Guitar man just fine on first string
Cunningham’s solid gig at linebacker has been a hit with team
Strumming the chords on his guitar is how Texans rookie linebacker Zach Cunningham escapes from the rigors and intensity of football.
Music is relaxation time for Cunningham, an introspective 22-year-old who loves doing cover
songs of Grammy award-winning singer John Legend. Breaking out an acoustic rendition of “All of Me” or “Ordinary People” represents a break for him from the violence of football.
“I still play my guitar, and I do a lot of John Legend songs,” Cunningham said. “That’s one of my favorite artists. I love music. I’ll do some acoustics or play video games, usually Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty.”
As mellow as Cunningham can be off the field, he provides an athletic, quick-striking presence in the middle of the Texans’ defense.
During veteran linebacker Brian Cushing’s 10-game suspension for violating the NFL
performance-enhancing drug policy, Cunningham has emerged as a reliable starter at inside linebacker.
Starting nine of 11 games, Cunningham ranks fourth on the defense with 43 tackles and has two passes defended and one forced fumble.
The Texans have counted more and more lately on Cunningham in a versatile role that blends run-stopping and pass coverage. They’ve been incorporating more blitzing calls for him, up the middle or from the outside.
“He’s definitely had a good year,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I mean, he’s a very productive player. He’s played very physical. He really has learned the position really well to the point where last week we could do some different things with him.
“We used him rushing off the edge, and used him up inside rushing the quarterback. We’ve been very pleased with Zach and I always hesitate with rookies that way, but he’s not a rookie anymore. I think that he’s really earned the right to be out there and be playing.”
Nashville homecoming
A second-round draft pick from Vanderbilt, Cunningham makes his return to Nashville, Tenn., this week as the Texans travel Sunday to play the Tennessee Titans.
Cunningham has obtained plenty of tickets in what amounts to a homecoming for him.
The 6-4, 230-pound native of Pinson, Ala., was a consensus All-American and All-Southeastern Conference selection for the Commodores, recording 295 tackles and 39½ for losses in three seasons before declaring early for the NFL draft following his junior season.
“I’m going to have a lot of people there at the game, and it’s definitely going to be a good experience for me,” Cunningham said. “I had a lot of fun in Nashville hanging out with my teammates, going downtown on Broadway St. Nashville is a great city and I love going back there. I just want to go back and get a win.”
Cunningham has a quiet presence in the locker room. He doesn’t seek attention. He’s not nearly as boisterous as fellow inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney or as outspoken as Cushing, who returned from his suspension this week and isn’t on the active roster yet as he’s under a one-week roster exemption.
“He’s doing an unbelievable job,” said McKinney, the Texans’ leading tackler. “He’s very coachable and fun to play with. He flies around with a lot of energy on the field.
“Zach is not quiet. When he first came in, he was quiet. I guess he had to open up to us, but now we communicate a lot. We have a lot of fun on and off the field. He’s a nice guy to be around. He brings a lot of juice to the defense.”
That’s exactly what the Texans envisioned when they drafted Cunningham and signed him to a fouryear, $4.471 million contract that included a $1.392 million signing bonus and a total of $2.06 million guaranteed.
Improving each week
They wanted to upgrade the speed and versatility of their defense, accomplishing both goals by landing Cunningham in the draft. The Texans like his intelligence, work ethic and upside.
“I think he’s willing to learn,” said Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, a former New England Patriots All-Pro outside linebacker. “He’s coachable. He plays hard. He runs around, he does everything we ask him to do. He’s instinctive, and he’s getting better every week.
“I think he makes mistakes; I’ve got to do a better job coaching him, just on the little things. But every time he sees a play, he normally is able to adjust to it the second time around and improve.”
Although it’s difficult to carve out a niche on a defense that includes playmakers like McKinney and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, Cunningham is developing into a contributor with a bright future.
A former Butkus Award finalist as one of the nation’s top linebackers, Cunningham is continuing to grow into the position as he gets stronger in the weight room and hones his techniques. What can’t be taught is how well Cunningham moves and how naturally he plays the game.
“I feel like it’s been going well so far,” Cunningham said. “I’m definitely progressing week to week and coming together every game.
“Reading offenses, getting a better feel for the game, a better feel for my placement and all-around everything, I’m learning a lot about everything I have to do on the field as a linebacker.”