Matt Leinart has completed 10-of-13 passes this season, but those passes have averaged a measly 5.9 yards per attempt.
It’s grossly unfair to draw conclusions from a limited sample size in the preseason, but Leinart struggled to stretch the field last year as well. He threw 77 passes and averaged only 5.6 yards per attempt.
Leinart didn’t embarrass himself against the Titans last regular season in his start, but he only led the team to one offensive touchdown. And the Titans are noticing a trend in Leinart’s play after facing him again this preseason.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic relays a story from the Cardinals-Titans joint practices on Wednesday. A Titans cornerback watched Leinart approach the line of scrimmage and told his teammates on the sideline, “I got a buffalo nickel that says he checks down.” (It turned out to be a running play.)
It’s a small thing, but the Titans have seen Leinart play more than any team of late. Leinart has to prove to his teammates and opposing defenses that he won’t always check down when he’s pressured.