Texans LB pushes Ryans to excel

HOUSTON — DeMeco Ryans has led Houston’s defense since he was a rookie in 2006.

Now the Texans have a new rookie star at linebacker in Brian Cushing and coach Gary Kubiak said his presence has made Ryans even better.

"I think Cush has really pushed DeMeco’s game to another level, just competition-wise," Kubiak said.

Ryans earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 when he led the league with 126 solo tackles and his 156 total tackles were the most by a rookie in 20 years. The second-round pick from Alabama has led the team in tackles in each of his three seasons.

The middle linebacker has some competition in that category this year with Cushing leading the team with 39 tackles. Ryans is second with 33 stops.

Cushing, the 15th pick in the first round, has excelled since his first game despite missing all four preseason games with a knee injury. He’s now struggling with a sore left foot and missed practice Thursday. An MRI on the foot showed no damage and he expects to play Sunday at Cincinnati.

"He hit the ground running, but he’s eliminated his mistakes," Kubiak said. "The first few weeks he still made plays, but he made mistakes and the mistakes have started to go away. The effort plays are there."

The former Southern California standout also has a safety, 1/2 a sack and has defended three passes this year. Kubiak has said the linebackers have been a bright spot on his defense and he’s enjoyed watching the pair work together.

"When you’re DeMeco out here and you’re our captain and been a leader around here since he’s been here and all of a sudden a young kid steps in ... the plays that he’s making week in and week out, to me it only makes DeMeco better," Kubiak said. "They even compete in practice. We call the defense up, they see who can sprint to the ball first, little things."

The rookie, who plays on the strong side, has become close with Ryans and is trying to learn all he can from the veteran. The two are often seen talking during practice, going over plays and exchanging ideas.

"We’re trying to help each other’s game as much as we can," Cushing said. "We try promote each other as best as possible and I feel that as two players next to each other like that we’re only going to get better."

Ryans agreed and mentioned the solid play of Houston’s other linebacker, Zac Diles. Diles has started each game this season on the weak side after recovering from a broken leg that kept him out of the last eight games of 2008.

"It’s been a good group so far, but with our group we still have so much that we can improve on," Ryans said. "It’s fun playing with Zac and Cush and I know I’ve got a playmaker on each side of me that can step up and make big plays."

Diles is also dealing with an injury. He banged knees with Beanie Wells on Sunday and was shaken up after falling on the same knee during Thursday’s practice, but said he should be OK.

The Texans were encouraged by Cushing’s work against the Cardinals when their game plan called for him to rush the quarterback more than 20 times, something he hasn’t done before.

"So he comes out of that game a little more beat up going against those big bodies, but I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do," Kubiak said. "As long as we’ve got him knowing what’s happening and in the right place he’s going to make plays."

NOTES: DT Shaun Cody was sick on Thursday and did not practice. Kubiak said he was unsure of the nature of his illness. ... S Nick Ferguson will be out at least one more week with a knee sprain.