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FIRST-AND-TEN

A little less than five years ago, Vince Young and Matt Leinart shared the national spotlight in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

In that classic duel, won at the end by Young and the Texas Longhorns for the college national championsihp, both players excelled. For the next three months, cases were made for the Tennessee Titans to select either one as their quarterback of the future in that year's draft.

Though their skill sets were vastly different, it was widely believed by many onlookers that the gap between the two was razor thin. Should the Titans gamble on Young's dual threat and athleticism, or should they a quarterback who had flourished in an offensive system they were already running themselves at the time in Leinart?

In the end, the Titans – largely at the insistence of owner Bud Adams – chose Young. And while there have been plenty of ups and downs in trying to shoehorn Young into NFL offensive system, Monday night's 24-10 preseason victory over the Arizona Cardinals reiterates something that is becoming more and more evident.

The gap between Young and Leinart that once was narrow is widening. It seems to grow wider each time the two old rivals face off against each other.

The difference was on display last November when Young rallied the Titans with a 99-yard drive against a Cardinals team where Leinart filled in for Kurt Warner.

And though it was a meaningless preseason game, it was there for all to see again on Monday night. Judging from their display, here was no question as to which quarterback looked more NFL game-ready. Young was 9 of 13 for 128 yards and directed a pair of scoring drives. He displayed a strong arm and showed that both his accuracy and decision-making are improving.

Leinart, on the other hand, was a meager 4 of 6 for just 11 yards. Yes, he was without Larry Fitzgerald, but even with his superstar receiver, it doesn't hide the fact that the arm strength needed to make the Cardinals offense kick into high gear is absent with the left-hander at the controls.

Leinart's performance – and the Arizona quarterbacks performances - even led to an in-game Tweet from Warner, who reiterated that he would not be pulling a Brett Favre and returning from his retirement to rejoin the Cardinals.

As for Young, two decent preseason outings in 2010 is not to say that he is a finished product. There is still much to learn for him, and much work for Young to do if he is ever to put all the pieces together and become a top-of-the-line quarterback. Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is still in teaching mode when it comes to Young's development.

But one thing appears certain: The debate of Young or Leinart is a debate no more.