Keenan Clayton

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Eagles traded linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd to the Colts for cornerback Kevin Thomas and a 2013 conditional seventh-round draft pick. Thomas was drafted in the third round in 2010 by Indianapolis. He missed all of 2010 with a knee injury. He started five of nine games he played for the Colts last season, recording 33 tackles and defending three passes. There were reports out of Indianapolis during the spring that the 6-foot, 192-pound Thomas could challenge for a starting spot in 2012.

That spotlight following Green Bay's Clay Matthews around the field Sunday should help illuminate something about the Eagles, as well. Matthews is living, hirsute proof that linebackers still can be disruptive forces in the NFL. That is something you wouldn't know if you only watched the Eagles the last few years. It is almost as if they apply their old (and discarded) philosophy about wide receivers to the position, choosing a group of interchangeable "C" students over flashy, standout playmakers.

BREAKING DOWN Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Patriots while wondering what the odds would be on a Marty Mornhinweg-Jim Washburn fight: * The Patriots converted six of 11 third-down opportunities. And that doesn't include two more the Eagles converted for them with penalties. In the last four games, Eagles' opponents have converted 24 of 55 third-down opportunities (43.6 percent). The Eagles' third-down pass defense has been terrible. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged 11 yards per attempt and have completed 63.4 percent of their pass attempts on third down in the last four games.

A QUICK review of the Eagles' 26-10 win over the Dolphins while wondering what to get Andy and Tammy for Christmas:   The defense When Juan Castillo has deserved criticism, which has been often in his first season as the Eagles' defensive coordinator, I have criticized him. And when he's done a good job, I haven't hesitated to point that out either. On Sunday, Juan did a very good job. He had an aggressive and creative game plan against the Dolphins. Mixed up his coverages, attacked the Dolphins with a variety of blitzes, moved his front four around, occasionally lined up with just two players with their hands on the ground.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Coaches always warn players not to look at the numbers in training camp. Focus on doing your job, they tell them, and don't worry about the numbers. But that's easier said than done, particularly for a bubble player like Keenan Clayton, who doesn't need a roster or a depth chart to tell him he could find himself out of a job when the Eagles cut down to 53 players on Aug. 31. Clayton, a 6-1, 230-pound linebacker out of Oklahoma who was the first of the Eagles' three fourth-round picks in the 2010 draft, is listed as the team's No. 3 weakside linebacker behind Brian Rolle and Jamar Chaney.

It's a long way until Sept. 9, but the Eagles' blurry prospects at several positions on defense became more clear after their three-day rookie minicamp. Of all the rookies, Mychal Kendricks is the most likely to be starting when the full squad gathers next Tuesday for the start of organized team activities, otherwise known as "OTAs. " Eagles coach Andy Reid wouldn't hand Kendricks the strong-side linebacker job at the conclusion of camp on Monday. But with Jamar Chaney - Kendricks' main competition - sidelined through the spring following neck surgery in January, the rookie should have an unimpeded path.

The Eagles have 15 rookies from 2010 who are returning for their second year without having the benefit of the usual offseason. Daily News Eagles beat writer Les Bowen breaks down what to expect from each player: Brandon Graham: The first-round defensive end might not have been ready for the Opening-Day starting job he was given. Graham managed two sacks in his first five games, then one in the next eight before tearing his right ACL Dec. 12 at Dallas. Started only two of the last eight games he played.

The Eagles linebackers know what you think - and they don't like it very much. They can look at the roster just like anyone else and count the star players, the high draft picks, the respected veterans on all the other units. And, well, that leaves them, doesn't it? "We know that people don't expect us to do what we need to do," said second-year player Keenan Clayton, listed as the backup to Moise Fokou at the weakside spot. "They always look down at us and always try to find an excuse not to like us. But we're not going to allow any excuses.

JEREMY MACLIN hustled downfield and threw blocks on at least a couple of key plays Sunday against the Jets. Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg noticed. "Jeremy has been blocking like a madman, and you kind of expect that [from him], but he did a heck of a job in ways that sometimes you don't see, or don't get credit for," Mornhinweg said yesterday. What makes a wideout a good blocker? "Guts," Mornhinweg said. "The big, strong, physical guys are typically a little bit better, and he's a pretty strong and physical guy. " Mornhinweg said wideouts coach David Culley emphasizes blocking and does a good job teaching it. "You're helping your teammates," said Maclin, who seems finally close to 100 percent in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

With the draft and initial burst of free agency behind us, we have a pretty good idea of who the Eagles will be bringing into training camp to fight for spots on the regular-season roster. Here, then, is a look at the top position battles to look forward to as rookie minicamps and offseason practices arrive in May and June and lead up to training camp in July.   Linebacker Another summer, another new spin on the position that the Eagles can never quite seem to settle.