IRVING, Texas - Pat Watkins got a double dose of DeSean Jackson's speed during the defense and special teams meetings at Valley Ranch.
"I've seen it (on film) so many times this week," the Cowboys' safety and core special-teamer said.
Jackson, the Eagles' explosive second-year receiver, has six touchdowns of at least 50 yards. One of them was an 85-yard punt return in the season opener against Carolina.
The Cowboys' punt unit, led by veteran punter Mat McBriar, is tied for 10th in the NFL in return average allowed (6.7 yards). Jackson ranks third in punt return average (15.6).
Something has to give Sunday in arguably McBriar's toughest test since 2007 against Bears returner Devin Hester. Jackson, McBriar says, is "Hester-like."
"He's so dynamic, full of confidence," McBriar said. "When you have a guy like that, their punt return team - the team itself - they realize who they've got back there and they work extra hard to make sure they can get him across the line. He doesn't need a lot of help.
"You don't want to give him too much room or too many chances, but our guys are going to do a good job."
The Cowboys kicked away from Hester two years ago. They could employ the same strategy, at least some of the time, against Jackson.
But McBriar said it's not always that simple, depending on conditions and field position. New special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has asked McBriar to focus more on high, directional kicks this year anyway.
McBriar has responded by returning to Pro Bowl form after last year's season-ending foot injury. He ranks third in net punting average (41.7) and has landed 17 inside the 20-yard line.
And if Jackson does get some returns, he's confident in his coverage unit.
"You know he's got the talent," Watkins said of Jackson."(With) people like that you make sure you do your job first, don't try to be more than you have to. First thing you want to do is your job and hope that your teammates rally to the ball. We're going to need a lot of people to get him."
Eagles Don't Waste Time
The Eagles rank third in scoring (29.0), and they do it quickly. They're the only team in the league without a scoring drive of five minutes or longer.
And of their 20 touchdown possessions this season, 14 have lasted no more than four plays.
"You don't want to give up the big play and you know who the big-play guys are," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said. "(Brian) Westbrook, he makes big plays in the running game and just checkdowns in some cases. Jackson is going to go deep; he's going to go double-move deep and deep crossing routes.
"You kind of know what they do but you've got to take those things away."
Westbrook Expected to Play
Eagles head coach Andy Reid gave running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) a veteran's practice off Friday. Although Westbrook is officially listed as "questionable" for the game, Reid said he hasn't shown any residual concussion symptoms and should play "a bunch" Sunday.
"He has had two hard days of work and really the young kid (LeSean McCoy) hasn't gotten a ton of reps," Reid told the Philadelphia Daily News. So like I've done on other Fridays, I kept Brian out and limited."
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