Fletcher Cox says Doug Pederson is doing a ‘really good job leading this team virtually’

One of the more veteran voices on the Eagles’ defense now is Fletcher Cox, and he even got the defensive line unit together this offseason for some work away from the facility. But, now that they’re back, Cox spoke to the media on Wednesday about COVID precautions, head coach Doug Pederson coaching remotely, and about the exciting d-line group.

Cox also said he didn’t suffer any setbacks and his toe is feeling really good — he isn’t limited at all this offseason and is back to his regular training.

“I just want to get better at everything.”

Cox explained he was watching film recently and he knows there are a few things he can still work on improving.

Here’s what else the defender had to say:

On Doug Pederson coaching virtually

“Doug’s doing a really good job of leading this team virtually.”

It’s one of those things where they have to adapt, and they know things like this could happen during the season and they’ll just have to continue to adapt. Cox said that things are going smoothly even with Pederson being off-site, and that Duce Staley and the players are all doing a good job.

On the defensive line

Cox said “it’s a really solid group” and he’s really looking forward to getting Malik Jackson and Hassan Ridgeway back and then to add Javon Hargrave. He noted that it’ll be a really strong rotation whenever that gets figured out, but he’s just excited to get back on the field with these guys.

He later said that Malik is doing a really good job of learning the defense, and he just needs to play fast when he’s out there. Cox said that it’s going to take a lot of repetition for all of them to get on the same page.

The veteran also talked about Derek Barnett, someone that Cox has been in “real close contact with” throughout the offseason and he’s been working really hard. Barnett has always felt like he has a point to prove, and he always shows up in shape and ready to go, focused on his job, and ready to learn more.

Cox hosted several of his teammates at his ranch in Texas earlier this offseason because they didn’t know when they’d be able to practice together, and wanted to get in some good training and start developing chemistry. He had the space to host the defensive line unit comfortably, and their spaces were cleaned and disinfected everyday.

“I feel like it was a good chance for me to get the guys together down at the ranch. Everybody had fun, to say the least, bunch of guys doing stuff they’ve never done before.”

He laughed at some of his teammates who rode horses for the first time, and joked that Jackson stayed inside a lot because he was not into all the mosquitoes and flies.

On COVID precautions

Cox talked about how the hardest thing to adapt to was having a mask on at the moment they walk into the NovaCare Complex, and having to keep it on — and reminding teammates to keep it on — during meetings and workouts.

Cox quipped that the facility was probably the safest place in the city, and that Jeff Lurie and the organization did a really good job of making sure the players were safe.