What to watch for during the Arizona Cardinals vs. San Diego Chargers preseason game

Shawne Merriman - AP Photo / Denis Poroy

San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals
10:00 PM ET (7:00 PM Arizona)
TV: Local Ch. 15
Radio: 92.3 KTAR-FM

Much like this year's training camp, the first home preseason game for the Cardinals will be like no other seen before in Phoenix, with an electric atmosphere and a raucos fanbase.  Cardinals fans have waited seven long months for the NFC Champions to return to the field and tonight, the wait is over.  Here are some things to watch throughout the game, broken down by unit.

First Team Offense - Execution
Points are not important here - what is important is that everyone is doing their job and doing it well.  Number of plays is usually a pretty good indication of how the first team does in a preseason game, so look to see if Kurt Warner and this stunning wide receiver group can move the ball down the field early and often.  In this game specifically, pay attention to how the offensive line holds in protection in the passing game and creates holes for the running game against a pretty solid Chargers defense.  Zero grass stains on Warner's jersey would be the best-case scenario.

First Team Defense - Calais Campbell and the secondary
Once again, all eyes will be on Campbell and how well he is coming along in his quest to replace the departed Antonio Smith, so that is definitely something to watch tonight.  Also, look to see how the secondary does against Phillip Rivers and the Chargers passing game - it is important that Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle have an impact in every game this season, so their performance is always worth noting.

Second Team Offense - Brian St. Pierre, LaRod Stephens-Howling, and the wide receivers
Whisenhunt will be giving St. Pierre his chance tonight by allowing him to run with the second team, as he did with Leinart in game one against the Steelers - do not mistaken it for a promotion - Leinart is still the number two guy.  LaRod Stephens-Howling also looks to get a chance here as he has been working with the second team off and on in training camp.  That is, of course, if the consistently absent Beanie Wells doesn't play or plays very little (which is what is expected).  Watch the receiving corps here as well - it is hard to say who will even be playing on this squad since the position is so deep and since the coaching staff is trying hard to determine who is worthy of making the 53-man roster.

Second and Third Team Defense - The linebackers, Alan Branch, Greg Toler, and Rashad Johnson
The difference between the second and third teams are so fluid at this point that it is hard to separate the two.  These units did not perform as well as most would have liked against the Steelers (mind you, it was the Super Bowl Champion Steelers), so there is a lot to watch here.  Most important though is how the two linebackers, Cody Brown and Ali Highsmith, play.  If the Cardinals are to be at the top of the NFC West by season's end, they need these two to produce when called upon.  Note that Ali Highsmith might be sitting this one out as he was walking around practice with a boot earlier this week, but Brown will most definitely be playing since he needs all the reps he can get.

Editor's Update: Ali Highsmith will definitely be sitting out of the game.

Alan Branch, much like Highsmith, is coming off of a dissapointing year and needs to step it up if he plans on continuing his career with the Cardinals.  Though they both will probably make the cut, there needs to be signs that they can make an impact.  Lastly, the two rookies in the secondary, cornerback Greg Toler and safety Rashad Johnson, have limitless potential and have already shown glimpses of greatness, so they are worth watching.  The first time a receiver comes across the field where Johnson is roaming, Cardinals fans will get to see what makes this kid so special...he hits and he hits hard.

Third Team Offense - The wide receivers and Matt Leinart
With Leinart taking snaps with the third team, the most you can do as a Cardinals fan is hold your breath and hope that he gets rid of the ball quickly and doesn't get hit.  It will be fun, however, to watch the aftermath of his getting rid of the ball since there are still going to be some very talented wide receivers on the field, even with the third team.  Some of these guys, if cut by the Cardinals, may actually end up on Todd Haley's receiver-weak Kansas City Chiefs team.

Check out the Chargers perspective on the game

Other recent Cardinals articles and slideshows:
Larry Fitzgerald should be applauded for restructuring his contract
How does Beanie Wells compare to other rookie running backs so far?
Arizona Cardinals 2009 training camp in pictures - Part I
Arizona Cardinals 2009 training camp in pictures - Part II
Arizona Cardinals 2009 training camp in pictures - Part III

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