Can Matt Leinart Become an NFL Starting Quarterback?

The most intriguing situation to observe during this Thanksgiving weekend of NFL action will be in East Florida when the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Houston Texans.

Okay, it may be just another game between two divisional rivals - the first for this season between these two. And okay, the Jaguars have the Texans' season record in reverse.

So what's so intriguing about this game?

Well, it'll be Matt Leinart's first game for the Houston Texans as starting quarterback since incumbent, Matt Schaub was ruled out for the season, and since Leinart was told by the Arizona Cardinals he wasn't their starting quarterback for the future despite Kurt Warner's retirement leaving the path free for the former Heismann Trophy winner.

Matt Leinart has the talent and has shown to be a winner, helping to guide his USC team to the Rose Bowl and National Championship. He won 34 out of his 35 games in Los Angeles - his 1 defeat was only to Vince Young's Texas in the best Rose Bowl in history in 2005.

Perhaps this is why Leinart hasn't quite been able to make the transition from college star to regular NFL starting quarterback. It didn't help that when Leinart got injured at the Cardinals that Kurt Warner brought back the Age of Aquarius and guided the Cards to their first Super Bowl in eons and only just lost to the Steelers in the 2009 Super Bowl.

But 5 years on and in a winning team environment in Houston, Leinart now has the chance to nail that starting quarterback that his talent long deserves.

Despite losing star defensive end, Mario Williams to a season-ending injury and despite star wide receiver, Andre Johnson's persistent injuries this season, the Texans are still winning and as a team have never been better. Their defensive form from a few seasons ago has returned and is now backed up with a monster rushing game.

Perfect for a quarterback new to the system and in his first start then. And against Jacksonville who are also a predominantly rushing side, Leinart will not have to throw to his receivers as much.

It's a bit like the All Blacks in this year's Rugby World Cup when Dan Carter was injured prior to the knockout stages. Colin Slade, Aaron Cruden and even Stephen Donald were drafted in to fill the key pivot position with Cruden and Donald probably impressing the most.

Leinart will be hoping to be Cruden/Donald: confident and ready to take on the line, instead of the nervous Slade. The Texans would like him to be the former as a first ever playoff appearance looks ever closer.

And given Schaub is now in his 30s, nail this and Leinart could be the Texans quarterback for a couple of seasons yet as they set to take advantage of the rebuilding in Indy, Nashville and Jacksonville.  


Fail, and Leinart will be another what-if story for ESPN to file.