Cunningham adjusting to NFL landscape
Rookie LB flashes potential while trying to absorb playbook
Since the 2017 NFL draft, all eyes have been on first-round pick Deshaun Watson during the Texans’ rookie camp and offseason workouts.
It was no different this past week at the team’s full two-day minicamp. The former Clemson quarterback, who guided the Tigers to last season’s national championship, addressed an eager media pool Tuesday after splitting reps with Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden.
Flying below the radar was the Texans’ second-round selection: inside linebacker Zach Cunningham.
The 57th overall pick out of Vanderbilt has yet to put on the pads, but he looked confident and displayed his strength during drills this past week. Cunningham has enjoyed his first few months with the organization and said he’s happy with the progress he’s made so far.
“Being able to come in, meet new teammates, the other rookies, getting down and learning the playbook, practices and minicamp — it’s all just been a process,” Cunningham said.
Standout at Vanderbilt
The 6-4 native of Pinson, Ala., is coming off a historic junior season for the Commodores. Cunningham became Vanderbilt’s first unanimous All-American in December after leading the Southeastern Conference with 125 tackles in 2016, reaching double digits seven times across 13 contests. The two-time first-team All-SEC selection was also named Tennessee Player of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on June 8.
The 234-pound linebacker, known for his quickness as a playmaker and an ability to cover if he needs to, joins last year’s top NFL defense, which allowed 301.3 yards per game.
He’ll likely back up returning starters Benardrick McKinney and eight-year veteran Brian Cushing — who missed OTAs and minicamp as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery — in a 3-4 scheme he grew into during his three years in Nashville, Tenn.
“(My strengths are) my speed and my versatility … and there’s a lot of versatility (in the 3-4 set),” Cunningham said. “Playing it in college, I’m more acclimated to it, so that was definitely a plus for me coming in.”
While some fans have taken to social media to laud Cunningham as the linebacker of the future — an eventual replacement for the aging Cushing — the 22-year-old is focusing only on the present, dialed in on learning the system and getting a feel for the pace of professional football.
“It’s not even just the speed of the game (that’s different) but the communication level, everything that goes into the work of the defense we play here,” Cunningham said. “Right now, I’m just focused on lining up and beating the guy that’s in front of me.”
Cunningham — who will wear No. 41 this year — said there’s been a lot of bonding among the Texans’ rookies. He also has had former Vanderbilt teammate and fourth-year Texans safety Andre Hal to help guide him through his first few months in the NFL.
“Welcome to houston @ZCunningham_LB finally got another Vandy boy on the team!! #NFLDraft #AnchorDown,” Hal tweeted after Cunningham’s selection in April.
Coaches like what they see
Linebackers coach Bobby King has been impressed with what he has seen thus far from Cunningham.
“So far so good. We’ve obviously thrown a lot at him,” King said. “We just look for him not making the same mistake two days in a row, and he’s been good at that. He’s getting better every day.”
Likewise, coach Bill O’Brien sees a bright future for the budding first-year talent.
“He’s shown us a lot of good things,” O’Brien said. “He’s been a very good cover linebacker. The key for him is when the pads go on. What we saw on film was a guy who’s a good tackler, a productive player who played well against good competition.
“He’s a rookie that’s thinking and learning. As soon as he kind of gets the system down, I think he’ll be able to play faster more consistently. We like what we’ve seen so far.”