Les Bowen: Missing pieces have Eagles scrambling going into Chargers game

With Gocong changing positions, Fokou will start again at strongside linebacker, despite battling the flu. Against the Cowboys, Fokou showed the physicality the coaches like. He also took a cut-blocking penalty that wiped out a 54-yard interception return by Brown. And on special teams, a Fokou hold brought back Hobbs' 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

"You live and you learn," Fokou said. "I write my penalties down [in a notebook]. You write 'em down, read 'em over, you don't commit them ever again."

Mikell said that while communication is important, when you are fitting new parts into the defense on the fly, not a lot of that conversation can take place during the game.

"As far as the secondary, I've always been the type of guy to talk through things in meetings and make sure we're all on the same page in meetings. I try not to do it on the field, because it's too late to do it on the field. We've done a good job with that so far, but like I said, I believe, we all believe in Dimitri. He's a very, very smart guy, studies film, does all the dirty work that he needs to do, and I know he's going to be fine."

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