Great run stuffer, poor pass defender. Might be hard to find someone who can do both, outside of the first round. Texans goal line defense just got better.
He sounds a lot like Cushing. I thought they may have went more for a complementary MLB that would be better in pass coverage.
That's actually the exact comparison the NFL.com draft profile goes with. I think they are looking at him as a future Cushing replacement, but with the two of them together along with Wilfork in front of them keeping them clean, it'll make running on the Texans REALLY rough.
Watching this guy last year, I was thinking about the Texans drafting him. I wanted him, he is going to be a star in the NFL, a "pure" old fashioned linebacker. OBrien is big on the "toughness" factor. All the picks so far reflect that.
Oh, I thought you were the guy who had really strong opinions about basically everything including draft picks that you think will be terrible.
"What are you talking about man? Rick Smith need to be fired. We didn't draft a QB at 16. this team is gonna suck bad this year and it's all Rick's fault. The Texans are soooo dumb" -That one Texans fan who only knows who JJ Watt is
Texans got a starter.... And they needed one in in ILB position. All i have been hearing is how we have to draft an ILB, and now people are quiet. I like the pick because it is a position we desperately needed to upgrade with talent. Also because he was really high on the Texans draft board. Next years defense will feature more talent, than one that almost got them to the playoffs in 2014. Wilfork, Clowney, K Johnson, McKinney, etc..... I like it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">O'Brien says they'll start McKinney on the inside. He'll primarily be a 1st and 2nd down linebacker. Can do some things outside. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a></p>— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) <a href="https://twitter.com/taniaganguli/status/594342908431626241">May 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"He was the highest rated player left on our board and we needed to trade up and get him." - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> GM Rick Smith on LB Benardrick McKinney</p>— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/status/594341316307259393">May 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I'd take 2 apologize 2 those who follow me 4 saying Texans would take a fast WR N 2nd round. I meant to type ILB named Benardrick McKinney!</p>— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClain_on_NFL/status/594295162601275392">May 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Texans trade up for Benardrick McKinney, who had a Run Stop Percentage of 9.4% v Power 5 opponents in 2014 <a href="http://t.co/3wKH3hXYWH">pic.twitter.com/3wKH3hXYWH</a></p>— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF/status/594292613219516416">May 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">McKinney not a dynamic mover, so a much better fit as a 3-4 ILB than 4-3 MLB. Fits <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a>.</p>— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) <a href="https://twitter.com/Andy_Benoit/status/594291929539432448">May 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is <a href="https://twitter.com/jharrisfootball">@jharrisfootball</a> 's write up on Benardrick McKinney. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/texans?src=hash">#texans</a> <a href="http://t.co/w8hvo6os48">pic.twitter.com/w8hvo6os48</a></p>— Dustin is SOURCES (@dustinbennett76) <a href="https://twitter.com/dustinbennett76/status/594291664014835713">May 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Actually he's a poor pass defender in man coverage (stiff hips) but he's a very good pass defender in zone coverage. Mississippi St had a dominant defense last year and McKinney always shined. I keep bringing up that his primary position coming out of high school was QB and he was a starting LB in his freshmen season of college and he's arguably the best ILB coming out of college and the most versatile LB in the draft. He just may have a very high ceiling considering he's only been focusing on that position for a few years. I believe his flaws can be coached up and or away and it's obvious he's a hard worker. McKinney was my favorite defensive player in the draft and I wouldn't have had a problem if they drafted him in the 1st round (considering Gurley was gone). Also, Romeo's track record with LB's is not garbage and his name is written all over this pick.
