Bedard: Shaq Mason referendum coming vs. Fletcher Cox, and other Eagles-Patriots thoughts

There are fewer scarier sentences for an offense in today's NFL than, "Fletcher Cox is playing really well."

The Eagles' 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive tackle is about fearsome a sight as there is in the league. If you were to draw up the specifications for an ideal interior tackle, Cox would be it. He's got long arms, big hands and is built like a Mack Truck. He's got tree trunks for legs and his upper body strength is incredible.

That's what is waiting for Patriots right guard Shaq Mason in Sunday's matchup with the Eagles. In the past, you'd like this matchup from a New England perspective. Mason, 26, had steadily built himself from a fourth-round pick into one of the elite guards in the NFL to the point the Patriots rewarded him with a lucrative contract extension last year.

And in their only other matchup, Super Bowl LII, Mason more than held his own against Cox. Of the four pressures Mason allowed in a game with 51 dropbacks, two came courtesy of Brandon Graham, who does not kick inside as much this season. Yes, those Graham pressures were huge, including the game-deciding strip-sack, but Mason did an outstanding job against Cox and overall.

Will that happen again? The only thing we know for sure is that entering this matchup, Mason hasn't played close to his previous levels. Whether or not he regains his form on Sunday could determine this matchup. That's not hyperbole. Cox is that good and that impactful.

After having major foot surgery in the offseason, Cox has rounded into form in the previous two games with nine total quarterback pressures, including two sacks.

Last season, Cox set career-highs with 11 sacks, 25 QB hits and 65 hurries for 101 total QB pressures. He's just as impactful in the run game.



Meanwhile, Mason has taken a step back. A look at his numbers from last season to this year:

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What's the reason for the dropoff? Line coach Dante Scarnecchia wouldn't acknowledge an injury has affected Mason, outside the ankle injury that caused him to miss the Browns game. But I think Mason has been dealing with some sort of right knee injury all season. Wouldn't be surprised if he needs a clean-up surgery in the offseason. He's not driving as much in the run game, and he's getting moved around in the pass because he's not anchoring as well.

I've seen too much of Mason over the years to think this is somehow related to motivation and his big contract. He cares too much about being good. He has to be hurt.

Maybe with the rest from the Browns game and the bye, Mason will be back in top form. He'll need to be against Cox, or the Patriots offense could be stymied.

Other matchup thoughts...

Changeup in the secondary?

With DeSean Jackson out after surgery, and Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agohlor having off seasons, the Eagles are getting next to nothing out of their perimeter passing game.



The strength of the Eagles' passing game obviously resides in the tight ends, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, and running backs Miles Sanders and Darren Sproles.

Could that lead the Patriots into some interesting matchups?

I think it would be a waste to put Stephon Gilmore on Jeffrey. If you really want to shut down the Eagles passing game, why not put him on one of the tight ends? Better yet, use your top cornerbacks on Ertz and Goedert.

Possible matchups:

WR Alshon Jeffrey: J.C. Jackson or Joejuan Williams
WR Nelson Agohlor: Jonathan Jones
WR Mack Hollins: Jason McCourty
TE Zach Ertz: Stephon Gilmore
TE Dallas Goedert: Patrick Chung
RB Miles Sanders/Darren Sproles: Jamie Collins or Devin McCourty

Wentz and the lack of offensive identity

One of the issues the Eagles are having offensively, and perhaps they'll adjust out of the bye week, is that they want to be a shotgun spread team, but their lack of receivers makes that extremely difficult. If you thought the Patriots had a lack of viable outside targets, the Eagles are even worse.

Their offensive line, led by center Jason Kelce and right guard Brandon Brooks, is excellent. Jordan Howard is a very good tailback. They have two very good tight ends. Why they have not morphed into an under-center team is beyond me.

One explanation, and the film backs this up, is that QB Carson Wentz still plays too fast. The game has not slowed down for him. His internal clock is too fast, and he doesn't let things develop. I'm guessing Doug Pederson still goes shotgun spread to make things easier on Wentz — it limits designer blitzes and makes it easier to pick out matchups. But it doesn't fit their personnel, so the offense is limited.

Chess match

One area you should really watch in this game is the Patriots' defense making a lot of checks and calls. The Eagles love to get to the line quickly, and then use a check-with-me-system to allow Wentz to call the play at the line.

With the Patriots coming off the bye, I could see them showing one thing, and then changing when Wentz makes his call.

The Eagles are going to try very hard — if they don't, something is wrong — to get their running backs on Patriots linebackers in the passing game. The checks could help thwart that.

Weak cornerbacks

While the safeties are good — Malcolm Jenkins is excellent but I've always thought Rodney McLeod was overrated — the Eagles have really struggled at cornerback. They alternate between man and zone, but Julian Edelman should have a field day either way against slot corner Avonte Maddox. There's a lot of room in the middle against the zone. Maddox can't hang in man coverage.

Right cornerback Ronald Darby was excellent in Buffalo but is really scuffling. It will be interesting to see how they match up with Mohamed Sanu. I'm guessing it will be Jalen Mills with Darby on Phillip Dorsett. Shotgun spread should work against this defense because it will keep Jim Schwartz from dialing up his blitzes.