Nothing on line this time as Young, Leinart meet

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At least this time, Matt Leinart knows he'll be starting for Arizona against Vince Young's Tennessee Titans.

The NFL script hasn't gone the way many expected for either of the top two quarterbacks drafted in 2006. Leinart found himself backing up Kurt Warner since 2008 and now has the starting job back with the veteran's retirement. Young was on the bench himself last year until the Titans' 0-6 start pushed him back onto the field.

The two former collegiate superstars go against each other again Monday night, even though briefly, when the Cardinals visit Tennessee on Monday night. This also will be the first game at LP Field since flood waters engulfed it and the parking lots in May.

Leinart started against Tennessee on Nov. 29 in the Cardinals' first trip to LP Field only because Kurt Warner, now retired, was a late scratch with concussion symptoms. Now the 10th overall pick in 2006 out of Southern California is trying to earn the starter's job again.

"They're a good football team and they play well in the preseason. They show a lot of looks on defense," Leinart said. "It's going to be a challenge for us. ... Tennessee, they'll throw 10 or 15 different coverages in the preseason on you. It's going to be good for us. It's going to be good for me to try to decipher the defense and get the ball out to the right guy.

"I just want to go out there and start fast."

Leinart has 17 starts with 29 career games and a 7-10 record. Those numbers pale compared to Young who is 26-13 in his career with two Pro Bowl appearances. He has a better passer rating and has thrown for more yards (6,843-3,893). Both have more career interceptions than touchdowns, though Young has nearly twice as more of both than Leinart (32-39, 14-20).

Young, the third overall pick in 2006 out of Texas, got the better of Leinart yet again in November. He drove the Titans 99-yards over the final 2:37 to pull out a 20-17 win over the guy he beat back in the BCS national championship in 2006.

Leinart admitted feeling a bit of deja vu then watching Young beat him with another late drive. This game obviously is different.

"The mindset this year is a lot different. ... I've never really thought about last year. It has no bearing on this game. I just want to go out there and start fast," Leinart said.

That's because the Cardinals (1-0) didn't score against Houston until the backups came in to pull out a 19-16 win. Leinart played well enough, completing 6-of-7 for 49 yards, without any points.