Eagles Jalen Carter calls his play 'trash'. He wasn't the only one

PHILADELPHIA − It was accountability day for the Eagles as the three defensive players who turned down interviews after the Eagles' 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 26 tried to explain what went wrong.One of those players, defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who is the highest-paid player in the NFL at his position, summed it up with one word when he was asked how he would assess his play this season: "Trash," Carter said.The reality was, Carter said many other words, and he made it seem like he didn't really think his play was "trash."Buy Philadelphia Eagles tickets"I think y'all ask me this every year, and I say, 'Trash,'" Carter said. "And I gave the same answer. So, 'Trash.' Not to my expectations, and I guess not to what the fans want. And it doesn't really matter what they want, so."Here are two things about that: The first is that Carter has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons, and that enabled him to get a four-year contract extension last spring for four years worth as much as $152 million. "Trash" players don't get that kind of contract.The second is that Carter's play against the Cowboys was "trash." He had just 2 assisted tackles, no sacks, no tackles for losses and no pressures. Contrast that to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 11 when Carter had 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 tackles for losses and a pass defensed.But Carter was not the only one who was "trash" against the Cowboys. Not by a long shot. As a team, the Eagles didn't touch Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, literally. He was not sacked and the Eagles had no QB hits on him. Dallas racked up 416 yards of offense as the Eagles couldn't stop the run (204 yards) or the pass (212).As for accountability, that began with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who blamed himself for not having the players ready."I didn't do a good enough job coaching," he said. "We didn't play the run, obviously, well enough. When you do that, it kind of affects everything. I didn't have them ready to do that the way we need to."But the Eagles' problems defensively ran deeper, to the point where Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was asked if there was a lack of effort.Sirianni denied that, saying, "I did not see an effort issue on Monday night. Obviously, it was other things, which I'm sure you guys will ask me about."Sirianni was asked, but he wasn't specific, other than saying it was everything."I know you guys kind of get tired of me saying this," Sirianni said. "But when the game doesn't go the way you want it to go, it's never just one thing, particularly the run game. It starts with us (as coaches). How do we put them in positions to succeed? Then it goes to execution. Within execution, it's about how you defeat blocks, how you put your hands on somebody and shed that blocker, and then how you tackled."Obviously, with the amount of yards that we gave up, none of us were ... It's a team sport."When the scheme isn't effective, the Eagles can't stop the run. When the Eagles can't stop the run, they can't rush the passer. And when Eagles can't rush the passer, that affects the coverage in the secondary.And that brings us to cornerback Riq Woolen, another player who declined interviews after the game but then took questions on Oct. 28. Woolen gave up a touchdown to Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, a 30-yard completion to Lamb and was called for defensive holding on Lamb. Woolen did have two pass breakups early in the game, however.Fangio didn't blame Woolen.“We had no rush, and (Lamb) runs a deep in, and then pivots back out," Fangio said. "(That's) tough duty." Added Woolen: "The one thing I know is just you can't cheat the game. You can't have a shortage on your technique, especially when you go against top-five receivers in the league. You gotta be sharp on your technique, and you can't take a play off."So really, that's why I say I just got to be more consistent, got to be better, and just got to take it a play at a time, especially when you're going against guys like that."Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard was the third player who declined interviews. The Eagles traded for Greenard last spring, then signed him to a four-year contract worth as much as $100 million. Greenard didn't have a tackle, let alone a sack, in 29 snaps against the Cowboys.In fairness, Greenard didn't practice all last week because of an ankle injury. And he's still limited by the ankle as the practice week began Oct. 28 for the Eagles' next game, on Nov. 1 against the Washington Commanders. Fangio gave Greenard the benefit of the doubt."Obviously, our edge position was affected through the injuries that we've had," Fangio said. "Guys that were playing, namely (Greenard) and Jalyx (Hunt) weren't 100%. (The Cowboys) did a good job pass blocking."But Fangio wasn't quite as forgiving with Carter, especially when Fangio saw what Carter could do in the game against the Jaguars."Well, he's just got to get the mindset to where he'll be consistent all the time," Fangio said. Carter said that's easier said than done. "Yeah, it's difficult," Carter said. "Like I say, teams scheme throughout the week differently. And obviously I hear around of how teams will scheme against me or whatever the case may be. And I know who's scheming the hardest, and I know who's (saying), 'All right, we'll see what he does. Let's see him be his best,' or whatever the case may be."That's pretty much it. The Cowboys schemed it up right."Fangio was asked if Carter can play like he did against the Jaguars every week, or at least on a more consistent basis."I believe so," he said. "You just need to have the right mindset."That starts with accountability. Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.comThis article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles Jalen Carter calls his play 'trash'. He wasn't the only oneOur editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.