Tuesday, August 5 Mack ready to prove he's an every-play guy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press HOUSTON -- When Stacey Mack exchanged his No. 34 Jaguars jersey for a Texans model, he knew he was claiming a hallowed number in Houston sports history. He just didn't know how hallowed. The burly running back was aware Earl Campbell wore it for the Oilers. What he didn't know was it also belonged to Nolan Ryan and Hakeem Olajuwon. "Wow, I didn't think of it that way," Mack said, laughing. "I just thought of it as Earl Campbell." While 34 is retired for the Astros, Rockets and Oilers/Titans, the Texans are a new team with their own identity, and thus all uniform numbers are in play. Running back Travis Prentice wore 34 in training camp last year and safety Kyries Hebert claimed it when he signed in December, but neither ever was active for a regular-season game. Mack is shoo-in to make the team, though his goals extend far beyond that. The 6-foot-1, 241-pound Orlando, Fla., native established himself as one of the NFL's premier short-yardage backs in his first four seasons, all in Jacksonville. He came to Houston as a free agent to show he can emerge from the shadow of Jaguars star Fred Taylor and that he, too, can be an every-down rusher. "It is an opportunity I wanted to grab," Mack said. "I enjoyed backing up Fred in Jacksonville. He's one of my closest friends, but I told Fred I couldn't turn this down. I don't want to spend the rest of my career being a backup. I want to be a great back, not just a good one." The closest opportunity the Temple product has had so far came in 2001, one of Taylor's many injury-plagued campaigns, when Mack started 11 games and ran for 877 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 165 yards and a score. Last year, though, Taylor stayed healthy and Mack returned to his backup-short yardage role. He equaled his career-high nine TDs on just 98 carries for 436 yards. The Texans know they have a player with a nose for the toughest yards in football. They have to figure out if he can get the other yards consistently game-in, game-out. "We're hoping he can show he can play more than short-yardage and goal-line, and we think he will," offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said. "I know this right now: He's a third-and-1 and short-yardage back. We're giving him an opportunity to play first and second down and see what he can do." The running back competition is among the most spirited positional battles in camp. Mack, rookies Domanick Davis and Tony Hollings, second-year player Jonathan Wells and veteran James Allen are in the mix, and one likely won't be on the roster when the season bows. Davis, a fourth-round pick in the most recent draft, was slated for kick returns and third-down duty but broke his right hand last week. Hollings, who showed flashes at Georgia Tech last year before a season-ending knee injury, could be the Texans' back of the future, meaning the roster battle could come down to Allen and Wells. Mack said the unit has developed a bond despite the competition. "We know the running game wasn't too good last year," Mack said, referring in part to the NFL-worst 3.2 yards per carry the team averaged last season. "We're all focused on getting this running game going so David Carr can get the wide receivers open." http://espn.go.com/nfl/s/2003/0805/1590903.html
I'm still not sold Mack is an every down type of back... Definitely he is a goal line situation back... I like Hollis' potential and JWells, so I think Allen is the odd man out...
Every day I get more optimistic about the Texans season next year: - We've got a NICE project at RB (Hollings) - Basically three 500 yard rushers (Mack, Allen, Wells) - 4 good young recievers (counting B. Miller) - More depth at offensive line - The good defense from last year is 1 year better - The offense (AT WORST) has had a year to get some chemistry (even if the new additions don't work out) The NFL... it's FAN-tastic!!!
Damn, that guy is so big that once he gets tackled he still gains 3 more yards as his body is pulled down. He is going to be great. I love the way the Texans looked in their first preseason game. NO SACKS FOR CARR! sweet.
I don't hold out much hope for Wells anymore. Seeing him last season, I always kind of considered his problems to be inexperience and a piss poor line. He is definitely inexperienced, and the line wasn't great, but watching the game against the Broncos on Sunday was an eye opener for me as to how much is the line, and how much is his ability. Mack ran much better behind a poor line than Wells did. Mack dodged and sprung back and forth, finding holes, and then he still got a yard or two after he was hit. Wells just got hit, and usually went down. If he is going to turn into a Mack type back, he is going to have to hit the hole harder, and he is going to have to stay on his feet better. I don't know if he will be able to do it, but thankfully between Hollings and Mack, I don't really think it will matter. What I'm wondering about is what will happen at the TE position if this Rashod Kent guy continues to impress. His hands and speed looked good Sunday, and his blocking skills look much better than any other TE we have had so far (Joppru might be better, but he is injured). How many TEs does a team usually carry?
