Brian Cushing Named NFL Defensive Rookie of The Month

I am beginning to see a recurring theme here. Brian Cushing is good.

For the third time in his rookie season, Cushing is being recognized by the NFL with honors. After being named Defensive Rookie of The Week for wekks 6 and 8, The NFL is now naming him the Defensive Rookie of The Month for November.

Cush finished the month with 43 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and three passes defensed. The 15th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Southern California Cushing leads the Texans with 99 tackles on the season. He is on pace to join linebacker DeMeco Ryans (2006) as the only rookies to lead the Texans in tackles.

I know the term is overused, but the guy is just a beast. No other way to put it.

He also leads the entire AFC in tackles and is 4th in the league overall and leads all AFC linebackers with three interceptions and nine passes defensed, is tied for sixth with two forced fumbles and is tied for seventh with five tackles for loss.

Can we just give him the Defensive Rookie of The Year award now, please?

Cushing recorded 10 or more tackles in all four games in November, leading the team in all four games. He opened the month by recording 10 tackles, including three solos, a sack and an interception in Houston’s 31-10 win at Buffalo (11/1), earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. He followed that up with a career-high 12 tackles and a pass defended at Indianapolis (11/8). Following Houston’s bye week, Cushing posted a team-high 10 tackles on Monday Night Football against Tennessee (11/23). He picked off his second pass of the month and third of the season against Indianapolis (11/29) to go along with a game-high 11 tackles. The dude just makes it happen on the field.

“He’s been special. If you look at some of the ways that things are calculated as far as what linebackers are accomplishing in this league on a week-to-week basis, this kid’s right up there with everybody” Head Coach Gary Kubiak had to say. “He’s been a pretty darn good player, and he’s slowly becoming a leader on this football team.”

And as I have said in the past, he is still just a rookie. The ceiling on this kid is incredibly high. And for the moment, there is no reason to believe that he wont eventually reach it. And probably sooner rather than later.