1. Marlon Mack & the Colts O-Line
Running back Marlon Mack leads the NFL in rushing through Week 1, and I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. The Colts O-Line was tremendous last season, and they picked up right where they left off.
Head coach Frank Reich’s group turned in a substantial 203-yard performance on the ground Sunday. Individually, Mack had 25 carries for 174 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. He was no slouch in 2018 either, finishing the year with a stat line of 198 carries/908 yards/9 TDs.
So what’s the matchup like for defensive end Jurrell Casey and company? The Colts have arguably the best offensive line in football, with generational talent Quenton Nelson at left guard.
The Titans finished the 2018 season as the 18th-best rushing defense in the NFL. This was unusual for a group that was particularly good at stuffing the run under former defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1171451968075649031
This year, the Titans had a decent start in the trenches.
The week one game stats indicate that the Titans gave up 102 yards rushing on 5.1 yards per carry in Cleveland. However, Browns RB Nick Chubb only had 17 carries for 75 yards, averaging 4.4 YPC. Those were the meaningful touches the stat line won’t tell you, and if you take away a 15-yard scamper, Chubb would’ve averaged 2.6 YPC.
The Titans will need to continue to be this stingy on the ground and pressure Brissett into doing “the most,” which is forcing the Colts’ aerial attack to beat them.