The Houston Texans are committed to fixing the run game.
Whether it is hiring a new offensive line coach in George Warhop, signing a starting guard in A.J. Cann, drafting another in first-rounder Kenyon Green, acquiring fourth-round running back Dameon Pierce, or giving former Indianapolis Colts runner Marlon Mack a change of scenery, the Texans are trying a bevy of solutions to improve their ground attack.
According to coach Lovie Smith, who met with reporters on Wednesday following organized team activities at Houston Methodist Training Center, Mack is doing well to blend in with the rest of the offense.
“Sometimes you need a change, change of scenery, a new team,” Smith said. “I know he’s fit in well with our group. We feel like we have a plan for him and we like the running back position, not just him.”
Mack played 47 games for the Colts from 2017-21, starting in 23 of them, and tallying 567 carries for 2,484 yards and 20 touchdowns. An Achilles injury in Week 1 of 2020 summarily ushered in the Jonathan Taylor era in Indianapolis, and the former 2017 fourth-round pick from South Florida found himself in a complementary role to Taylor.
Mack played in six games in 2021, collecting 28 carries for 101 yards.
Although the 26-year-old has hit the nadir of his career, Smith believes that they can help him revitalize his career.
“When we look at players, some people are like, let me see the bad plays,” said Smith. “I like to see the good plays. When we are coaching up a guy, let’s see his best and Marlon has been a productive player in the league and we look at his best years he’s had.”
The Texans have not had a ball carrier crest the 1,000-yard mark since 2019 when Carlos Hyde generated 1,070. Hyde was similarly a reclamation project as he was 29 years old and on his fourth team by the time he arrived in Houston during the final stages of preseason.
