Indianapolis Colts Rookie of the Game: Week 5 vs 49ers
By Drew Koch
The Colts needed overtime to knock off the winless San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, which served as the coming out party for rookie running back Marlon Mack.
Mack, the Colt’s 2017 fourth-round draft pick out of the University of South Florida, had his best showing of the season against the ‘Niners’ highly touted front four as he ran for 91 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown.
Mack arguably provided the two biggest plays of the game. The first came about two-thirds of the way through the third quarter when Mack avoided the 49ers’ blitz, cutback to the right side, and made his way to the end zone. The 22-yard rumble was Mack‘s second career rushing touchdown.
Mack’s other play of note took place in overtime with the scored tied at 23. With two minutes and change left in the game Mack bolted past the ‘Niners’ defense for a 35 yard gain that moved the Colts to the San Francisco 34 yard line. Four plays later, Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal improving the Colts’ record to 2-3 on the year.
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Mack was sidelined with a shoulder injury for the Colt’s last two games against the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks. He came back with a vengeance against San Francisco and showed why Indianapolis has such confidence in him going forward.
With Frank Gore and Robert Turbin working as the power backs in the Colts’ offensive system, and Mack spelling the two bruisers as the change-of-pace back, the Indianapolis backfield could spell trouble for opposing defenses in the future.