Location - Lincoln Financial Field

Time - 6:30pm E

Radio - 94.1 WYSP

TV - 6ABC in Philly, CBS3 in Northern Jersey

Check out the game preview here

Last game before they start to count. Here's to no injuries!

The Eagles take on a familiar foe in tonight's penultimate preseason game at Lincoln Financial field. The Eagles and Jets usually get together late in preseason thanks to the short drive between Philly and the Meadowlands.

It's unlikely that those who do show up tonight will see many starters for either team including... Brett Favre. Despite the fact the he won't play much if at all, who wants to bet we hear about him 500 times through the course of the game?

As I said, it's unlikely we'll see much if anything from the Eagles starters but there are a few Birds we definintely won't be seeing .Defensive ends Victor Abiamiri (wrist) & Chris Clemons (calf), safety Brian Dawkins (ankle), WR Kevin Curtis (sports hernia), and running back Ryan Moats (ankle) are all out for tonight's game. That's realy tough luck for Moats who hurt his ankle on a meaningless final play against the Patriots that wouldn't have even happened had Bill Belicheck not called timeouts to force his backup D to take a few more reps. Moats probably would have gotten a lot of carries tonight and would have had been able to give the rest of the leauge a real good look at him.

Thought the starters won't play, it doesn't mean the game will be meaningless. There are still a few jobs on the line tonight that will be worth watching. Rookie WR Shaheer McBride knows the importance of this last game.

"Ain't no tomorrow, pretty much," said Eagles rookie Shaheer McBride, the product of Chester High and Delaware State. "Really my focus isn't going to change a lot from the other three games. But there is kind of more of a sense of urgency knowing that it's the last preseason game and the cuts are coming Saturday."

Offensive Line

There are always battles for spots in the trenches going into this final game and this year is no different. On the offensive line it seems to me that the only backup who is a lock at this point is C Nick Cole. Considering Cole has taken all the snaps at backup C, the Eagles really can't cut himat his point. That means Max Jean-Gilles, Winston Justice, Scott Young, King Dunlap, Mike McGlynn, and Mike Gibson are all fighting for the last 3, possibly 4 spots. While I think Max is the closest of that group to being assured a spot, the rest are really up in the air.

Defensive Line

This battle should be really fun to watch because there's probably more guys deserving a roster spot here than in the other contested positions around the team. Especially at DE. It would appear from Jim Johnsons' comments earlier this week about Joe Klecko that the 4 DTs are set. At the very least, the top 3 are set in stone. Defensive end is where it gets tricky. Trent Cole is a lock, Juqua Parker is a lock. Pretty much all reports suggest that Victor Abiamiri is getting better after the surgery on his wrist and won't be placed on IR. If he's not, it's probably safe to say he's a lock. So that leaves free agent acquistion Chris Clemons, rookie Brian Smith, veteran Darren Howard, and Jerome McDougle left to battle over the last 3 spots. There's always a chance the Eagles could try to come up with some way to keep 7 DEs... but the likelihood is that not all of these guys make. Chris Clemons won't play tonight for the 3rd straight game but does that hurt his chances? The Eagles quickly moved to swoop him up on the first day of free agency and gave him a decent signing bonus. They did that because he's coming a off an 8 sack year... I just don't think that a few injuries in preseason are enough to make the Eagles give up on him. Then there's Brian Smith, who as a rookie third round pick should clearly be making the roster. How can you cut a third round pick before ever giving him a chance to develop. There's Darren Howard, the veteran who can play inside or out and on both sides of the line has a good shot thanks to his versatility... and finally there's the man that has made this DE battle so dramatic, Jerome McDougle. The former first round pick has looked really good in all three preseason games and not just against backups. He registered a sack against the Pats starting RT last week.

Do the Eagles go light at another position and keep all 7 guys? If not, out of McDougle, Clemons, and Howard who is out of a job? Tonight should help make that more clear.

Safety

Quintin Demps is a lock. He certainly won't be the first safety off the bench if a starter is hurt, but his skills on special teams have guaranteed him a roster spot. So that leaves Sean Considine and JR Reed left to battle it out for what will likely be just one roster spot if the Eagles keep just 4 safeties. So far I have to give the edge to Considine in the field and JR Reed on special teams. Obviously special teams play is important for any backup... but with Dawk's injuries there is a very real need for a backup safety that is ready to step in and play. For that reason I could see Considine winning this job. Both guys will get lots of time back there tonight and could certainly win or lose themselves a job.

Linebacker

It's possible that there's only one job up for grabs here, but it's one that should be hotly contested. We know who the three starters are... It seems like Akeen Jordan has a spot. Rookie Joe Mays has drawn considerable praise from Jim Johnson and honestly has looked like our best linebacker in preseason period. Starters included... I have to think that Mays has won himself a spot on the 53. So that leaves Rocky Boiman, Andy Studebaker, Pago Togafau, and Justin Roland fighting it out for what will probably be only one spot. Special teams play will go a long way in determing that, which means that veteran Rocky Boiman probably has the inside track. Boiman was brought in to be primarily a special teams contributor. As far as preseason performance, Andy Studebaker has been the most impressive of the group in my opinion. Studebaker also saw time at DE against the Pats and Jim Johnson said in his press conference this week that he will see more time there this week.

Fullback

This is probably the only starting job that's still up for grabs. Tony Hunt, Jason Davis, and Jed Collins should all see time as a lead blocker and all three will get plenty of chances to impress on special teams. I really think this is anyone's job, although I'm sure the Eagles are hoping Tony Hunt shows enough to win it.

