But the fact that Eagles fullbacks have carried the ball a grand total of 49 times in the nine seasons Andy Reid has been the team's head coach suggests that this fullback race won't be decided by the guy with the best yards-per-carry average.

It will be decided by who can block the best, and Hunt still is very much a work in progress in that department. Hunt, who was switched to fullback last week, started last Friday's 27-17 preseason win over New England. He ran the ball well, and converted a pair of third-and-short situations into first downs. But his blocking left much to be desired.

"He did a couple of things real well," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "Then there was more than a couple where he splattered just a little bit."

Hunt also played on all four of the Eagles' special-teams units against the Patriots. He missed a block on the opening kickoff, but for the most part, held his own.

"The blocking part has been the biggest adjustment," said Hunt, who seldom was required to block during his career at Penn State. "You can go out and hit somebody. But if you don't hit them the right way and have good leverage," it's not going to be effective.

"You've got to be realistic," he said. "This is my first week practicing there. It'd be like looking at the team after a week of training camp. You don't expect the team to be perfect at that point. But you expect them to be making improvement toward what you want them to be."

The problem is, this isn't the first week of training camp. It's less than 2 weeks before the start of the season. It's hard to believe that the Eagles will be willing to go into their Sept. 7 game against the St. Louis Rams with Hunt as their one and only fullback.

A more likely scenerio: They keep Hunt, along with three other running backs - Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter and Lorenzo Booker - and also carry Collins or Davis on their 53-man roster, while Hunt continues to work on his blocking technique.

"I'm still trying to get used to it," Hunt said. "I don't feel completely comfortable. But I'm getting more comfortable every day. I feel like I'm making real improvement every day.

"I'm going to do everything you ask me [to do]. Go as hard as I possibly can. But the fact is, it's not going to be perfect right now. There's still things I need to work on."

Mornhinweg said Hunt will get some more work at fullback in Thursday's preseason finale against the New York Jets, "and we'll see how he does."

The problem with the fullbacks is, none of them can do everything the Eagles want. At 6-1, 255, Collins, an undrafted free agent out of Washington State, is a classic blocking fullback and can play on special teams, but isn't going to help you much as a runner or receiver. Davis can block and can run and catch the ball, but isn't much of a special-teams contributor. Hunt can run and catch, but is running a distant third behind Collins and Davis as a blocker.

"There's a battle there now," Mornhinweg said. "Jason is a pretty good fullback there. I think he has some skill and ability. And then Tony is progressing and he has to do that very quickly here. And then Jed has had a fine training camp as well and had a couple of shots there early. We'll certainly go back and review that as well."

Clemons still out

Clemons has been on the shelf for nearly 2 weeks with a calf strain. He didn't practice yesterday and wasn't even on the field with the team during their 2-hour workout.

"We want him to be out there," 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."

Would the Eagles really cut a guy they thought highly enough of to give a $4 million signing bonus just 6 months ago? You wouldn't think so. The thought alone probably gives club president Joe Banner angina. But Johnson clearly is losing patience with Clemons, and the Eagles don't have a lot of flexibility at defensive end as far as the final 53-man roster is concerned.

They currently have seven defensive ends on their roster, but likely will keep no more than six. Starters Trent Cole and Juqua Parker obviously are locks. So is Victor Abiamiri, whose surgically repaired wrist appears to be healing well enough to keep him off injured reserve.

Darren Howard probably will make the team because of his ability to play both end positions as well as move inside in Johnson's nickel package.

Rookie third-round pick Bryan Smith likely will make the final 53-man roster since it would be too risky to put a pick that high on the practice squad.

That leaves Clemons and Jerome McDougle battling for that sixth defensive-end spot. McDougle, the former first-round pick who appeared to have no shot of making the team when training camp opened, has had a strong camp and preseason. Most important, he has stayed healthy, unlike Clemons.

"I'm not going to get into numbers and how many we're going to keep and all that," Johnson said. "It's probably one of the things we're going to have to decide after the game, no question."

Birdseed

Jim Johnson on rookie linebacker Joe Mays: "I think Joe had a great game the other night, no question about it. I think Joe showed up big-time in that game and showed what a hitter he is. When we looked at him coming out of college, he showed he was a very physical linebacker. So that was a good game for him" . . . Tight end Matt Schobel's wife Nicole gave birth to their third boy yesterday. Matthew John Schobel weighed in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces. No word on his 40 time. *