Cunningham continues emergence
After missing 2 games to injury, linebacker still on upward trend
Zach Cunningham reacted instinctively, charging ahead Monday night to slam his upper body into Tennessee Titans tight end Luke Stocker.
When Stocker lined up at fullback, Cunningham alertly sniffed out the running play and halted him in his tracks for no gain.
The inside linebacker’s clutch tackle on fourthand-inches at the Texans’ 3yard line helped propel the AFC South leaders to a 34-17 victory. The stop prevented the Titans from scoring and essentially forged a 14point turnaround when running back Lamar Miller dashed 97 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing play.
It marked an impressive return for the Texans’ second-year starter and former second-round draft pick. After missing two games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee, Cunningham piled up seven tackles against the Titans. Four-down player
“It’s good to have Zach back. Zach’s an athletic guy,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Made a big play on fourth down in the last game. Made a nice play early in the game on the tackle in the flat on Dion Lewis, who’s a very difficult guy to tackle.
“Zach is a four-down linebacker. He can play on first, second and third down, and then he’s one of our better special-teams players.”
Cunningham makes the difficult appear routine, and the former Vanderbilt standout has established himself as one of the top young linebackers in the NFL.
Working in tandem with inside linebacker and defensive signal caller Benardrick McKinney, Cunningham uses his speed and toughness to shut down opposing running backs.
He’s adept in pass coverage. He managed to bulk up to 240 pounds this past offseason without sacrificing any speed.
“For me, I’m just going out there and doing what I have to do,” Cunningham said. “It’s something that’s natural to me.”
As a rookie, the former All-Southeastern Conference selection finished second on the team in tackles last season behind McKinney. Cunningham recorded 90 tackles, 1½ sacks, five tackles for losses, two quarterback hits, six passes defended and one forced fumble.
Despite being limited to nine starts due to the knee injury, Cunningham again ranks second to McKinney with 70 tackles this season. He has three tackles for losses and a forced fumble.
“Zach, like all young guys, his first year it was tough getting used to the game and the system and all of that, but then once he got used to it, then he was able to blossom,” Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said. “He plays really well within the system. He understands the opponents and what it takes to win in this league. He’s a good player.
“He’s got a good combination of size, speed and strength. When you have those combinations and you’re willing, you can be a good player.”
Cunningham has the potential to be more than good. He provides the kind of versatility that NFL teams covet. He has built his game around his speed but has become more physical as a run stopper and a blitzer this season.
Cunningham had such a promising rookie season that the Texans felt comfortable moving on from veteran Brian Cushing, who was released during the offseason. Mean streak
Although Cunningham has a quiet, low-key personality away from football, he has displayed more of a mean streak on the field this season. He is a hard hitter with a knack for thudding into opponents and sending them flailing backward.
“He’s a great player,” McKinney said. “We hang out with each other on and off the field. He’s a talented guy. He’s kind of quiet, but he’s not super quiet.
“He talks a lot to people he feels comfortable with. He opens up to me. He’s not as quiet as he seems. We’re on the same page for sure. We’re a great duo.”
Hailed as the Texans’ second-best draft pick a year ago behind quarterback Deshaun Watson, Cunningham keeps making strides while flying below the radar compared to some of his more celebrated teammates.
To be called a true fourdown linebacker by O’Brien is significant for Cunningham.
“It feels great to be back out there playing with the boys,” Cunningham said. “Just to know he has that trust in me and I have that trust from my teammates, it feels really good.”