So those are the positions and players worth keeping an eye on tonight. As always it'll be interesting to see how Kevin Kolb plays since he'll be taking the majority of the snaps. No big names tonight, but there will be a lot of guys out there fighting in their last shot to make it in the NFL.

It appears that failed fullback Dan Klecko has become a successful defensive tackle and earned himself a spot on the Eagles 53 man roster.

Asked this week who the team's No. 4 tackle was now, Johnson almost seemed surprised by the question.

"That fourth defensive tackle is a guy by the name of Klecko," Johnson said. (Actually, Johnson said, "Glecko.") He looks pretty good to me right now. He had a good game the other night [against New England] and he's had a great camp."

Klecko has impressed his teammates along the line as well

"Man, Kleck is quick and slippery," Bunkley said. "He just knows how to work the edges. In order to be a great pass rusher, you have to know how to work the edges. He's a specialist at that."

It's also apparent in that article that Bunkley is so amused by Klekco, that he can't look at the guy without cracking up.

RIchmond McGee, it was nice knowing you. See you in camp next year.

There's been some suggestions that the Eagles might actually cut offseason acquisition Chris Clemons in order to make a place for Jerome McDougle on the team... After jumping on Clemons the first weekend of free agency and the fact that cutting him would cost the Eagles $4 million this year I'd say it's unlikey he doesn't make the team. That said, it's obvious that the coaches are frustrated

"We want him to be out there," Jim Johnson said before practice. "It is important to Chris. We'll have to see day by day. I don't know how hard he can go, but he needs to get out there and he needs to practice."

"We know Chris can play," Andy Reid said. "Do I want him to have more reps? Yes, I would love to have in there. But that's the way it is. He has to catch up when he can."

I know this goes against traditional football wisdom, but would the Eagles be smart to go with just 2 QBs this year?

As we look up and down the roster there's a few spots where the Eagles have some tough decisions to make. At defensive end Jerome McDougle's encouraging form in the preseason has made that position much more interesting. Add in the fact that Victor Abiamiri is expected back at some point this year and will likely not go on IR... and the Eagles have a bit of a logjam. Obviously if Abiamiri can play, the team will want the second round pick at their disposal. After sticking with Jerome McDougle for 5 years how can they cut him now that he's just starting to show something? Chris Clemons has been injured and unable to make an impact so far, but the team jumped on him the first weekend of free agency and isn't about to give up on him before he even plays a game. Darren Howard, thanks to his versatility and solid reviews so far looks like he's got himself a roster spot... Rookie 3rd round pick Bryan Smith will obviously be on the team as will Juqua Parker and Trent Cole. That makes 6 DEs, and if Dan Klecko makes the team, 11 total defensuive lineman. Quite a hefty load.

However, as the Giants proved last year(and this year maybe moreso) you can never have enough pass rushers. Especially on a defense built to pressure the passer.

There's similar issues at WR. Kevin Curtis' injury means the Eagles are likely to have to keep an extra WR that they possibly wouldn't have if Curtis was going to be around. With Curtis expected back sometime around the bye, he won't be going on IR so he'll take up a roster spot. Linebacker is another position where the Eagles would love to find places for Joe Mays, Akeem Jordan, Rocky Boiman, and Andy Studebaker... but the numbers game may mean they have to let one of those guys go.

So where can the Eagles find a roster spot for an extra player they think can really help the team this year. Why not QB? Let's look at the facts. Clearly AJ Feeley is here to be nothing but the 3rd QB. The fact that he hasn't even played in two preseason games, where a 3rd QB normally plays more than he will all year, is all the evidence you need of his status here. If McNabb were to go down at any point this year, Kevin Kolb is clearly going to be the guy to step in. Literally, the only reason AJ Feeley is here is if both Kolb and McNabb were to get injured in the same game. Think about, say McNabb gets injured and he's done for the year. As long as Kolb can finish that game, the Eagles will be able to sign someone as a backup.... maybe even AJ Feeley if no one picks him up. We all saw what Feeley did when he got his chance to play last year, he threw 8 INTs in two and half games.

The argument against dropping Feeley is obvious. We don't need to look any further than 2002 where McNabb and backup Koy Detmer were injured and Feeley held down the fort until McNabb was ready to return for the postseason.

So here's the gamble. Is it more likely that Jerome McDougle makes a contribution to this team than it is that AJ Feeley is called upon to play? What about Darren Howard or Andy Studebaker? Is this a gamble you'd take?

I got a kick out of this little note from the Eagles practice yesterday

After intercepting Donovan McNabb while covering Jackson, Asante Samuel shouted out, "75 percent of the world is covered by water. The other 25 percent is covered by Zont," which is Samuel's nickname ... Lito Sheppard got into the act as well, yelling, "Get that (stuff) out of here" after batting down a McNabb pass while covering Bam Childress, then heaving the ball 40 yards back toward the offensive huddle and nearly hitting assistant coach Otis Smith in the head

Sounds like those guys are confident and having a good time which is a very good sign. Good teams know how to have fun playing the game.

Last week I mentioned how it seemed like the Eagles organization were making a concerted effort to downplay the impact of Desean Jackson so far. A fact the local writers are picking up on... However, when asked about Jackson Brian Westbrook as usual simply spoke his mind.

"It's obvious that he's going to stretch the field," Westbrook said. "The defense is going to have to plan for him and see where he's at on every possession. His being alone is something that they are going to have to reckon with. And he'll continue to get better as long as we continue to put the ball in his hands. Like we said before, the more playmakers that you can put on the field at once, the more things the defense has to prepare for."

He was even more revealing and honest about how he saw the state of the offense coming into this year.

"I'm tired of seeing eight men in a box," said Westbrook, the NFL's total offense leader last year. "I want to see an opportunity where the defense has to respect our receivers."