Fletcher Cox: 'Honestly, I Have To Be Better'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- December 1st, 2013. That was the last time Fletcher Cox did not record at least one tackle in a game, until Sunday.
Cox, 25, is a Pro Bowl defensive tackle and the Eagles' most dominant defensive player. As an interior defensive lineman, his production doesn't always come with gaudy numbers, but zero tackles in a 27-20 loss against the Redskins is unacceptable by his own standards.
Listen: Fletcher Cox on the 94WIP Players Lounge
"Honestly I have to be better, I gotta be better," Cox said. Monday on the 94WIP Players Lounge Show with Ike Reese and Gary Cobb. "Yesterday in that game, I think I was a non-factor. Being out of practice all week I think really affected that. I was dinged up during the week and missed a few days of practice and I think that obviously affected the way that I played in that game. I don't think I'll ever do that again. I have to be more effective and I just gotta find ways to get one-on-one's."
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Cox, who signed a six-year extension worth $103 million ($63 million guaranteed) this offseason, has 13 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and a forced fumble in five games this season. Even on Sunday, despite his quiet stat line, Cox was Pro Football Focus' fifth-highest graded Eagles defensive player.
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Ultimately, the Eagles entire defense struggled allowed 493 total yards of offense. The Redskins racked up an insane 230 yards just on the ground, as Matt Jones rushed for 135 yards on 16 carries (8.4 yards per carry).
"We knew Matt Jones is a one-cut back," said Cox. "He's gonna make one-cut, stick his foot in the ground and get north and south. He really did a really good job yesterday, just compliment him. And really just going back to us, I think we could have done a better job of tackling. We could have played better upfront, I could have played better upfront. And just really as a defense man and as a team, I think we all could have played a whole lot better. It just comes with time. I know we struggled, everybody know we struggled, but at the same time we know what type of team we are. We know what type of guys that we have in that locker room as I say every week, but at the same time we still have to go out on Sunday's and prove it."
