Marlon Mack 2018 Outlook

[Weber27]

Not sure why everyone is so down on Mack. He is 5'11 215 (which is about the same size as Kamara, Lynch, and bigger than McCoy) so he has the size to be an every down back, he just needs to improve his blocking (most rookies do). His best comparable player is Todd Gurley on Playerprofiler.com and he is super athletic. He was almost 70% of his offense in college and very productive, averaged 6.6 and 6.8 yards per carry. Give him some time. Gore was never lower than 4.1 yards per carry until he got to Indy and went, 3.7, 3.9, and 3.6 in 2017 so the Colts line is bad and does not allow for much production to the RB no matter who it is. If they can focus on fixing the line Marlon Mack can do what gore did last year and better, don't sleep on him, just a bad situation. If you put Mack on a good rushing team, much like Mixon he would be a beast. I would buy low if people are down on him, you can get him as a throw in at this point. If luck comes back strong they need to build that line to protect him and that will benefit Mack, no other RB is going to come in and do anything better than what they have, Gore has struggled there and he is one of the best to have played the position.

[lukkynumber13]

Not sure why everyone is so down on Mack. He is 5'11 215 (which is about the same size as Kamara, Lynch, and bigger than McCoy) so he has the size to be an every down back, he just needs to improve his blocking (most rookies do). His best comparable player is Todd Gurley on Playerprofiler.com and he is super athletic. He was almost 70% of his offense in college and very productive, averaged 6.6 and 6.8 yards per carry. Give him some time. Gore was never lower than 4.1 yards per carry until he got to Indy and went, 3.7, 3.9, and 3.6 in 2017 so the Colts line is bad and does not allow for much production to the RB no matter who it is. If they can focus on fixing the line Marlon Mack can do what gore did last year and better, don't sleep on him, just a bad situation. If you put Mack on a good rushing team, much like Mixon he would be a beast. I would buy low if people are down on him, you can get him as a throw in at this point. If luck comes back strong they need to build that line to protect him and that will benefit Mack, no other RB is going to come in and do anything better than what they have, Gore has struggled there and he is one of the best to have played the position.

I'm down on him ever being a feature back, because he doesn't know how to run like one. He wants to be Shady McCoy and most people simply can't do that.

[Triton85]

Well one question I have and have been struggling with is:

Marlon Mack vs Jamaal Williams....

I lean Mack because there is nothing else there vs JWill has TY and Jones to contend with, but I also think Colts take a hard look at Barkley

[MontrealBen]

Well one question I have and have been struggling with is:

Marlon Mack vs Jamaal Williams....

I lean Mack because there is nothing else there vs JWill has TY and Jones to contend with, but I also think Colts take a hard look at Barkley

Man, that would be SUCH a waste of draft capital given the rest of the team. Not saying that a franchise this badly mismanaged wouldn't do it, but they *really* shouldn't. Their OL is arguably the worst in the league. Their pass defense ranks near the bottom of the league in DVOA. After all our high hopes for Moncrief and the occasional buzz we try to concoct for Chester Rodgers, they have little to nothing in terms of receiving weapons for Luck.

That said, I'd bet on talent over situation here. Williams has multiple 100 yard games to his name now and he's the best RB in pass protection on the Packers. Mack couldn't push Old Man Gore off the field. Gimme JWill.

[Triton85]

Well one question I have and have been struggling with is:

Marlon Mack vs Jamaal Williams....

I lean Mack because there is nothing else there vs JWill has TY and Jones to contend with, but I also think Colts take a hard look at Barkley

Man, that would be SUCH a waste of draft capital given the rest of the team. Not saying that a franchise this badly mismanaged wouldn't do it, but they *really* shouldn't. Their OL is arguably the worst in the league. Their pass defense ranks near the bottom of the league in DVOA. After all our high hopes for Moncrief and the occasional buzz we try to concoct for Chester Rodgers, they have little to nothing in terms of receiving weapons for Luck.

That said, I'd bet on talent over situation here. Williams has multiple 100 yard games to his name now and he's the best RB in pass protection on the Packers. Mack couldn't push Old Man Gore off the field. Gimme JWill.

Yea, I'm leaning JWill, may try to trade Mack.

As for the Colts drafting Barkley my only thought would be that they need so much on the Off Line that adding a dynamic RB may actually help Luck more than just 1 lineman. It would make a Def have to watch for draw, screens, play action. But this is probably just the colts fan in me wishing. Its Barkley or a top DE from what I can see, but I think with as much of a slam dunk as Barkley seems he's hard to pass up. If not trade back with SF to allow them to grab Barkley and hopefully grab some value

[maxhyde]

Not being able to at least push Gore for more snaps in a lost season is worrisome to say the least

[flyersfan1981]

Not being able to at least push Gore for more snaps in a lost season is worrisome to say the least

I'd be worried if it was by a coaching staff that showed competence...that is not this coaching staff! This coaching staff should be bagging groceries in about a week or two.

[lukkynumber13]

Not being able to at least push Gore for more snaps in a lost season is worrisome to say the least

I'd be worried if it was by a coaching staff that showed competence...that is not this coaching staff! This coaching staff should be bagging groceries in about a week or two.

Correct. Anyone who's actually watched the Colts play, can see that Gore is still a complete baller of a runner. Mack's inability to push Gore off the starting spot doesn't say so much about Mack's lack of ability. Gore has not been bad at all.

But as stated above, given the lost season, a better coaching staff would do well to give the kid a shot at lead duties to see if he can do it.

[Weber27]

Not sure why everyone is so down on Mack. He is 5'11 215 (which is about the same size as Kamara, Lynch, and bigger than McCoy) so he has the size to be an every down back, he just needs to improve his blocking (most rookies do). His best comparable player is Todd Gurley on Playerprofiler.com and he is super athletic. He was almost 70% of his offense in college and very productive, averaged 6.6 and 6.8 yards per carry. Give him some time. Gore was never lower than 4.1 yards per carry until he got to Indy and went, 3.7, 3.9, and 3.6 in 2017 so the Colts line is bad and does not allow for much production to the RB no matter who it is. If they can focus on fixing the line Marlon Mack can do what gore did last year and better, don't sleep on him, just a bad situation. If you put Mack on a good rushing team, much like Mixon he would be a beast. I would buy low if people are down on him, you can get him as a throw in at this point. If luck comes back strong they need to build that line to protect him and that will benefit Mack, no other RB is going to come in and do anything better than what they have, Gore has struggled there and he is one of the best to have played the position.

I'm down on him ever being a feature back, because he doesn't know how to run like one. He wants to be Shady McCoy and most people simply can't do that.

Athletically he can be as good as McCoy. He is bigger and runs a faster 40 time with a higher burst and speed score, according to the metrics, he could be better. He needs to learn the nuance of the RB position in the NFL and probably not a savant runner like McCoy but he has all the athletic gifts and traits to be a top caliber runner in the league. Although... if the Colts don't fix their line, he could be in a wasteland and never perform to his potential.

[IBall2]

With all the RB prospects coming out this year, I don't see how the Colts pass on all of them in the early rounds. If they don't take Barkley in the first, I think they take one in the early second or 3rd. I know they need help on the Dline and Oline badly but that is something they can also improve on in FA. I don't see many big name RBs on the FA market this offseason besides Lev Bell.

[gunzwil guinea pigs]

Is gore back in 2018 for another year? I think that would actually be good for mack... he would have another year to prove himself to his coaching staff.