Things to watch in tonight's game
excerpt:
Cardinals offensive line: Can it open holes for Edgerrin James and protect Matt Leinart? The biggest questions are at tackle, with Mike Gandy on the left side and Oliver Ross on the right. Rookie Levi Brown, the fifth overall pick in the draft, will play right tackle with the second unit.
The Cardinals running a 3-4 defense: They'll likely be in this alignment on first and second downs. Middle linebacker Karlos Dansby has had an excellent camp, but the key will be how well nose tackles Gabe Watson and Alan Branch play.
The new coaches: The Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt and the Raiders' Lane Kiffin are in their first seasons as NFL coaches. There could be some rough edges to smooth when it comes to managing the game.
The tight ends: Leonard Pope has a firm grasp on the starting job, but he needs to become a better blocker. Backup Troy Bienemann has caught everything in practice, but he has to prove he can block, too.
Punt returner: Steve Breaston was drafted for his return ability, but he'll be challenged by Micheal Spurlock and Rod Hood. Keep an eye on Spurlock, who has some quickness in the open field.
The cornerbacks: Hood and Eric Green are battling for one spot, with Antrel Rolle holding down the other one. The Cardinals struggled in pass coverage last year.
The backup receivers: Everyone knows what Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin can do. Bryant Johnson is entrenched as the No. 3 receiver. There will be room for two or three more receivers on the 53-man roster.
Former Cardinals QB Josh McCown: He's starting tonight for the Raiders. McCown is mobile and he'll need to be if the Raiders' line is as bad as last year.
Cardinal defensive end Bertrand Berry: He's slimmed down and has looked fast in training camp. See if he can take advantage of Raiders' left tackle Barry Sims early.
The Cardinals IQ factor: Whisenhunt has emphasized playing with intelligence. Let's see if the players are getting the message.