Indianapolis Colts Week 7: Three matchups to watch against Texans
By Daniel Davis
Super Powers
High Motor, Run Stopper, pressures
Weaknesses
Tackling, gets pressures not, sacks, pass rushing
Sidekicks
Arch Nemesis
D.J. Reader is a monster in the middle of the defensive line. His natural abilities are uncoachable at this point. Watching game film on him had me almost speechless. He can get off blocks quick and also put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.
What’s different about him than, say, Aaron Donald is his speed. He’s not fast enough to chase down a running quarterback from behind, but he can stuff the run pretty well.
Houston as a whole unit can. Through the first 5 games, the team is ranked the top 10 in rushing defense with only 88 yards per game and only 3 touchdowns on the ground for the season. They haven’t given up any running plays longer than 40 yards but have given up a few over 20.
Reader has been the one constant on a defense that has struggled a little bit in recent weeks. However, he also has help. The Texans starting 4 defensive linemen have 15 sacks on this season already with Watt and Mercilus having 5 a piece on the edge. Houston has a dynamic team in a way that most other teams don’t.
Brissett will have to shift the protection to the outside so Watt and Mercilus don’t get around the edges, but that leaves at least one player one-on-one in the middle of the line and Reader could be that guy leading to some big-play ability for the Texans.