Cards notebook: First priority — offense setting a tempo

The Cardinals have a simple early game goal today. Get a first down. In the preseason opener at Oakland, this didn’t happen until the third series. That’s not good enough, coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

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“That’s important for us. We’re trying to establish a tempo and get it going earlier in the game, be a little bit sharper,” he said.

The Cardinals broke down with mental errors on the first two plays of last Saturday’s game.

“If we can get that rectified and show improvement, I’ll be happy,” Whisenhunt said.

Said quarterback Matt Leinart: “It’s important for us to build some confidence with the starters out there.”

IS WINNING IMPORTANT?

Whisenhunt is dealing with the dilemma all coaches face in preseason games, the sometimes conflicting goals of:

A) Evaluating players;

B) Holding back your best plays until the regular season;

C) Trying to build confidence by winning.

“Make no mistake, we still want to win the football game, especially with it being at home.

“But we are in the process of evaluating players, especially young players.”

As for holding back plays, the Cards did exactly that when they were in scoring position in their 27-23 loss at Oakland.

Whisenhunt says he’s tempted to use a top-notch play “because you know it will work.”

At the same time, “You don’t want to have somebody be able to prepare for it.

“It’s tough to hold some of those things back, especially when you want to make sure people see you are making progress.

“But you have to be smart about it. Because the game that counts is that Monday night game (on Sept. 10 at San Francisco).”

And yet, if the Cards had the ball inside Houston’s 10-yard line in the fourth quarter with the game on the line, Whisenhunt likely would set all this aside.

“I would show one of those plays to win the game. That’s the way I think I would lean.”

THIN PLAYBOOK

The Cardinals will keep things simple today.

“The last thing we want is have too much stuff in, too much of a game plan, where they’re confused,” Whisenhunt said.

The idea is to keep things simple, so the players compete full speed. That way, the coaches can better evaluate the personnel.

PERSONNEL NOTES

Roderick Hood will start at cornerback.

The game will feature Calvin Pace and Darryl Blackstock competing to replace injured linebacker Chike Okeafor. The starter will be determined before the game.

“It doesn’t really mean anything who starts. Both guys will get snaps,” Whisenhunt said.

Linebacker Monty Beisel, who was injured at Oakland Saturday, will try to play.

Defensive lineman Jonathan Lewis, who suffered a knee injury at training camp, is starting to practice again but won’t play, Whisenhunt said.

FAN SUPPORT

Whisenhunt is eager to build a home-field advantage.

Pointing to the enthusiastic crowds who have attended practice at training camp, the coach said, “If we can capture a little of that and put that in our home stadium and get that rolling, I’ll be very, very excited.

“I’m very much looking forward to playing a home game with our fans behind us, and us doing something early so we can create excitement.”

If that happens, “It will be a big advantage for us.”