After doing a grade of the Texans wide receivers, it is time to move over to the defense side of the football and focus on the linebackers. The Texans linebackers have been a longtime strength for the Texans, but some of the standouts weren’t able to be graded. For example, powerhouse outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus only played five games before suffering a season-ending chest injury, so he will not receive a grade. In addition, strongside linebacker Brian Cushing only played five games due to a combination of suspension and injury so he can’t receive a grade as well.
Zach Cunningham – Inside Linebacker – B

A second round pick out of Vanderbilt, Zach Cunningham admirably filled up the inside linebacker role left by Brian Cushing and then Whitney Mercilus. These injuries and suspensions have allowed Cunningham to be the 21st ranked inside linebacker in football, with an 80.6 grade on Pro Football Focus, which capped off a season that included 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks. This followed a junior year at Vanderbilt, where he was one of the best linebackers in college football and recorded 125 tackles. This ability to find the football and tackle runners has transferred from college to the pro level where he had 45 tackles, which is a promising thing to see. While he wasn’t great this season, Zach Cunningham was a decent replacement for Cushing and Mercilus, and was able to quickly adjust to the pro level.
Jadeveon Clowney – Outside Linebacker – A+
-
Ep 39: Quarterback Contracts, Hill vs Adams, Top 5 QB Contracts
by Full Press Coverage on August 1, 2022 at 12:36 am
Jadeveon Clowney solidified himself as one of the best linebackers in football, being ranked the 49th best player in football on the NFL Top 100 segment. In addition, Clowney was ranked the 14th best edge defender with a 88.3 grade on Pro Football Focus. Clowney’s 2017 included career best’s in sacks (9.5) and tackles (41), which are mainly the result of being able to play all 16 games for the first time in his career. The cherry on top of Clowney’s best season to date is the fact that he had two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, both tied for the team lead. Drafted first overall in 2014, Clowney finally had a season that showcased his abilities and proved that he could stay healthy for an entire season.
Benardrick McKinney – Inside Linebacker – B-

Benardrick McKinney, along with Zach Cunningham, had a solid 2017 season for the Houston Texans. He was the 25th best inside linebacker in football with a 79.7 grade on Pro Football Focus. Like Jadeveon Clowney, McKinney showed off his durability this season, starting all 16 games for the second season in a row. This capped off a season where McKinney had 62 tackles, which led all of Texans linebackers. Three sacks as an inside linebacker is not to shabby as well. While he didn’t have a great season, McKinney had a decent year and was a solid run-stopper for the second year in a row.
Overall Grade: A-
Even though they might deserve slightly less because of McKinney and Cunningham, the unit as a whole performed very well and continued to be one the Texans biggest strengths along with the defensive line.
-
Ep 119: Senior Class Finalists Announced; John Turney Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Pro Football historian John Turney joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 118: Senior Class Talk With Football Historian Ken Crippenby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Pro Football historian Ken Crippen joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 117: Former Chiefs VP of Player Personnel Bill Kuharich Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 3, 2022 at 10:26 pm
Former Chiefs VP of Player Personnel Bill Kuharich joins Clark and Ira to […]
-
Ep 116: Former Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 29, 2022 at 3:03 am
Former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 115: Gil Brandt Joins The Show To Remember Cowboys RB Don Perkinsby Full Press Coverage on June 22, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 114: Former Bengals QB Ken Anderson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 15, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Former Bengals quarterback and NFL MVP, Ken Anderson, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 113: HOF Voter Barry Wilner Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 10, 2022 at 6:04 pm
For AP chief correspondent and current Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, […]
-
Ep 112: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Joins To Talk "The Jim Irsay Collection"by Full Press Coverage on May 31, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay returns to the show to talk with Calrk […]
-
Ep 119: Senior Class Finalists Announced; John Turney Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Pro Football historian John Turney joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 118: Senior Class Talk With Football Historian Ken Crippenby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 10:03 pm
Pro Football historian Ken Crippen joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 117: Former Chiefs VP of Player Personnel Bill Kuharich Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 3, 2022 at 10:26 pm
Former Chiefs VP of Player Personnel Bill Kuharich joins Clark and Ira to […]
-
Ep 116: Former Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 29, 2022 at 3:03 am
Former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 115: Gil Brandt Joins The Show To Remember Cowboys RB Don Perkinsby Full Press Coverage on June 22, 2022 at 3:46 pm
Pro Football Hall of Famer Gil Brandt joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 114: Former Bengals QB Ken Anderson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 15, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Former Bengals quarterback and NFL MVP, Ken Anderson, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 113: HOF Voter Barry Wilner Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 10, 2022 at 6:04 pm
For AP chief correspondent and current Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, […]
