Second-year running back Woody Marks helped punctuate an impactful statement of an opening drive for the Houston Texans last night in their preseason matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Capping off a 10-play, 69-yard march to start the game, Marks took the handoff from quarterback C.J. Stroud on 1st & 5 from the Raiders 20 yard line and proceeded to force his way through multiple Las Vegas defenders to reach the end zone and hand the home team a 7-0 lead. That gave the former USC Trojan a total of five touches for 43 combined yards from scrimmage on the drive (four carries: 37 yards, one reception: six yards)
That explosive opening play set from offensive coordinator Nick Caley reflected an intention to truly tap into the versatile weaponry that Marks has possessed since his dual-threat days in college. If that's any indicator of what's to come, Marks is primed to become one of the most important factors for Houston's offense in this upcoming season.
Woody Marks can become one of the most important weapons for the Houston Texans' offense this year
Last year, Marks became the de facto full time starter from week 10 and beyond, finishing his season with a stat line of:
- 16 games played
- 220 combined touches (196 carries, 24 receptions)
- 911 combined yards from scrimmage (703 rushing yards, 208 receiving yards)
- 3.6 yards per carry / 8.7 yards per reception
- Five total touchdowns (two rushing, three receiving)
Looking at the statistics, it's more than likely that Marks could've eclipsed over 1,000-plus yards on the ground alone if he'd been handed the keys to the backfield sooner. However, blocking responsibilities (problematic offensive line), inexperienced play calling and having to play behind a veteran in Nick Chubb hindered that achievement from becoming a reality.
He did have his moments to shine, as was evidenced in plays like his 37-yard catch-and-run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week two. Yet, the troubling circumstances surrounding Marks and the offense didn't allow for a more consistent featuring of Mark's full capabilities. Thus, the offense was a lesser version of itself as a result.
Now, with the news that the team will be without their elevating talent in wide receiver Jayden Higgins, Houston is looking for someone(s) to step up and take on more of the offensive load in the receiving game. With his aforementioned propensity to display dual-threat brilliance, why can't Marks throw his hat into the ring and bring that much needed dimension to this aerial attack?
With the addition of running back David Montgomery, at least five new offensive linemen to game plan around and the continued evolution of Caley's offensive scheme, Marks could finally be allowed to spread his wings and become more of that pure playmaking option out of the backfield that his fourth-round selection might've suggested.
There's a reason why many considered the Georgia native as one of the most intriguing players in last year's draft class, and there's presumably a reason why the team made it a point to prioritize Marks as a prominent fixture in the vision for this year's offense when they could've theoretically brought in more competition for the role.
Marks is a tough runner who also gives Stroud another alternative when the secondary tries negating his downfield targets. His tenacity and versatility embody everything that head coach DeMeco Ryans wants to see from his players on a down-by-down basis. And with last night's emphatic performance now in the books, we may finally see Marks begin to fully blossom as one of the most important tools for this team, regardless of position.
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