Injuries force Eagles to move Gocong to MLB

Chris Gocong arrived at the NovaCare Complex on Monday not sure whether he would have a part in another episode of As the Eagles Turn.

It turns out he was right in the middle of what might be better named General Hospital. Eagles linebacker Akeem Jordan hyperextended his knee the day before, and Gocong, returning from his own injuries, had just learned that he was being moved from strong-side to middle linebacker.

"I feel like every week there's something going on," Gocong said yesterday. "There's always a mini-soap opera every week. You've just got to stay alive and adjust."

Most of the injuries have been on offense, but the defensive side suffered a few jabs this week. With the team still reeling from the Dallas defeat, and with surging San Diego on Sunday's bill, the losses have come at an inopportune time.

"It changes the complexion of your roster," Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "Instead of sitting down Monday morning to watch the opponent, you have to get a new feel for the complexion of your roster and how you want to attack."

On Tuesday, the team suffered a double whammy when it learned it had lost two reserve cornerbacks for an extended period. Ellis Hobbs was lost for the season due to a neck injury, and Joselio Hanson was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

While neither player starts, both are an integral part of the Eagles' defense, and in Hobbs' case, a key figure on special teams as a kick returner. Hanson is the fifth defensive back in the nickel packages, and Hobbs occasionally rotates with starters Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown at cornerback.

Needless to say, the Chargers, who boast the league's No. 7 passing offense, are licking their chops.

"The injuries are important - who's in, who's out and where are they?" San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said. "Certainly it helps with the preparation throughout the week."

Dimitri Patterson, who is also returning from an injury, will replace Hanson when the Eagles use five defensive backs. Samuel and Brown will likely play the entire game, but if they need a break, Jack Ikegwuonu, who was called up from the practice squad, and Ramzee Robinson, who was signed on Wednesday, could step in.

With Jordan unlikely to play Sunday - he hasn't practiced all week - McDermott had to be crafty with his linebackers. Rather than promote Jordan's backup at weak-side, he moved Will Witherspoon over from the middle. Gocong, who sat out the Dallas game with quadriceps and hamstring injuries in his right leg, is expected to make his first start ever in the middle. And rookie Moise Fokou, whose first career NFL start was last week, will stay at strong side.

"Schematically, it kind of works from me looking outside in," said Fokou, who missed Wednesday's practice with the flu. "Having Chris at middle linebacker – a bigger, physical guy and having the two faster guys on the outside."

If the 6-foot-2, 263-pound Gocong plays middle linebacker, he'll be the sixth player the Eagles have tried at the position since Stewart Bradley tore a ligament in his right knee during training camp.

"I saw it as a challenge, and obviously I've been sitting a lot," Gocong said. "I think my natural body type, it's just kind of natural for me, and it's going to take a little time at it. We'll see what happens."

Because the Chargers might pass significantly more than they run, the Eagles' defense won't be in many sets that require three linebackers. Tracy White is sometimes the second linebacker in nickel situations with Witherspoon, who played weak-side at St. Louis before the Eagles traded for him last month.

Fokou had some trouble against the run last week and has had a knack for racking up penalties. He had two last week to give him four on the season. He said yesterday that he has been logging his penalties in a notebook as a reminder. A joking reporter asked if he had any pages left.

"You won't see those [penalties] from me ever again," Fokou said.

Patterson, like Gocong, is also coming off injuries. He has missed the last four games with a quadriceps strain and skipped a game earlier in the season with a broken hand. He has played mostly on special teams as a gunner but has seen some action on defense.

"He's been here for the last two years," Brown said. "He knows the system. If you saw him fight through injuries during training camp, he was making plays, and we expect him to do that."

He should get his opportunities. San Diego often employs three- and four-receiver sets. The Chargers also have a significant height advantage with 6-5 receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd, and 6-4 tight end Antonio Gates.

"Typically with bigger receivers, they like for you to get close to them so they can use their size and their body to go up for the ball," said Patterson, who will continue to wear a cast over his right hand. "So it's just about playing the ball and finishing the play against bigger receivers."