Eagles Vs. Jets: Five Things To Watch
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If there was ever a reason to hope that the NFL eventually goes to two preseason games and 18 regular season games, the final game of the four-game preseason is a good one.
The Eagles will not be playing any starters, and resting several other key veterans, as they do their best to make sure no one gets hurt tonight. If tonight's game against the Jets holds any drama, it lies in those still trying to make the team. Also, of course, if Tim Tebow does anything silly on the sidelines.
#1 - A Quarter Of Nick Foles - If you're Nick Foles, you cherish every moment of being the darling of Philadelphia football. As we've seen with the Detmers, AJ Feely, Kevin Kolb and actually Michael Vick at one point, no one is more beloved in our fair city than the backup quarterback. Foles will play tonight's first quarter, and it will likely be his last chance to wow us until Michael Vick gets injured.
#2 - Chris Polk - There was a lot of talk earlier in camp that Polk could be converted to fullback, and make the team that way. It looks like Stanley Havili has the fullback job locked up, and Dion Lewis has the second string halfback spot. This is Polk's final shot to impress the Eagles, and any other team that may be interested in him if he gets cut.
#3 - Chad Hall - Mostly because Chad Hall is always fun to watch in the preseason. As usual he's on the bubble to make the team.
#4 - Jaiquawn Jarrett - Jarrett seems likely to make the team for two reasons; first, as Ike Reese noted on the air on Wednesday, the Eagles spent a second round pick on him, and may be hesitant to cut ties. Second, and most importantly, they just don't have too many other options. With Nate Allen (who has missed time due to injury in each of his two seasons, and "tweaked" a hamstring during Flight Night) and Kurt Coleman sure to make the team, and OJ Atogwe likely to make the team but not looking particularly impressive, that only leaves rookie free-agent Phillip Thomas as another option. It would be nice to see Jarrett do at least one thing that makes it look like he's capable of playing in the NFL.
#5 - Antonio Dixon - The Eagles are going to have to make some decisions on the defensive line, and Dixon is part of that. The decision involves not only who to keep, but how many to keep. If they decide to carry ten defensive linemen, you could seed Dixon, Tapp, or Cedric Thornton not on the 53 man roster.
Honorable mentions: Demetress Bell, three full quarters of Trent Edwards (just kidding), Tim Tebow on the sideline, the high percentage of children in the crowd who get to go to their only Eagles game because it's still the summer, their parents got free tickets, the game is early and it's unlikely to be rowdy.
