After considering all the options, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson opted for Plan A for his men up front: He will promote Trent Cole to the starter at right end and slide veteran Darren Howard from the right side to the starting left end. The Eagles will continue to rotate four linemen, including Juqua Thomas and Jerome McDougle.

With Jevon Kearse injured and out for the season, the Eagles are shuffling things along the defensive line.

"It's not anything new," said Howard. "My first two years in the league I played on the left side and my last four I played on the right side. I played a bunch on both sides. I should make the adjustment real quick.

"I haven't played there in a long, long time, so it's a process. That's how we're going to line up for right now and we're going to go ahead with that for right now."

Darren Howard had some success at LDE in New Orleans

Howard had 11 sacks in his rookie season with New Orleans and followed that up with 6 sacks in 2001. He spent the next four years at right defensive end, recording a total of 27 1/2 sacks.

The goal remains the same for the defensive line: Get to the quarterback.

"That's the mentality and that doesn't change. As a defensive line, we've been getting a lot of pressue on quarterbacks and we've been getting a lot of push," said Howard, who is looking for his first quarterback sack as an Eagle. "We have to step up a little bit more, but at the same time do what we've been doing."

Cole, a fifth-round draft pick in 2005, came on with gusto as a rookie, recording 5 sacks in November and ranking fourth among NFL rookies in that category for the year. He was so good in that month that Cole was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Month in November (he had 5 sacks, 15 tackles and 5 quarterback hurries, as well as a forced fumble). Cole went without a sack in the final six games of the season, however.

He is off to a great start with 4 sacks, tied for the most in the league. Cole was extremely effective in his role the first two games of this season -- coming off the bench and stepping in for Howard, who would move inside to tackle in the nickel.

"I started last year (7 games), so it's nothing different for me," said Cole, who was drafted at 238 pounds but who is now about 275 pounds. "I want to be on the field. I'll adjust to it."

One thing Cole won't do is slow down. He only knows one speed.

Fast.

"I don't want to pace myself, because every second counts and every play counts," said Cole. "If you pace yourself, you're going to miss out on something. I will step it up one more notch in practice so I can get used to more reps in the games."