(Photo by Greg Trott/Getty Images)

I’d like to draw a conclusion on how things will work out for the Cardinals this season but I can’t do that after a single preseason game. The Cardinals 27-23 loss to the Raiders is not one to dwell on by any means. There were some things that need to be worked on and other things that look to be heading in the right direction. I’m trying to keep it positive this season so I won’t be too hard on the negatives especially after one fake game.

The first team offense seemed a little rusty and why wouldn’t they I guess. They couldn’t get the ball moving other than a few nice plays made by Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. I was really excited about what I saw with the play calling. I loved the formations the Cardinals were in and the unorthodox/trick plays being used to get Boldin the ball were everything I wanted to see. Finally the Cards might take advantage of the fact that they have one of the most versitile athletes in the league.

Kurt Warner showed that if given time he can still be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Warner hooked up with Bryant Johnson on a 58 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7. Shane Boyd was the guy that got most the playing time at quarterback for the Cardinal. Boyd went 7/19 for 66 yards and an interception, he showed his impressive mobility by running in an 8 yard touchdown on a designed QB draw. Boyd seems like a great athlete with a huge arm but the experience just isn’t there at the moment. With work Shane will become a reliable 3rd string quarterback.

Edgerrin James took it easy only having 2 carries for 3 yards but Marcel Shipp showed why he’s hung around the league 7 years. Shipp had a very solid game (7 carries for 35 yards) and will be a good number 2 back for the Cards.

Original post by Eli Wahlstrom

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