HOUSTON -- Benardrick McKinney is often overshadowed on a Houston defense filled with first-round picks.But this season its been hard to ignore the work of the linebacker, who leads the team and is tied for sixth in the NFL with 101 tackles, helping the defense remain the strongest part of the team despite the loss of J.J. Watt.McKinney is in his second year in Houston after the Texans drafted him from Mississippi State in the second round. He had a solid rookie season, appearing in 14 games with 11 starts and finishing with 63 tackles.This year he moved into a full-time role as starter and has thrived. He has four games with 10 or more tackles, including a career-high 16 against New England in Week 3. He also has four sacks to be the only player in the NFL this year -- and just the third player in franchise history -- with at least 100 tackles and four sacks in a season.He started last year growing and developing toward the last part of the season, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said. He understood the defense. He understood how he has to play the game and puts himself in good position. He gets around the ball quite a bit.McKinney , who had 12 tackles last week against San Diego, believes his improvement this season is simply a product of him being more comfortable.Last year I was too worried about messing up and stuff ... it comes easy now, he said. When you understand the defense you dont have to think a lot, just go out there and play.That understanding has been helped by his relationship with linebackers coach Mike Vrabel, who had a distinguished 14-year NFL career and won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. McKinney raves about Vrabel and brings him up constantly when asked about his work this season.Coach Vrabel does an unbelievable job of just putting me in a great position to make plays, McKinney said. Im just trying to help the defense out, force three-and-outs, get the defense lined up, play my style of football and just try to help us win games.Vrabel thinks McKinneys health this season is another reason for his success after he struggled through a knee injury and a concussion early last year that set him back a bit.When he came back, he started to really get comfortable playing in there, Vrabel said. We played well down the stretch defensively, and then he had a good offseason ... hes practicing. Hes seeing every rep and hes taking the coaching. Hes done a really good job for us.McKinney, a star quarterback and basketball player in high school, is also valuable to the Texans because of his size (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) and ability to help in the secondary.He has some coverage skill and that helps as well, Crennel said. We like big guys that can move and have some speed and some length, so he falls into that category.McKinney doesnt enjoy talking about himself, but did admit he isnt surprised by his success this season. That doesnt mean he isnt trying to improve.I know what I can do. I know I can be better, he said. Theres a lot of things I can correct on the field. Just taking the coaching, watching film, flying around and playing with energy, thats my style of play, playing with energy, and its helped me out a lot.McKinney and the Texans will try to snap a two-game skid when they travel to Green Bay on Sunday . The Texans remain atop the AFC South despite their recent losing, but know they need to get back on track quickly with Tennessee just one-half game back.If everybody just stays focused (and) does their job, we should be where we want to be at the end of the season, McKinney said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL. Cheap Custom Royals Jersey . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Custom George Brett Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. http://www.customroyalsjersey.com/ . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. George Brett Jersey Large . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Custom Royals Jersey China . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Two days after describing the housing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as dangerous, Australian athletes and staff started moving into the massive athletes village compound on Tuesday.Australia team spokesman Mike Tancred said up to 60 delegation members -- evenly split between athletes and staff -- were checking in.All we need now is just a bit of plumbing done in three rooms, and some cleaning and our athletes will be moving in tonight, Tancred said, standing outside the villages arrival gate.Australians declined to enter their rooms on Sunday after flushed toilets and open taps caused water to gush down walls and ceilings in the building. They also complained of electrical shorts and gas leaks.Rio organizers said Tuesday that 21 of 31 buildings were ready, occupied by 600 athletes and 1,800 staff from 120 countries. Organizers said all the buildings would be ready Thursday, barely a week before the games open.The village will accommodate about 18,000 athletes and staff with a dining room serving 60,000 meals daily.After criticizing the conditions, Australia has spent two days trying to befriend Brazilians.It was nothing ever against the Brazilian people, Tancred said. It was just a matter that we had to make sure it was all safe for our athletes. But its a fantastic vvillage, and weve always said that.ddddddddddddhe head of Australias delegation Killy Chiller said the team complained publicly after working behind the scenes with teams that also had problems. She listed seven other delegations: Britain, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Japan and the Netherlands.Argentina and Belarus have also complained openly about the conditions.Gerardo Werthein, the president of the Argentina Olympic committee, said on Monday that two of five floors in his building were uninhabitable.Ours is one of the most affected buildings, as is the Australia one, Werthein said.Tancred said Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes would hand the team an official key on Wednesday. Paes harshly criticized Australia, then backed down and said their building was one of the worst prepared in the village.He sarcastically said he was tempted to put a kangaroo jumping outside the Australians building to make them happy.As it turns out, the mayor will be getting his own gift.Were going to give him the boxing kangaroo as a gift, Tancred said.---Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wade ' ' '