By Peter Gleason
For Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, playing in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 defense is like a college reunion.
The Mississippi State product appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio today:
“I played it my first year,” Cox said, when asked about his role in this new system. “That’s why they drafted me, to play in the 4-3. My role is to get to the quarterback, really. To play the run on the way to the quarterback.
“From the way that they are explaining it; ‘go get the quarterback, create havoc, negative plays are the biggest thing.’ I don’t think that we had enough of those last year. I don’t think we had enough negative plays last year. I think that’s going to change.”
Cox is coming off his best statistical season, finishing with a career-high 9.5 sacks en-route to being named a second-team All-Pro for the second consecutive year and his first Pro Bowl berth. He was able to parlay that success into a six-year contract extension worth $103 million and $63 million guaranteed.
As for the coordinator orchestrating the overhaul of the defense, Cox says that he is excited to get back to work in training camp under Schwartz’s watch.
“I think Jim [Schwartz] is going to do a really, really good job this year,” Cox said. “With everybody. He’s got a name for himself with a 4-3 defense, getting after the quarterback. That’s what everybody is excited to do, especially guys on the defensive line.”
