Cimini: Pregame Breakdown

[flgreen]

Jets-Eagles: Pre-game breakdown

September, 2, 2010 Sep 211:08AM ETEmail Print Comments By Rich CiminiFinally, the last pre-season game. Wasn't it only yesterday that the New York Jets were checking into their dorms in Cortland, N.Y.?

Friday night's game at the Linc will be a jayvee contest. Rex Ryan decided not to play any starters, except for G Matt Slauson, and Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid never plays any starters in the pre-season finale. So why watch? Well, here are a few reasons:

• The Backups QBs. Mark Brunell hasn't shown anything in the preseason, but he was handed the No. 2 job and will start this game. Rex Ryan said Brunell, signed before camp, is getting comfortable with the offense and has shown improvement in practice. That's fine, but it would be nice to see it in a game. Brunell has an impressive resume, but a lot of the players on the team were in junior high when he was in his heyday with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He needs to win the confidence of those around him ... just in case something happens to Mark Sanchez. Kellen Clemens, a little lighter in the wallet after his nationally televised pay cut, will come off the bench.

• New offensive coordinator. Sanchez isn't playing, but he'll be wearing a headset on the sideline and will get a chance to call some plays. Smart move by Ryan and Brian Schottenheimer. Quoting his former Baltimore Ravens boss, Brian Billick, Ryan said, "I think that will give him a different dynamic." Being a quarterback, Sanchez' natural inclination will be to call passing plays, but it sounds like he'll be strongly encouraged to call running plays -- a lot of them.

• The post-McNabb era. Donovan McNabb's successor, Kevin Kolb, gets to night off, so Michael Vick will start at quarterback. That's always a must-watch.

• The wide-receiver battle. With Santonio Holmes due to serve a four-game suspension, it looks like the Jets will carry only four receivers on the opening-day roster. Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith are locks. It looks like David Clowney versus Larry Taylor for the final spot, but RB Danny Woodhead has been working at receiver in practice and could enter the mix. Either way, Woodhead is a safe bet to make the team. Ryan loves the guy.

• Pre-game warmups. So you think the starters and veteran backups have the night off? Not exactly. The 39 players sitting out the game will be put through some rather intensive pre-game conditioning.

• The Calvin Pace replacements. With Pace (broken foot) sidelined, and with Bryan Thomas and Jason Taylor not playing, DE Vernon Gholston could get the start at his old outside-linebacker position. If he doesn't start, he certainly will get a lot of playing time there. The Jets are trying to decide whether to sign free agent LB Adalius Thomas after Week 1. If Gholston plays adequately, maybe they hold off on Thomas.

• The last hurrah. With Holmes on the verge of beginning a four-game suspension, will play about three quarters. Considering he'll be covered by second- and third-string players, Holmes probably will have some big numbers. By rule, he isn't allowed to practice with the team during his suspension, but as we reported the other day, he's permitted by league rules to be at the facility and participate in meetings. There seemed to be some confusion over that when Ryan mentioned Tuesday that Holmes was planning to stay in touch with Sanchez by skyping every night. No need.

• The projected lineups. Offense -- WR Holmes, LT Michael Turkovich, LG Vladimir Ducasse, C Robert Turner, RG Slauson, RT Wayne Hunter, TE Matt Mulligan, QB Brunell, FB John Conner, RB Joe McKnight. Defense -- DE Jason Lamb, NT Matt Kroul, DT Ty Steinkuhler, OLB Gholston, ILB Lance Laury, ILB Brashton Satele, OLB Jamaal Westerman, CB Marquice Cole, CB Brian Jackson, S Emanuel Cook, S Keith Fitzhugh.