The Jets begin their preseason schedule against the Atlanta Falcons Friday night, and the Giants follow Saturday against the Carolina Panthers. Exhibition NFL games don’t disclose much about the quality of a team as a whole, but they can provide insight into individual players. Here, we examine some of the players to keep an eye on.

JETS

1. BRAD SMITH, QUARTERBACK/ WIDE RECEIVER

When the Jets took Smith, a quarterback from the University of Missouri, in the fourth round of last year’s NFL draft, they said he would have to switch positions to make it in the NFL. Smith is now primarily a wide receiver, but coach Eric Mangini likes Smith’s work ethic so much that he’s decided to give Smith an opportunity to prove himself as a quarterback this preseason. If Smith does enough at quarterback to make Mangini confident that he could play in an emergency, the Jets could save a roster spot by keeping just two full-time quarterbacks — Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens — and making Smith the third-string signal caller.

2. ANDRE WADSWORTH, OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Wadsworth had such a rare blend of speed and strength at Florida State that the Arizona Cardinals made him the third pick in the NFL draft. But that was in 1998. Wadsworth was plagued by injuries in Arizona and hasn’t played since 2000. The Jets made a surprising decision this year to sign Wadsworth to a free-agent contract. When he steps on the field Friday for the first time in 6 1/2 years, he’ll demonstrate whether he still has any of the speed and strength that he had when he was 23. As a 32-year-old with a long injury history, Wadsworth is an extreme long shot to make the roster, but that he has any shot at all is impressive.

3. CHANSI STUCKEY, WIDE RECEIVER/PUNT RETURNER

Expectations are usually low for seventh-round draft picks, but there are indications that the Jets got a player who can contribute right away when they chose Stuckey in the seventh round this year. With a solid preseason, Stuckey could earn the no. 3 receiver job. And as long as first-round pick Darrelle Revis continues his holdout, Stuckey may be the Jets’ best option as a punt returner as well.

4. KENYON COLEMAN, DEFENSIVE END

A year ago, Mangini inherited a team with personnel better equipped to run the 4–3 defense than the 3–4 that he prefers, and the result was a terrible run defense. Signing Coleman to a fiveyear, $20 million contract was the biggest move the Jets made to address the situation. If Coleman looks strong against the run when he lines up against the Falcons’ offensive line, that will be a signal that Mangini’s 3–4 defense is taking hold.

5. THOMAS JONES, RUNNING BACK

The Jets’ 2006 leading rusher, Leon Washington, gained just 650 yards. This year they traded with the Chicago Bears for Jones, whose output has been nearly double that in each of the last two seasons. It’s already clear that Jones can upgrade the running game, but the big question in the preseason is whether Jones can emerge as a target for Pennington in the passing game as well.

GIANTS

1. DAVID DIEHL, LEFT TACKLE

General manager Jerry Reese cut Luke Petitgout in March in large part because he thought Diehl could take Petitgout’s place at left tackle, the most important position on the offensive line. Diehl is a more natural fit at guard than at tackle, and it’s hard to imagine that quarterback Eli Manning is completely comfortable having Diehl protecting his blind side. Diehl needs to have a solid preseason to make Manning confident that he’ll be able to slow down opposing pass rushers.

2. MATHIAS KIWANUKA, OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Kiwanuka played well as a backup defensive end last year, but the Giants moved him to outside linebacker because they thought that was where they had a greater need. Of course, that was before defensive end Michael Strahan said he was contemplating retirement. But now Kiwanuka is at linebacker, and new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will use the preseason opener to judge whether Kiwanuka fits at his new position, or whether he should move back to end to take Strahan’s place.

3. STEVE SMITH, WIDE RECEIVER

The Giants’ top two receivers, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, are expected to sit out Saturday with minor injuries. That makes the preseason opener a great opportunity for Smith, the Giants’ second-round pick. Smith’s presence makes the Giants’ offense faster, and if he and Manning can develop a rapport, they should combine for some big plays during the regular season.

4. ZAK DEOSSIE, LINEBACKER/LONG SNAPPER

The Giants chose DeOssie in the fourth round of this year’s draft because they thought he could provide depth at linebacker, but DeOssie might end up making his greatest impact on special teams. Ryan Kuehl, who has handled the snaps on punts and field goals during the last four years, suffered a calf injury in training camp, and DeOssie will be asked to take Kuehl’s place. The Giants lost a playoff game because of botched long snaps after the 2002 season, and they need to head into this season confident that they have a reliable player in place for that often overlooked job.

5. BRANDON JACOBS, RUNNING BACK

After two years as the change of pace for Tiki Barber in short-yardage situations, Jacobs is now the focal point of the Giants’ running attack. As a featured back, the Giants’ coaches want the 264-pound Jacobs to show during the preseason that he has learned to evade tacklers, rather than just plowing into the line and running them over.

Mr. Smith is a contributing editor for FootballOutsiders.com.