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**gruntbygod** · 08-10-2007, 10:46 AM

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FLAGSTAFF - About an hour into Saturday's practice, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt's mood matched the dark clouds overhead.

He didn't like the way his team was practicing, so he called the players together and told them to ratchet up the intensity.

"Something was missing," Whisenhunt said. "I didn't see the intensity. We didn't have the same level we had before. I thought it was time that we made sure we understand that we had to get back to that level.

A few thousands fans attended the "Red and White" practice.

It was the largest crowd that many long-time Cardinals observers could remember for an outdoor practice.

"There are more people here than we had at some our games," joked former receiver MarTay Jenkins, one of several former Cardinals players watching the practice.

Whisenhunt was thrilled with the size of the crowd.

"If we can get this kind of enthusiasm on a weekly basis - and I know it's up to us to do that - you can't imagine what a difference it makes to the players and to the organization," Whisenhunt said.

Defense dominates
The fans saw a workout that was dominated by the defense.

The offense was sluggish for most of the 90-minute workout, and that's putting it kindly. It didn't pick up blitzes. It had a hard time running the ball. Quarterback Matt Leinart and center Al Johnson had two fumbles on snaps, and safety Adrian Wilson caused another fumble when he knocked the ball out of Leinart's hands.

"Obviously, it wasn't a very good offensive practice," Johnson said. "It was kind of dead. Yesterday (Friday), I thought it was pretty physical on the offensive side. Today, I think the defense saw that on the film, and they came out ready today. Props to our defense. They definitely came out and hit us in the mouth."

The offense bounced back a little late in practice on the goal-line session.

After running back Edgerrin James was stuffed for a 2-yard loss on first down, Leinart passed to tight end Troy Bienemann for the score.

It took two plays for the second-team offense to score, with Marcel Shipp carrying it in.

"We did get a couple touchdowns," Johnson said. "We'd like to get one running there. You don't want to go for minus-2 and then have to throw for 7 yards."

Taking snaps
No one is too concerned about the two botched snaps. Leinart and Johnson haven't had problems with the exchange in camp.

"The first, I think he just lost control," Johnson said. "The second one, we were sliding left, and I think I just pulled the ball to the left too much. And it was a little wet today."

Goal-line back
Coaches haven't settled on which running back they will use in goal-line situations. Shipp scored in the two sessions the team had this week, but he was running against the second-team defense. James hasn't gained many yards, but he hasn't had much blocking, either.

"I feel bad for Edge," Whisenhunt said. "I know Edge is good; he just didn't have a chance to get started."

Coach unhappy with intensity