McKinney’s game takes big leap in 2nd year
Raw as a rookie and prone to nagging injuries a year ago, inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney has emerged as a vital, hard-hitting anchor in the middle of the Texans’ top-ranked defense.
He has proven to be adept at timing his blitzes and reading offenses to deliver punishing tackles. He leads the Texans with 129 tackles and is the only player in the NFL to record at least 100 tackles and five sacks this season.
McKinney will be instrumental in the Texans’ mission of containing New England Patriots power back LeGarrette Blount during an AFC divisional-round game Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
“It’s not over with yet, but we’re doing a great job as a whole as a defense,” said McKinney, who has been tutored by linebackers coach Mike Vrabel. “We’re playing together and listening to our coaches. They’ve done an unbelievable job with our game plan. Coach Vrabel has done an unbelievable job of teaching me where I need to be. Just studying film, just listening and flying around and playing my game.”
McKinney’s game is built around aggressiveness and mobility. He recorded a career-high 16 tackles during a 27-0 loss earlier this season to the Patriots. He recorded the eighth-most tackles in Texans franchise history.
“We’re a physical team,” McKinney said. “We’re going to do our job to the best of our ability and do what we do best and just play defense and fly around and have fun.”
Concussion a ‘weird deal’
Standing inside the Texans’ locker room, backup quarterback Tom Savage acknowledged the horrible timing of a concussion that cost him the starting job.
Savage was the Texans’ first-string quarterback, replacing $72 million quarterback Brock Osweiler, before suffering a concussion in the regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans during a quarterback sneak.
“Rough deal, yep,” Savage said. “It was one of those weird hits. I’ve done plenty of QB sneaks in my life and never had anything like that.”
Savage was initially cleared under the NFL concussion testing protocol before his symptoms returned.
“It’s a little more delayed,” Savage said. “Weird deal.”
Although it’s obviously disappointing to the former fourth-round pick from Pittsburgh to lose his long-awaited first-string status due to a concussion just before the playoffs, Savage is supportive of Osweiler, whom he’s friends with, as he prepares for his second playoff start.
“One hundred percent,” Savage said. “That’s all that matters as long as we get a win.”
All attest Vrabel a natural as coach
When Mike Vrabel was a versatile All-Pro outside linebacker for the Patriots who doubled as a potent red-zone threat as a tight end and earned three Super Bowl rings, many of his conversations with coach Bill Belichick revolved around his future.
Vrabel saw himself as a future coach, and now he is one as the linebackers coach for the Texans. He is scheduled to interview for the Los Angeles Rams’ head coaching vacancy. Vrabel declined the San Francisco 49ers’ offer last year to be their defensive coordinator, receiving a raise and additional responsibilities to remain with the Texans.
“We talked about that several times during his career,” Belichick said. “Mike does a tremendous job. As a player, he was very astute, had a great understanding of his position. Mike has good leadership, good communication. He’s direct. He gets along with everybody, has a good way of working with people.”
Vrabel has been key in the development of Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, John Simon and Benardrick McKinney with veteran Brian Cushing remaining productive under his coaching tenure.
“He’s an unbelievable coach,” McKinney said. “He tells us how much he loves coaching us. I’d be happy with whatever coach Vrabel decides to do. He’s a great guy and a great coach.”
Point spread fuels players
A commanding point spread with the topseeded Patriots installed as 16-point favorites by Las Vegas sports books hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Texans.
They said it provides motivation for them heading into Saturday’s playoff game.
“I think it fuels everybody,” cornerback A.J. Bouye said. “This game is about respect from the opponent, and either way it goes you know you see things like that. I try to stay away from it, but it motivates you when you see it and you just keep going harder. It’s going to get harder with each round, and we have the No. 1 seed this round and we have to be at our best.”