to work on it,” said Jones. “No one is making any excuses, that’s just part of it. Nobody got OTAs or minicamps, but I do think it probably had a more profound effect on the teams that were putting in new systems, whether it’s a new defensive coordinator or a new offensive coordinator or a new head coach. And you didn’t get the time that you might normally get. Usually, especially teams with new head coaches, they get extra time. That’s part of it.”

Jones believes it’ll be a “matter of time” until the Cowboys properly adjust to their new defense. 

“But if you were going to say we need to simplify it, it should be earlier and not later. When you see it, I think it’s just a matter of time of our players getting our hands around it and Mike getting his hands around the personnel that he has. We certainly had some great conversations this week about who ought to be doing what on that side of the ball. I’m very convicted we’re going to get our hands around it and be able to do what we want to do as a football team.”

Eagles

• Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com says that while the Eagles’ season isn’t over in the event they lose to the Bengals on Sunday, the team should consider attempting to trade TE Zach Ertz at the deadline if there is a solid enough offer on the table. 
• Kempski suggests the “equivalent of a high 2 or better” as the kind of compensation that could make sense should the Eagles opt to make Ertz available. 

Giants

Giants’ RB Devonta Freeman says he still has plenty of playing ahead of him and looks forward to being a difference-maker now that he has found a new franchise.

He also alluded to the fact that he didn’t feel he was going to be a good fit in situations with the Eagles and Buccaneers who previously had an interest in him.

“I know I still have a lot in the tank,” Freeman said, via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “This was a great opportunity at the right time, coming in to compete. A lot of situations didn’t fit what I want to do and some of my own personal goals. Trying to win one game at a time and when it’s all said and done hopefully win the big game.”