Cardinals vs. Saints: Player Grades, Instant Analysis for Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals take on the New Orleans Saints in the first real football action of the 2012 NFL preseason. The annual Hall of Fame game not only recognizes the Pro Football Hall of Fame and all of its incredible inductees, but it also marks the return of football following the long offseason.

Follow below for how specific Cardinals players perform against the Saints. Grades are real-time and updated for each quarter. Final grades are not (necessarily) an average, but rather, my take on how each player performed. Key players and "game-changers" (players who emerge to impact the game dramatically—for better or for worse) are highlighted.

Scroll down for brief notes on the Cardinals players from tonight's action.

Larry Fitzgerald

1Q: B+ 2Q: B+ Final: B+

First catch was the last play of the first quarter. The route was across the middle and resulted in a first down. Fitzgerald was quiet for the rest of the evening, but worked down the field well against the Saints defense. His quarterbacks just need to deliver him the football.

Patrick Peterson

1Q: C 2Q: B- 3Q: Final: C+

Peterson was abused on a Brees pass to Joseph Morgan. He needs to play better on defense than he did in 2011 and he didn't show any improvement in the first action of the preseason.  

He looked better in the second quarter, but the Saints didn't have much problem moving the ball down the field. He was also a nonfactor on his one return opportunity.

Kevin Kolb

1Q: D  Final: D

Kolb started the game with a solid block on a LaRod Stephens-Howling run, but threw an interception on his first pass. Malcolm Jenkins undercut the route. It was both a bad read by Kolb and showcased his poor arm strength.

Kolb was injured on a QB hit and left the game midway through the first. He did hit Richard Sherman with a nice pass on the roll out.

While Kolb was poor in his short time, the offensive line did not give him any time and he did not have his top two rushers. While the knee-jerk reaction will be that Skelton has moved ahead in the QB battle, it would be wise to give the competition a little longer to play out.

Calais Campbell

1Q: A 2Q: B Final: A-

The first drive led to a Saints touchdown, but Campbell looked like he was in midseason form on the first snap. His QB hurry led to a Brees flip and a short gain. On the second drive, his third-down sack of Chase Daniel pushed the Saints out of field goal range and led to a punt.

When Chase Daniel entered the game, his mobility slowed down the Cardinals pass rush quite a bit. Campbell did appear to get a few stops (or was at least around the ball, if not officially credited) in the run game.

John Skelton

1Q: B- 2Q: B+ Final: B+

Skelton was forced into duty a little earlier than Cardinals coaches had hoped, but he answered the bell. With Skelton's arm, the running lanes were opened up a little more and the coverage spread out. His connection at the end of the first quarter was Fitzgerald's first catch. His decision making still seems shaky, however, and held a few balls a little two late.  

Skelton only played limited action in the second, but managed the game well before giving way to Richard Bartel.

Cardinals Offensive Line (Game Changer)

1Q: C 2Q: B 3Q: C 4Q: D Final: C

Crazy what difference a quarter can make. The first quarter was marked by poor blocking in both the run and the pass game. Their lack of protection led to missed opportunities by both quarterbacks.

In the second quarter, the offensive line went on the move and opened some big holes by pulling their guards. Rookie Bobby Massie gave up a sack to Martez Wilson.

Less holes were opened up in the third quarter and quarterbacks Bartel and Ryan Lindley didn't have as much time. While some of that can be attributed to those quarterbacks not stepping up into the pocket, it was clearly not the same performance that the earlier unit had turned in.

Overall, the Cardinals' line clearly excelled at one facet of their performance in the Hall of Fame game, but moving forward, they need to put forth a better effort no matter who is running or passing behind them.

Stewart Bradley (Game Changer)

1Q: A 2Q: A 3Q: B- Final: A-

Bradley got a sack and celebrated with the "Carleton Dance." He also looked good in run support and had an impressive pass deflection in the second quarter.  

In the second half, Bradley (along with the rest of the Cardinals defense) was beaten pretty badly as the Saints offense moved up and down the field with both the run and the pass. Notably, Chase Daniel looked him off on a pass deep in his own territory and he bit badly.

Rob Housler (Game Changer)

1Q: DNP 2Q: A 3Q: B Final: B

Housler caught a down-the-field pass by Richard Bartel for a first down and then some. On the very next pass play, he showed his deep speed again by working down the seam and getting past the safety. Bartel missed the read.  

After the halftime break, Housler was quiet until catching another first down pass midway through the third. Bartel went right back to him, but the ball bounced off his (normally sure) hands.

Other Players:

Dave Zastudil

1Q: A 2Q: A Final: A

A couple of quality punts in the first half, but the most memorable was a 79-yard bomb which is a Hall of Fame game record.

LaRod Stephens-Howling

1Q: B Final: B

Started the game well with a fantastic run and a first down, but did not see much notable action afterward.

David Carter

1Q: B 2Q: B- Final: B

Carter came in early for Dan Williams and repeatedly got penetration both up the field and down the line against the run. The Saints were able to run at will for parts of the second and third quarter, but Carter's play was, overall, solid.

Blake Gideon

1Q: DNP 2Q: C 3Q: A Final: C+

In the second quarter, Gideon saw minor action on both defense and special teams but did not stand out. In the 3rd quarter, he did, in a big way:

"

Nice tackle in backfield by #Cardinals S Blake Gideon, who previously had INT. Not sure he's an NFL player but he's making his case tonight.

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 6, 2012"

Justin Bethel

1Q: DNP 2Q: DNP 3Q: B+ 4Q: A Final: B+

Stoned a punt returner for no gain in the third quarter and blocked a field goal attempt midway through the fourth. Not much of a defensive player, but could make an immediate impact as a special teams ace.

Follow @Schottey

Michael Schottey is the NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America. Find more of his stuff alongside other great writers at "The Go Route."