Cardinals notebook: Third preseason game best test for Cardinals

If it looks like a regular-season game, feels like a regular-season game, flies like one, quacks like one, then it must be...

... No, it’s still a preseason game.

The Cardinals aren’t really going to game-plan for their third exhibition game — the one that most resembles a regular-season game for NFL teams — at 6 p.m. Saturday at Oakland.

“We’ll look at what they do,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “But we don’t game plan for them.”

Instead, they’ll focus on their own plays and defensive schemes.

But the Raiders, who play a more aggressive defense than most — even in preseason — should give the Cardinals a more realistic test than the ones they’ve faced so far.

“I’m sure there will be some things that show up that we’re not ready for,” Whisenhunt said. “A lot of times what you see in the preseason is the vanilla defenses. You’re not really getting an accurate assessment of your blitz pick-ups. This is a good test for us.”

PERSONNEL UPDATE

Quarterback Matt Leinart likely will play well into the second quarter, when he’ll be relieved by Kurt Warner.

On defense, linebacker/defensive end Travis LaBoy, who had been playing behind Bertrand Berry, likely will start.

Also, Alan Branch, a disappointment since being drafted in the second round last year, should get significant time at defensive tackle.

“He’s been doing better. ... The light has been staying on a little bit longer as of late,” Whisenhunt said.

And safety Antrel Rolle, who had missed several days with an ankle sprain, returned to practice Thursday and intercepted a pass. But he won’t play in Saturday’s game.

BYE, BYE FLAGSTAFF

The Cardinals staged a lengthy practice Thursday morning in Flagstaff, then met in the middle of the field and let out a cheer:

“One, two, three... Down the Hill!”

Then, after a month at Northern Arizona University, they hustled away.

Whisenhunt said, “I said to the team, ‘Please, nobody trip and get hurt in the stampede leaving this field.’”

THE FITZ SHOW

Larry Fitzgerald helped close camp by making a couple of tremendous catches, including one in which he casually shielded his eyes from the sun while running full speed.

“It was pretty impressive, wasn’t it?” Whisenhunt said.

“Was it surprising? Yes. ... But that he can do it, no. You see him make so many of those ‘wow’ catches.”

SORRY RECENT HISTORY

Both Leinart and the Cardinals have struggled at Oakland the past two years.

In 2006, Leinart’s rookie season, the lowly Raiders pummeled the Cardinals 22-9, a loss that may have sealed Dennis Green’s fate as head coach.

Last year, the Cardinals opened the preseason with a 27-23 loss there, a game in which Leinart struggled.

GIVING UP EARLY DRIVES

The Cardinals don’t seem overly concerned by the fact they’ve given up long drives by opposing offenses to start the first two preseason games.

“We’re not game-planning,” Whisenhunt said. “We’re not running all of our defensive schemes. ... As frustrating as that is, I recognize why it’s happening.”

Said cornerback Eric Green, “It’s not a concern of mine at all. It’s preseason.

“Of course, you want to do well (but) there are a lot of things we could do to stop a run or a pass that we can’t show too early.”