Fletcher Cox explains his defensive struggles during first month

It’s been quite the topic over the course of the first month of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ 2021-2022 regular-season campaign. What the heck is going on with Fletcher Cox? It’s been said that he’s been game-planned for and that teams are double-teaming him. There are rumors that the desire is no longer there. Some have gone so far as to say that he no longer has a motor and is lazy.

Everyone has their opinion. What we haven’t been able to do since he failed to register a single defensive snap in Week 4 (something that also happened in Week 1) is ask Fletcher Cox what he thinks the issue is.

Finally, on the Wednesday leading up to Philly’s game in Week 5, Fletcher Cox opened up. It’s time to get to the bottom of some things.

Fletcher Cox talks about his game in his own words.

As is customary, Philly’s midweek presser allowed several members of the media access to some of the best players on the Philadelphia Eagles’ roster. As one of the team captains, Cox is often in the rotation and was on this occasion.

Does anyone want to guess what one of the major topics was? Here’s some of what Fletch had to say about the first four weeks of the 2021-2022 NFL season.

"Sometimes I play in the 3-technique, sometimes I play in the 4. It’s just one of them things where it’s hard to get settled in, in a game when you’re playing so many positions and doing so many things."

Okay, so the opposing teams aren’t the only ones who are trying to shut the big guy down. Jonathan Gannon and the Eagles coaches are in on this too?

No one believes that Cox isn’t one of the best at his position when he’s at his best. The question is this. Is he giving his all? The double-team narrative is overplayed. It just isn’t happening as often as people say.

Sure, he knows more about what he’s doing and what’s happening on the field than any of us, but Cox is, again, one of the best at his position. He’s also a legend. Aaron Donald gets double-teamed all the time. How come he’s still producing and we never hear him complain?

If the scheme is limiting him, here’s a fair question. What was the issue last season when we saw this and Fletch was still struggling? Fortunately, we can put any theories of Cox giving up to rest. Check this out:

"We do a lot of different things. All I can do is prepare for it week in and week out… Whatever they ask me to do, man. I’m going to do it to my best ability. I’m going to be a pro about it, be very professional about it, go out, and make the best of it."

NFL teams didn’t just discover Fletcher Cox. From what we understand he’s been around for a while. Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon says he’s not concerned. He says “The production will come. I’m not worried about the production from Fletch”.

Let’s hope he’s right. The Philadelphia Eagles have invested a ton of money into their defensive line, and they did so because they wanted everything they do on that side of the ball to begin with this team’s ability to create pressure from the defensive line’s interior.

That means one thing. The Eagles don’t hope Fletch Cox produces. They don’t need him to produce. He absolutely has to get the job done. That’s why he makes so much doggone money.