GLENDALE, ARIZ. ? The Kansas City defense is ready to give Matt Leinart a memorable welcome to the NFL.

“We’ll mix it up a little bit,” linebacker Derrick Johnson promised. “We’ve got some things to put on him.”

Leinart wasn’t supposed to be a starter this soon, but with Kurt Warner’s 10 fumbles and five interceptions in four games, Arizona coach Dennis Green made the switch.

So the left-handed rookie who led the Trojans to two national titles and won a Heisman Trophy in the process will be at the controls today when the Cardinals (1-3) try to snap a three-game losing streak against a Kansas City team coming off a 41-0 rout of San Francisco.

He will face a defense that has not allowed a touchdown pass in 12 quarters to start the season, a franchise record.

“They’re probably licking their chops with a rookie quarterback coming in,” Leinart said, “but that’s just the name of the game. We’ve got to prepare for that. We’ve got to understand protections and all that kind of stuff.”

Leinart’s well-documented football intelligence will get a severe test. In college, it’s safe to say, he never saw a defense like this.

The Chiefs (1-2) love to confuse offenses with an array of defensive sets and schemes.

“He’s a good player. I’m sure they have a good game plan for him,” Kansas City linebacker Kawika Mitchell said. “But it’ll be a challenge for him, I think. We’ve got a good defense and if we continue to play aggressive like we have been, then we’ll do a good job against him.”

Only San Diego and Baltimore have allowed fewer yards than the Chiefs per game, and only the Chargers have better numbers against the pass.

“They like to blitz,” Arizona coach Dennis Green said. “They’re the only team in the league that plays eight up. They will put eight up and play man coverage. It’s kind of a throwback to what some guys were doing in the late ’80s. They’ve had some success. They’ve got two real veteran cornerbacks (Ty Law and Patrick Surtain), which they feel enables them to do that.”

If Leinart can get enough time to throw, it could create some big plays for wide receivers Anquan Boldin or Larry Fitzgerald.

“It’ll be a test,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. “They have tremendous wideouts. What they do well is when they get down the field, they’ll adjust to the football. They make difficult catches look easy.”

The key, running back Edgerrin James said, is for the Cardinals’ offense not to get discouraged.

“If you get confused, they’re going to make some big plays,” James said, “but the one thing about them is they will give up some big plays also. It’s just a matter of not getting frustrated, and when they make a big play not getting down. They’re going to come up with certain looks that are kind of funky and it’s going to shock you at times, but if you’re able to handle it, you’ll be all right.”

The Cardinals are expected to keep the game plan simple for Leinart, but to make that work they will have to get improved play from the offensive line, which was roundly criticized by Green during the week. Despite the addition of James, the Cardinals rank 30th in the NFL in rushing at 70 yards per game.

On the flip side, Kansas City probably will pound Arizona with a gigantic dose of Larry Johnson, who needs 78 yards to become the first back since 1970 to rush for 2,000 yards in his first 16 careers starts. He can do damage in other ways, too. Johnson leads the AFC in total yards from scrimmage at 457 – 295 rushing and 162 receiving.

Like the Chiefs, the Cardinals go with unpredictable defensive sets and try to bring pressure against Damon Huard, who will get another start in place of injured Trent Green.

“That causes a lot of problems because of the simple fact that you’ve got to figure out where they’re going to come from and what they’re going to do,” guard Will Shields said.

The Cardinals think they know what the Chiefs will do, though, and that’s give the ball to Johnson – over and over again.

“Absolutely we’re going to see a lot of them. That’s their bread and butter,” Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry said. “That’s what they hang their hat on. I’m sure we’re going to see plenty of No. 27 running with the rock. It’s our responsibility to go and tackle him and get up and do it all over again.”