Arizona Cardinals WHAT TO WATCH TONIGHT

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1. THE LEFT GUARDS

Take your eyes off the ball occasionally and watch how the competition at left guard shapes up. Jonathan Cooper , the seventh overall pick in 2013, is being challenged by Earl Watford , drafted 109 players later. Cooper hasn't played up to expectations in camp and is dealing with a sore knee. It would be surprising if Cooper doesn't end up with the starting job, but coaches want to see more from him. And soon. Cooper and Watford have something in common besides being drafted the same year. Neither has played a snap in the regular season.

2. SPEED AT RECEIVER

The signing of free agent Ted Ginn Jr. and the drafting of John Brown in the third round added speed at receiver. We might see glimpses of how the Cardinals are going to use it. Ginn and Brown are fast enough to get behind the secondary, but the Cardinals also will try to get them the ball on shorter routes, allowing them to use their speed to gain yards after the catch. Both are threats on reverses and quick screens, too. Jaron Brown has been impressive throughout camp. He and backup quarterback Drew Stanton have a good rapport. Brittan Golden has made impressive plays, too.

3. KICKER

Rookie free agent Chandler Catanzaro is trying to take Jay Feely's job, and Saturday will be his first major test. In practice, Catanzaro has been the kicking version of quarterback Logan Thomas. He has a strong leg but accuracy is lacking. Catanzaro is scheduled to handle all of the kicking duties Saturday with Feely taking over next week against the Vikings. If it's possible to face pressure situations in a preseason game, the Cardinals want to put Catanzaro in them Saturday.

4. SAFETIES

Two young safeties, Tony Jefferson and Deone Bucannon, will play prominent roles, especially early in the season. In his second year, Jefferson has moved into the starting strong safety spot, and Bucannon, a first-round pick this year, will play linebacker/defensive back in some nickel and dime packages. Jefferson appears to have a firm grasp of the defense, which has allowed Bucannon to begin his NFL career in a situational role. If both can play well until Tyrann Mathieu returns from a knee injury, the Cardinals will be deep at the position come October.


5. INSIDE LINEBACKERS

One of the major stories of the preseason has been who Larry Foote and Kevin Minter are not. They are not Daryl Washington and Karlos Dansby. Dansby left for the money. Washington is suspended. In their place, the Cardinals have Foote, in his 13th year, and Minter, in his second. Can Foote still run at his age? Will Minter prove worthy of being a second-round pick in 2013? We probably won't know the answer after Saturday, but perhaps we'll have a few clues. If you stick around to watch the last three quarters or so, keep eyes on Kenny Demens and Glenn Carson. Coaches like what they've seen out of the two young players.

 

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Cardinals' Logan Thomas in spotlight for preseason opener




Quarterback Logan Thomas has performed as advertised since joining the Cardinals last May. That's good and bad.

The good is that he's big (6-feet-6, 250 pounds), athletic and can throw the ball from University of Phoenix Stadium to the team's Tempe headquarters.

The bad is that his passes tend to all be one speed ? fast ? and too often end up where they shouldn't.


That's why Thomas lasted until the fourth round of the draft.

The Cardinals have put Thomas' development on the fast track this training camp. He's taken nearly every snap with the third team, while Ryan Lindley, last year's No. 3 quarterback, has received little work.

Coach Bruce Arians' reasoning is that coaches know what Lindley, a sixth-round pick in 2012, can do. They are still discovering what Thomas can, and can't, do. That's why Thomas will play Saturday night against the Texans and Lindley likely won't see action until next week in Minnesota.

Lindley and Thomas will be defying odds if they earn the starting job one day. This year, Palmer and Drew Stanton are entrenched at the top of the depth chart, and Lindley and Thomas are competing for the final spot.

Lindley played in six games as a rookie in 2012, so he's not eligible for the practice squad. Thomas is, but he would have to clear waivers first. And it's unusual to keep a fourth quarterback on the practice squad because it's hard enough to get three quarterbacks adequate work in practice.

So Saturday night is Thomas' first major test. To please Arians, Thomas doesn't need to complete 80-yard touchdown passes, though it would help.

Arians would be content if Thomas can do the simple stuff. Call the play correctly and just complete the easy throws.

"Be accurate," Arians said, "just don't miss the guy in the flat for a first down, or a bootleg tight end who is wide open. You've got to hit them."