A Packer on a bike - AP Photo / Morry Gash
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM Arizona)
TV: Local Ch. 15
Radio: 92.3 KTAR-FM
This game will be like no other, and it's not because it's at the University of Phoenix Stadium (Cardinals fans did that last week) nor is it because the Packers are in town without Brett Farve (Aaron Rodgers played last year, too). No, this game will be like none other for the Cardinals because if all goes well in the next 24 hours, Chris "Beanie" Wells will be taking the field for the first time in uniform. If that doesn't get you excited for this game, nothing will. Here are the things to watch throughout this third preseason game.
Offensive side:
1. Beanie Wells - Shocker, right? Expect a standing ovation from the crowd for the most coveted first-round pick since Matt Leinart as all eyes will be on this rookie running back from Ohio State. There might also be a collective holding-of-the-breath as he meets head-on with real NFL defenses in hopes that no further injury occurs.
2. Tim Hightower - Okay, so with Wells out on the field, how will Hightower respond? And on top of that - Wells aside - can Hightower continue to hit holes fast and hard as he's done in the first two preseason games? Wells and Hightower are #1 and #2 for things to watch for a reason. Many pundits are already saying that if this run game can improve, the Cardinals will be very dangerous this year.
3. Wide Receivers - With Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston both likely out nursing minor injuries, receivers 2 through 7 should get a lot of looks (behind Larry Fitzgerald, of course). Jerheme Urban will especially benefit from the chance to show what he can do at the number two spot. Following Urban could be any combination since it's pretty tight at the moment, but I expect the rest to go something like Early Doucet and Lance Long, followed by Onrea Jones, Sean Morey, Edward Gant, and Michael Ray Garvin. This will be an interesting position to watch.
4. Offensive line depth - Herman Johnson has been pleasantly solid against second and third team defenses and he may actually help provide some much needed depth to this offensive line. Watch to see if he and his counterparts can play well deep into the fourth quarter.
Defensive side:
1. Quarterback pressure - The first two preseason games (vs. the Steelers and vs. the Chargers) have seen great execution and discipline from Bill Davis' defense, but can they keep it up against a better offensive line in the Packers and a good quarterback in Aaron Rodgers? Will Calais Campbell continue to play above the level most expected? Will Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby continue to get consistent pressure on Rodgers and earn sacks or force bad throws? If so, the Cardinals could be looking at one of the more dominating defenses thus far. Two good games could be chance...Three good games is a pattern.
2. Man-to-man coverage - Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle are one of the best safety tandems in the league, but they can't do their jobs if the man-coverage breaks down. Can Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Bryant McFadden keep their guys in front of them? Can Michael Adams and Ralph Brown stop getting beat? Can Greg Toler finally have an impact?
3. Stopping the big play - Philip Rivers had a couple of long balls with wide open receivers in the last preseason game and big plays was one of the areas that Bill Davis was brought in to fix. Can the Cardinals stop Rodgers from going over the top? Rashad Johnson will be interesting to watch into the fourth quarter, as the coaches still expect this draft pick to make an impact down the road.
4. Stopping the screen play - As weird as it sounds, the Chargers killed the Cardinals with the screen play in the last game. Some of that comes from lack of true game-planning on the coaches part due to the preseason, but some of that is getting left in the dust. Can the Cardinals "stay home" and break up these plays early so they don't turn into 15-20 yard gains?
Check out the Packers perspective on the game
Articles on the Cardinals vs. Chargers preseason game:
Good, bad, and ugly - Final edition
Good, bad, and ugly - Halftime edition
Cardinals-Chargers pregame what to watch
The Chargers perspective after the game
The Chargers perspective before the game
Articles on the Cardinals vs. Steelers preseason game:
Final Edition of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the game
Halftime Edition of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the game
Steelers notebook of thoughts from the game
Some views from the press box from the Pittsburgh Sports Examiner
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