New waters for Cowboys and Cardinals

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals were to meet in a preseason game on Saturday night. Since the Kilgore News Herald’s Sunday edition — this newspaper — actually hits the stands on Saturday afternoon prior to game time, the decision was made to run this preview.

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals want to get their running game going. The Dallas Cowboys are antsy to find out how their new 3-4 defensive alignment holds up against real opposition.

It’s a classic clash of question marks.

Of course, the renewal of an old rivalry Saturday night is still an exhibition opener. The only certainty is that the stands at Sun Devil Stadium will be filled with as much silver and blue as Cardinals regalia, a carry-over from the decades when the Cardinals were still in St. Louis and the Cowboys were the team of choice for Phoenix NFL watchers.

But at least the first quarter of this matchup should be more even than most games in a series dominated by Dallas.

Each team tried to atone for a 6-10 season by hiring a quarterback with Pro Bowl and Super Bowl experience — Drew Bledsoe for Dallas, and Kurt Warner for Arizona.

“I’m looking for us to go out and execute and kind of get started in a game situation, the first offense, and show that we’ve done some work through this training camp,” said Bledsoe, reunited with coach Bill Parcells for the first time since Parcells left to coach the New York Jets in 1997.

Bledsoe has hooked up well with Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and Terry Glenn, his former teammate in New England. The chemistry is still developing with Keyshawn Johnson, with Parcells taking the trouble to speak to both about getting used to each other.

Warner’s work with a strong trio of young wide receivers process was slowed when Anquan Boldin broke his nose four days into camp. Boldin, outfitted with a clear shield inside his faceguard, was cleared late this week to go through practices but will sit out this game.

“I’m fit to do all that stuff,” he said. “They just don’t want me to get hit in the nose.”

Coach Dennis Green went into camp wanting to beef up the running game, which was 22nd in 2004. That’s even more imperative now to take the heat off Warner, given the injuries to first-stringers on offense. In addition to Boldin, center Alex Stepanovich (hand) and right tackle Oliver Ross (knee), a key free-agency acquisition, are sidelined for this game.

“Kurt is aware when he goes out to play,” Green said. “We just have to watch what we’re doing and emphasize the other guys.”

Nick Leckey, a sixth-round draft pick last year, will start at center, and Ian Allen, a journeyman from the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, will play for Ross when the first unit is in.

“We’ve lost a few guys, key starters for us, but the show has to go on, and I think the other guys will have a chance to prove that they belong on the team if they do the job the right way,” Green said.

If the Cowboys have difficulty capitalizing, it may have something to do with their own injuries.

Nose tackle Jason Ferguson won’t make the trip because of an ankle injury, although his backup is La’Roi Glover, another ferocious pass rusher. Rookie defensive end Marcus Spears, a reserve, is out with injuries to his right leg.

“I think it’s going to be better,” Parcells said about the pass rush. “I don’t know how much better. That is, provided, the defensive linemen that we have remain healthy. So I qualify that.”

Inside linebacker Bradie James was as curious as his coach about how the 3-4 develops.

“It’s time to see what this defense is all about,” James said. “I’m sure we’ll make some mistakes, but we need to make sure we’re flying around. We can then come back and make adjustments.”

NOTES: Tony Romo and Drew Henson, in that order, will follow Bledsoe at QB, but Parcells said not to read anything into that decision. ... In addition to Ferguson and Spears, TE Sean Ryan and FBs Erik Bickerstaff and Darian Barnes won’t make the trip for the Cowboys. ... Parcells said RB Julius Jones will get no more than 10 carries.