Texans LB pushes Ryans to excel

HOUSTON (AP) - 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, ½ 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.

By KRISTIE RIEKEN-AP Sports Writer

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)