As a middle linebacker, Chris Gocong did a pretty good job of setting up the defense.
But that's where the accolades began and ended
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott obviously thinks the tag team of Joe Mays and Jeremiah Trotter might be a better match this weekend against the Bears and running back Matt Forte, second in the league in yards after the catch.
McDermott also couldn't take too many more busts from rookie linebacker Moise Fokou, who hustled on the strong side in place of Gocong but was more all-effort than all-pro.

If I was Brian Westbrook, I'd get at least one and probably a couple more medical opinions about the concussion issues plaguing him the past three weeks.
I would do so just to be a little surer, no disrespect to the guys who evaluated him Wednesday.
What stands out about concussions is that a lot is not known about concussions.
If, for example, Westbrook was fully cleared to play this past Sunday - and there is no reason to doubt that - is it just coincidental that he suffered another concussion in his first full game back?
Here's a guy who never had a serious concussion in his career, and just like that he gets dinged twice. Hey, I know any football player is at risk for a concussion any time they step on the field. But two in three weeks? That's after following all of the accepted procedures for concussion testing.
Walking around the NovaCare Complex Wednesday it sounded a lot like Westbrook's second concussion could be a career-wrecker.
Donovan McNabb was talking about quality of life after football. Other players shook their heads - no pun intended - and thought about their own mortality.
Later the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center put out a release suggesting Westbrook's second concussion was much milder than the first one, and that the Villanova University product could get back on the field providing his rehab goes well. They want to test him in two or three weeks,
Watching film of the most recent hit concussing Westbrook, I'm not so sure he's elusive enough to avoid a third concussion. It was a sandwich type of collision with multiple players that happens several times every game.
Getting back on the field seems like a leap of faith.

Jason Peters made the trip but was scratched due to a sprained ankle, enabling the Eagles to start  Todd Herremans at left tackle. This is a positive move. Peters lately has been a liability whose moodiness is exceeded only by his penchant for underachievement.
The mild surprise of the resulting line shuffle is Stacy Andrews starting at right guard instead of Max Jean-Gillies, as Nick Cole moved to Herremans' slot at left guard. Andrews easily has had the worst season of any Eagles lineman on either side of the ball. That said you will see Jean-Gillies on this unseasonably cold 65-degree yet sunny day.
Linebacker Akeem iJordan (knee) and safety Quintin Demps (hamstring) are the only other other inactives of note. Expect Jeremy Maclin to field kickoffs.
Running back Brian Westbrook returned to the lineup for the first time in three games after sustaining a concussion.
Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee) sat out his seventh straight game.

If you didn't know Brian Westbrook had an ankle problem - and the way the Eagle injury reports are these days, you really don't know - you would have wondered why the team bothered to list it.
Westbrook glided through practice Thursday with no issues. The concussion that sidelined him the last two games seemed anything but a problem as well. Barring another round of mysterious symptoms for a second straight Friday, he looks good to go for the Chargers this Sunday.
Left offensive tackle Jason Peters didn't practice for the second straight day due to a sprained ankle. Peters snapped off a no-comment and looked off his questioner when asked how he felt. It wasn't like he was limping.
Safety Quintin Demps (groin) didn't work after giving practice a try, and that could mean rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is the kick returner Sunday. It was the second straight practice Demps missed.

And you thought all of those close, mounting Eagles losses were because of quarterback Donovan McNabb, the run-to-pass ratio, brutal penalties and turnovers.

No, the Eagles simply are trying too hard in those conflicts.

That's what Andy Reid sold at his Monday news conference. And while some people were buying, come on, it is Reid who is trying too hard with such an explanation.

OK, the Eagles don't appear to be in  a Terry Murray type of "choking situation" in close games. But if they're not comfortably ahead, you can write them off in the fourth quarter. They're 1-8-1 in their last 10 games decided by four or fewer point.

“I’ve seen guys battling,” Reid said. “Maybe it’s the other end, we’re trying too hard. I’ve seen maximum effort out there and it looked like the guys were pretty focused.”

Trying too hard? Now that's maximum effort.

The Eagles wouldn't confirm or deny that running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) would be scratched for their Sunday night game with the Cowboys.
The formal announcement will be made at 6:30 p.m.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Westbrook (concussion) is not expected to play.
The Eagles beat the Giants last week with rookie LeSean McCoy and veteran Leonard Weaver carrying the football.

The Cowboys got rid of defensive coordinator Brian Stewart after their colossal collapse last year.
They took away his office, his computer password and his lunchroom priveleges.

But they couldn't erase his memory.

And I have a feeling they will pay for the unceremonious dismissal when they take on the Eagles Sunday night.
Stewart (pictured) knows the Cowboys inside-out. Can you se4e where this is going?
Around the second or third play quarterback Tony Romo is going to think the Eagles know his plays. Then again, I can tell you where Romo is going with the ball until he escapes the pocket.
Defensively it could be worse  because the Cowboys really aren't that good on the side of the ball. That's why they got walloped, 44-6, in what became their season-ender last year in South Philly. It wasn't the coordinator.
If I'm wrong about this, I want to hear about it. Starting with Mustafa S. and Dribbons.
Have a great weekend, guys.