Did you ever think you’d see an Al Davis team run the football 62% of the time? That’s exactly what they’ve done through two weeks of the NFL preseason. But young Raiders’ head coach Lane Kiffin wants to see his quarterbacks air it out this week, as the Silver and Black play host to the Arizona Cardinals. The Raiders rank 30th out of 32 teams this preseason, averaging just 127 yards per game.

So look for Raiders’ second year signal caller JaMarcus Russell to throw all over the place in this third preseason game, which is traditionally deemed the most important by NFL coaches. Russell has completed 12 out of 22 for 88 yards and a touchdown in 10 series of action this preseason. His backup, former Sun Devil, Andrew Walter has connected on 17 of 23 for 167 yards.

We’ve yet to see the first catch of newest Raider wideout Javon Walker this preseason. Walker inked a 6-year $55 million deal with the Raiders in March. Signing the contract may have been the least eventful happening in Walker’s offseason. In June, Walker was found unconscious near the Las Vegas strip with a series of injuries. Walker also told police that he had over 3 grand in cash and $100,000 worth of jewelry stolen from him that night. Earlier this month, reports out of the Bay Area had Raiders patriarch Al Davis talking Walker out of retirement. Waker has started both preseason contests for Oakland, and more is being expected of him this week.

As for the Cardinals, the quarterback carousel continues. This week, Matt Leinart is back at the controls, and is expected to see about a quarter and a half of action, which figures to be about three possessions. These are three key possessions for Leinart. If he performs well, his performance on Saturday night could be enough to lock him in as the Cardinals’ starter for their season opener against San Francisco on September 7th.

Leinart has completed 14 of 19 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in two preseason tilts. That’s a rating of 114.6, which would place Leinart near the top of the NFL had he attempted more passes. His backup, Kurt Warner, is 6 of 9 for 54 yards in limited duty.

It should also be interesting to see the battle going on at wide receiver. Early Doucet, a 3rd round pick out of LSU, and Lance Long, a rookie free agent from Mississippi State should get prolonged looks this week. Doucet hasn’t played due to injury, and Long has gotten the reps the Cardinals’ coaching staff was hoping he’d get in the first two weeks. It looks like Steve Breaston and Jerheme Urban have an inside track to take over the number 3 receiver spot behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Look, I know it’s still preseason. But at least this week, you’ll see some more recognizable names playing a little later in the ballgame.

Here’s some other story lines to watch for:

Matt Leinart vs. his former USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who is now the puppet head coach in Oakland.

Deuce Lutui vs. Elton Brown. Lutui reportedly is losing his grip on the starting right guard spot.

Former Sun Devils Andrew Walter, Zach Miller, Brandon Rodd and Adam Archuleta, who was picked up as a free agent a couple of weeks ago, all play for the Raiders

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