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BRIAN CUSHING NOTESAMERICA’S TOP ROOKIELB Brian Cushing either led the team or tied for the teamlead in tackles nine times in 2009. Cushing led all rookiedefenders with 133 tackles and was one of just five rookiesto rank in the league’s top 100 tacklers.Cushing tied for second among rookies with four interceptionsand was the only linebacker in the top six. Healso tied for fourth among rookies with 4.0 sacks, trailingteammate DE Connor Barwin who had 4.5.ROOKIE TACKLE LEADERS, 2009Player, Tm G Tkl Solo Asst Sk FF PDB. Cushing, HOU 16 133 86 47 4 2 10J. Laurinaitis, STL 16 120 107 13 2 1 5L. Delmas, DET 15 91 63 28 1 0 8J. Lacey, IND 16 78 63 15 0 0 13D. Cox, JAX 16 72 58 14 0 0 11ROOKIE INTERCEPTION LEADERS, 2009Player, Tm. Int Yds Avg Lg TDJ. Byrd, BUF 9 118 13.1 37 0B. Cushing, HOU 4 26 6.5 20 0V. Davis, MIA 4 64 16.0 26 1J. Lacey, IND 3 53 17.7 35t 1S. Martin, CAR 3 35 11.7 23 0D. Cox, JAX 3 6 2.0 6 0ROOKIE SACK LEADERS, 2009Player, Team G Sacks YardsB. Orakpo, WAS 16 11.0 83.5C. Matthews, GB 16 10.0 63.0C. Barwin, HOU 16 4.5 43.0B. Cushing, HOU 16 4.0 30.5B. Jones, GB 14 4.0 25.0M. Shaughnessy, OAK 16 4.0 18.0CUSHING IN COVERAGELB Brian Cushing was not only a tackling machinethroughout his rookie year, he also excelled in pass coverage.Cushing led all NFL linebackers with four interceptionsand 10 passes defensed in 2009.INTERCEPTIONS, NFL LBs 2009Player G Int Yds Avg Long TDB. Cushing, HOU 15 4 26 6.5 20 0K. Bulluck, TEN 14 3 45 15.0 23 0P. Posluszny, BUF 11 3 20 6.7 17 0D. Harris, NYJ 15 2 24 12.0 14 0J. Johnson, BAL 15 2 8 4.0 8 0C. Session, IND 14 2 35 17.5 27t 1A.Studebaker, KC 15 2 96 48.0 94 0RACKING UP THE HONORSLB Brian Cushing’s stellar play in 2009 not only landedhim atop the team’s tackle chart; he also worked his wayinto the top five on the league tackle chart. Cushing wassecond among AFC defenders with 133 tackles and wasfourth in the league overall.LB DeMeco Ryans finished fifth in the AFC and 10th overallwith 123 tackles in 2009. The Texans were the only teamin the NFL with two players in the top 10 on the league’stackle chart in 2009.TACKLE LEADERS, AFC 2009Player, Tm G Tkl Solo Asst Sk FF PDR. Lewis, BAL 16 134 95 39 3 2 7B. Cushing, HOU 16 133 86 47 4 2 10K. Morrison 16 133 109 24 2 3 1D. Harris 16 126 81 45 5.5 2 3D. Ryans, HOU 16 123 93 30 1 1 2TACKLE LEADERS, NFL 2009Player, Tm G Tkl Solo Asst Sk FF PDP. Willis, SF 16 152 114 38 4 3 8J. Beason, CAR 16 142 112 30 3 1 7L. Fletcher, WAS 16 142 95 47 2 1 6B. Ruud, TB 16 142 107 35 0 1 7R. Lewis, BAL 16 134 95 39 3 2 7B. Cushing, HOU 16 133 86 47 4 2 10K. Morrison, OAK 16 133 109 24 2 3 1C. Lofton, ATL 16 130 103 27 0 2 2D. Harris, NYJ 16 126 81 45 5.5 2 3D. Ryans, HOU 16 123 93 30 1 1 2GETTING AFTER THE QUARTERBACKLB Brian Cushing was one of Houston’s most reliableand most effective pass rushers in 2009, ranking third onthe team with 4.0 sacks in his rookie campaign. He wasalso one of the best at his position in the NFL when it cameto getting to the quarterback.Among linebackers in 4-3 defenses, Cushing rankedthird in sacks ini 2009. Only Washington LB Brian Orakpo(11.0) and Detroit LB Julian Peterson (4.5) had more.SACKS BY LINEBACKERS, 2009(Players in 4-3 defenses only)Player, Team G Sacks YardsB. Orakpo, WAS 15 11.0 83.5J. Peterson, DET 15 4.5 22.0B. Cushing, HOU 15 4.0 30.5D. Hawthorne, SEA 15 4.0 22.0D. Jones, CIN 15 3.5 26.037GAME 7 • TEXANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS • HOUSTONTEXANS.COM