Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack gashed and dashed through the Houston Texans stout run-defense during the 2018 wildcard round.
Running through lanes paved by All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson and Co., Mack split open the Texans defense to the tune of a playoff franchise-record 148 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in January. In turn, Indianapolis left Houston with a 21-7 AFC playoff victory.
Houston’s Week 7 match up with the Colts sparks those frustrating flashbacks of containing Mack for Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
“I saw too much in the playoff game,” said Crennel on Thursday. “I hope not to see as much this game, but like I said, the guy has strong legs, he runs hard, he has some patience to find the daylight and he’ll run to daylight, and when you give him daylight, he gains yards.”
In 2019, Mack has picked up where he left off in the playoffs. Through five games, he has 470 yards and two touchdowns on the ground on an average of 4.7 yards per attempt.
The Texans’ defense is all too aware that stopping Mack is a key to winning on Sunday in Indianapolis.
“You have to do a good job of tackling him, getting him on the ground,” said defensive end J.J. Watt on Wednesday. “Obviously as a defensive line it’s always imperative to stop the run, and that’s our goal every week.”
Stopping Mack won’t be easy. The third-year back has shown progress as of late, as he lets his stout offensive line develop blocks, which he takes advantage of — and makes defenses pay.
“He can run,” said defensive tackle D.J. Reader on Sunday. “This year he’s done a (good) job of seeing the hole, letting the holes develop with that offensive line that he’s got and he’s done a good job of just kind of being patient in the hole. If a guy takes a peek, he’s making him pay for it now.”
The Texans’ defensive line will have their hands full on Sunday.
