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Houston Texans: Evaluating 2017 defense, 2018 outlook by position

By T.A. Mock

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans talks with owner Bob McNair during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Kansas City Chiefs won 30-0. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 09: Head coach Bill O'Brien of the Houston Texans talks with owner Bob McNair during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Kansas City Chiefs won 30-0. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Inside Linebackers

Big. Young. Fast. Strong. Smart. These five words describe the present and future of the inside linebacker position for the Houston Texans. Solid drafting and development has allowed this group to transform into a great unit for the Houston Texans in 2017.

Inside Linebackers for 2018: Benardrick McKinney, Brian Cushing, Zach Cunningham, Dylan Cole, LaTroy Lewis, Keenan Gilchrist (F/R)

Free Agents: Jelani Jenkins, Brian Peters (RFA), Ben Heeney (RFA)

Cushing got suspended for PEDs for the second time in his career. At the announcement of his suspension, he made comments about some mental health issues he was having. Unfortunately, it may be time for Cushing to hang up the cleats for his own good. Having several concussions in his career and countless other injuries, it may be in his best interest. The feeling should also be mutual with the Houston Texans as well.  Cushing has lost a couple of steps and with the emergence of McKinney, Cunningham, and Cole he has become expendable. The franchise would also save close to $5 million if they let him go this off season.

McKinney is the prototype of what you want from a modern linebacker. He is big, strong, fast, and agile. McKinney can do damage from anywhere on the field against the run and pass and officially took over defensive play calling from Cushing even before the suspension. This guy will be a MIKE in the league for a long time. The Houston Texans should be doling out a new contract for him in the next year or so.

Rookies Cunningham and Cole developed extremely well over the course of the season. I expected this of Cunningham after the team drafted him out of Vanderbilt. I didn’t know what to expect from Cole, but in retrospect I have absolutely no idea how he escaped undrafted. Cunningham is the perfect running mate for McKinney in the middle. Cunningham has an even greater ability to cover any running back or tight end. Cole also has the ability to do so.

What about the 4-3?

If the team switched to a 4-3 McKinney would be the MIKE. Cunningham would slot in as WILL and do the majority of coverage from the linebacker position. Cole would be the SAM as the grit and grind do-it-all guy. If this were the case the team would need to look for some more athletic guys to come in and back up this trio.

As it stands currently, these three coupled with potentially Jenkins, who played well after Cole got hurt, could form a solid inside linebacker group. Peters is also a likely candidate to come back due to his excellence on special teams.

2018 Outlook Grade: B     another year of development for Cunningham and Cole would bump this group to an A for me. Filling out the guys behind these three is a must for Gaine and his team this off-season.

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