Brian Cushing is looking more like his former self on the field.
Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel wasn't here to see the pre-surgery version of the veteran inside linebacker, but he's noticed too.
I asked Crennel where he saw the most improvement in Cushing from where he was one year ago.
"In his movement skills because he's coming off a couple of knees that he had back-to-back and that slowed him down," Crennel said. "But he's moving very well this camp. I think that he is enjoying the fact that he can move the way he used to move. I think that gives him a lot of confidence in what he can do and how he plays the game."
Cushing is enjoying himself. He just wrapped what he referred to as his "favorite and maybe best" training camp yet. There was no knee surgery or rehab this offseason, like in the past two years, when he's tore his ACL (2012) and suffered a torn LCL and broken fibula (2013).
This year, he has the added benefit of not having to learn a new system under Crennel and linebackers coach Mike Vrabel. He knows what's expected of him and is healthy enough to deliver. As a seven-year veteran, Cushing is vital to the position group both on and off the field.
"Brian (Cushing) is our leader, plays hard, plays his tail off, studies, it's important to him. He's a great teammate," Vrabel said Aug. 20.
The Texans travel to New Orleans on Sunday for their Week 3 preseason game, a nationally televised matchup on FOX at 3 p.m. CT. Sunday's game will mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
ILB Brian Cushing shows up to Texans Training Camp sporting a different look. Check out the many styles of Cush over the last 5 years.
