Les Bowen: Mays might be man in middle as Eagles shift defense again

THE SAN DIEGO game was the first time all season the Eagles' defense was unable to force a turnover, a situation that had something to do with Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and maybe even more to do with all the guys playing unfamiliar roles, filling injury gaps.

That's something the Birds know they have to turn around this weekend at Chicago, where Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has thrown 17 interceptions, including five in his last outing, a 10-6 loss to the 49ers. The Eagles' defensive situation figures to improve at least a little - cornerback Sheldon Brown, who missed the second half Sunday with a hamstring injury, apparently intends to play, although he has been a limited practice participant so far, and Chris Gocong will return to the familiarity of SAM linebacking after an awkward week in the middle.

But indications are that Gocong will be replaced in the middle by Joe Mays, who could be making his first NFL start, although he has been practicing at the position more than a season and a half now. So the patching and filling continues for first-year defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.

"We'll have different combinations based on the situation, at this point," McDermott said, when asked about his linebacking scheme. "We are still trying to work through some of those different combinations with who is available, who's healthy and who's not."

McDermott said there was nothing complicated about getting the turnover mojo back.

"We've got to get back to putting pressure on the quarterback and putting pressure on the perimeter and attacking the receivers, and you guys all know, you've been around attacking oriented defenses long enough, that if you get pressure, turnovers come," he said.

It's hard to play instinctively when you're in a new spot, though. Gocong worked extra hours last week to prepare for playing the middle; he still looked late to the party, chasing Antonio Gates or LaDainian Tomlinson.

"It's hard to learn a new position in 3 days," Gocong said yesterday. "Obviously, I'm a lot more comfortable at SAM . . . I gave it my best. It's tough to set everybody and know all the run gaps and know all the coverage. It's a lot of stuff."