-
Ep 112: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Joins To Talk "The Jim Irsay Collection"by Full Press Coverage on May 31, 2022 at 3:05 pm
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay returns to the show to talk with Calrk […]
-
Ep 248: Traning Camp and Pre-Season Takeawaysby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 12:33 pm
-
Ep 247: Full Foss NFL Projectionsby Full Press Coverage on August 16, 2022 at 12:39 am
-
Ep 246: NFC TD Projectionsby Full Press Coverage on August 13, 2022 at 1:40 pm
-
Ep 245: AFC TD Projectionsby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 3:16 pm
-
Top 10 Quarterback/Pass Catching Duosby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Ian and John discuss Maurice Jones-Drew's list of Top 10 quarterbacks/pass […]
-
Top 5 Running Backsby Full Press Coverage on August 12, 2022 at 12:42 am
Ian and John discuss FPC Chiefs Managing Editor Braden Holecek's Top 5 […]
-
Tyreek Hill vs. Davante Adams: Who Has The Better Season?by Full Press Coverage on August 1, 2022 at 12:48 am
From Full Press NFL Weekly, Ian Glendon, Braden Holecek, and Kyle Senra […]
-
Julio Jones Signs in Tampa Bayby Full Press Coverage on July 29, 2022 at 2:11 pm
Ian and John discuss Julio Jones joining Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. Learn […]
-
8/17 - Packers Camp Struggles, Top 10 QB/Pass Catching Combos, Malcolm Go... To Injured Reserveby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:04 pm
Ian and John discuss Aaron Rodgers comments about the young wide receiver […]
-
8/15 - Zach Wilson, Deshaun Watson, NFL Top 100 Listby Full Press Coverage on August 15, 2022 at 1:15 pm
Ian and John discuss the Zach Wilson injury scare, Deshaun Watson's debut […]
-
NBA Retires Bill Russell's Jersey League Wideby Full Press Coverage on August 13, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Ian and John discuss the NBA's decision to retire Bill Russell's "#6" […]
-
Kevin Durant and Aaron Rodgersby Full Press Coverage on August 12, 2022 at 4:20 pm
Ian and John discuss the Kevin Durant power move and the similarities […]
-
8/12 - Recapping NFL Preseason Action; NBA Retires Bill Russell's Jerseyby Full Press Coverage on August 12, 2022 at 1:20 pm
Ian and John discuss the pair of NFL preseason games from Thursday and […]
-
8/11 - Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, Top 5 Running Backs, NFL Preseasonby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 3:03 pm
Ian and John discuss Serena Williams impending retirement, Kevin Durant, […]
-
Serena Williams And The Best 21st Century Athletesby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Ian and John discuss Serena Williams' career and impending retirement as […]
-
Aaron Rodgers, Ayahuasca, and The Green Bay Packersby Full Press Coverage on August 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Ian and John discuss Aaron Rodgers recent revelations and the upcoming […]
-
Ep 39: Quarterback Contracts, Hill vs Adams, Top 5 QB Contractsby Full Press Coverage on August 1, 2022 at 12:36 am
Ian, Braden, and Kyle discuss the new quarterback contracts, Tyreek Hill […]
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphinsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs to the […]
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Talkamania Episode 227by Talkamania on June 12, 2022 at 3:27 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 193 "Summer Slam Review"by Boot 2 The Face on August 8, 2022 at 10:05 am
Marty and Rucker return to talk the sights and sounds of Nashville for WWE […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 191 "Summer Slam Preview"by Boot 2 The Face on July 28, 2022 at 12:31 am
Rucker is joined by Angel and Timmy C of Filter Free Popcast who you can […]
-
Episode 99: Save the (Roquan) Drama for Your Mamaby Full Press Coverage on August 18, 2022 at 3:14 am
-
(Season 2.6): Fantasy Football Live! w/ Kyle Senra, Manny Chokuba, and Ryanby Full Press Coverage on August 18, 2022 at 2:40 am
-
Ep. 197 - Did LeBron Just Sign His Last NBA Contract?by Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 9:35 pm
-
Top 10 Quarterback/Pass Catching Duosby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:58 pm
-
8/17 - Packers Camp Struggles, Top 10 QB/Pass Catching Combos, Malcolm Go... To Injured Reserveby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:04 pm
-
Ep 119: Senior Class Finalists Announced; John Turney Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 4:15 pm
-
Ep 248: Traning Camp and Pre-Season Takeawaysby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 12:33 pm
-
(Season 2.5): Training Camp Talk: Should we be concerned with Antonio Gibson?by Full Press Coverage on August 16, 2022 at 11:57 pm
-
Hockey Canada - Be Better - Aug 16, 2022by Full Press Coverage on August 16, 2022 at 9:00 pm
-
Ep 247: Full Foss NFL Projectionsby Full Press Coverage on August 16, 2022 at 12:39 am
-
8/17 - Packers Camp Struggles, Top 10 QB/Pass Catching Combos, Malcolm Go... To Injured Reserveby Full Press Coverage on August 17, 2022 at 5:04 pm
-
8/15 - Zach Wilson, Deshaun Watson, NFL Top 100 Listby Full Press Coverage on August 15, 2022 at 1:15 pm
-
NBA Retires Bill Russell's Jersey League Wideby Full Press Coverage on August 13, 2022 at 2:25 pm
-
Kevin Durant and Aaron Rodgersby Full Press Coverage on August 12, 2022 at 4:20 pm
-
8/12 - Recapping NFL Preseason Action; NBA Retires Bill Russell's Jerseyby Full Press Coverage on August 12, 2022 at 1:20 pm
-
8/11 - Serena Williams, Kevin Durant, Top 5 Running Backs, NFL Preseasonby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 3:03 pm
-
Serena Williams And The Best 21st Century Athletesby Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2022 at 2:59 pm
-
Aaron Rodgers, Ayahuasca, and The Green Bay Packersby Full Press Coverage on August 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm
-
Recapping The 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremonyby Full Press Coverage on August 9, 2022 at 2:21 pm
-
8/9 - Pro Football Hall of Fame; Shawshank Prison; Aaron Rodgersby Full Press Coverage on August 9, 2022 at 2:06 pm