The Setup:
This won't be our standard Game Preview format, because preseason games are different from the "real" ones. And - because of the Lockout - this first preseason game figures to be "something completely different." I'll therefore eschew any analysis of the Raider roster or Cardinal - Oakland matchups (because they won't mean anything anyway) and, instead, focus on the Cardinals.

The way I see it, there are two things Coach Wiz will probably want to accomplish: (1) getting the players on is team to execute well on the field and (2) learning as much as possible about the 90 some odd players he's got on his roster.

What I'll be looking for:

On Offense:

• Few if any significant injuries.

• Overall crispness of execution.

• The Kolb to Fitz connection.

• How well Kolb is hooking up with Roberts, Doucet and other receivers.

• Are our RB's running through holes or up the backs of our offensive linemen (like they have in the past)?

• Is Beanie running any "bigger" & tougher?

• Ryan William's breakaway ability

• Is DeMarco Sampson the real deal? How's Stuckey look in the slot? How much (if at all) has Steve Williams improved?

• How our totally overhauled TE position figures to help both the passing game and our run blocking.

• How do our new inside linemen (Colledge and Womack) look.? Can Deuce play an entire game? Any other road-graders? Do we have a  LT of the Future? Keith's health?

On Defense:

• Is Ray Horton's style of "mix & match" defense as crazy as its cracked up to be?

• How stout are we against the inside run? How good are we stopping ball carriers on the perimeter? One on one in the open field?

• Can we generate a pass rush? If so, who are our  "closers?" (Joey? Schofield? Acho? Calais?

• How's our (weight-challenged) NT Dan Williams holding up? Who looks like he can capably back up (or push) Williams?

• How does DWash look compared to last year? I also want to see what Stewart Bradely can do.

• Is  Patrick Peterson really that explosive? How well are our corners (Jefferson, Toler, Marshall, Peterson etc.) holding up?

• How well is Rashad Johnson (& others? Ware?) filling in for A-Dub?

On Special Teams:

• Who looks good returning punts and kickoffs (especially now that Breaston is no longer a Cardinal)?

Wrapping Things Up
I cannot remember coming into a new preseason with as many unanswered questions as the Cardinals have this year, but fortunately there are many potentially positive and exciting answers to those questions.

Coming into the off-season, it was my opinion that only a quality QB stood between our actual record and the playoffs and that (all other things being equal) if we landed a competent QB, there should be no reason why we shouldn't be in the thick of things this year. We traded away a Pro Bowl CB and a 2nd rounder to land Kevin Kolb (who during the short preseason has done everything as well as can be expected to give everyone the confidence that he is, in fact, the real deal).

Pro Bowl corners don't grow on trees and the impact of trade-off of gaining Peterson and losing DRC will have to play itself out. We don't know how much Adrian Wilson's injury will hurt the overall effort (if at all). The trade-off of Faneca's departure and the presence of Colledge and Womack should be a net-plus for the O-line, but we'll have to see. The addition of Todd Heap and Jeff King gives our TE picture a totally different (& improved) look. We didn't help ourself by acquiring an outside pass rusher, and are rolling the dice that (a) Joey Porter will regain his mojo or (b) the potential flashed by O Brien Schofield last year coming off a serious knee injury will carry over into the coming season. Although there was nothing wrong with the play of our two inside backers (Lenon and DWash), the Cards leaped on the opportunity to pick up former Eagle Stewart Bradley who had endured a series of injuries, but (if he can stay healthy) is said by at least one of his teammates to have Pro Bowl potential). At the very least, he adds depth at ILB. At best, he solidifies what, in my  view, has traditionally been a somewhat "soft" position for us.

Bottom line - Even without Kolb, this team is better on paper than it was a year ago at the other positions. With Kolb, we should do even better than OK.

And that's a wrap!