However, without the very capable Schaub behind center, opposing defenses may focus on the run and render it much less effective than earlier in the season. That is, unless new starting quarterback Matt Leinart can run the offense in a productive fashion.Leinart is a former three-year starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Southern California. Selected in the 2006 NFL Draft as the tenth overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals expected Leinart to be their new franchise quarterback. However, a combination of the re-emergence of Kurt Warner as a superstar and Leinart's ineffectiveness when he was given a chance pushed the former USC star to the bench.Leinart sat on the bench for the better part of his four seasons with the Cardinals. He played in 29 games, and had a total quarterback rating of 70.8 with 14 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. When Kurt Warner retired before the 2010 NFL season, Leinart was expected to be the starter. However, the Cardinals were so unimpressed with Leinart's performance in pre-season that they released him just a few days before the start of the regular season.The Texans then picked him up as a backup to Schaub, but haven't needed his services until now. No one knows just how he will perform. The knocks on him in his NFL career have been that his work ethic was lacking and he was less than decisive on the field. Perhaps all Leinart needed was a change of scenery, and he's certainly had that for the past two years in Houston.The Texans are certainly hoping that he's a changed quarterback. They should also hope that they won't need to rely on him too much. They do have the NFL's second highest-rated defense, and a pair of running backs that have been dominating. Certainly, Leinart's Texans team seems to be much better than the Cardinals team onto which he was drafted. However, if you think that Leinart should be helped by the imminent return of Andre Johnson, think again. In 2006, the season in which Leinart got most of his playing time, the Cardinals went 4-8 in games he played despite the fact that he had both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin as starting receivers.Then again, that was five years ago, and Leinart has had plenty of time to work on his confidence and the deficiencies in his game. The Texans have no choice but to use him now. If they want to have any hope of reaching their first NFL post-season in franchise history, he needs to step up and be the player that everyone thought he was coming out of college.Julie is a lifelong NFL fan living in Denver. Although her favorite team is the Chicago Bears, she follows every NFL team.More From This ContributorChicago Bears Face Crucial Home Test Against Detroit Lions In Week 9This Terrible Season For Philip Rivers Could Cost Chargers The PlayoffsNote: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.