Colts: Beat writers really, really want you to stop sleeping on Marlon Mack
By Adam Weinrib
The people covering the Colts want you to know that Marlon Mack is very good.
Anyone writing about the Colts this offseason hasn’t had to look very far for an excuse to write about the backfield.
After all, you’ve got 2020 draft steal Jonathan Taylor and his beastly form stationed back there, revamping the depth chart with his bulk.
You’ve also got Nyheim Hines, surely a screen away from becoming a scampering Philip Rivers favorite.
But what about the third head in the trio? Yes, Marlon Mack deserves mention, too, and it felt like the whole Colts World teamed up to remind us of that fact when the team strapped the pads on Monday.
Early observations from Colts camp:
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) August 17, 2020
— Philip Rivers likes throwing to TY Hilton
— The d-line just *looks*completely different with Buckner in the middle
— Kenny Moore back to his usual self, blowing up plays
— for the 100th time, don’t sleep on Marlon Mack just bc Taylor is here
The hundredth time! Those are fighting words! And it didn’t…totally sound like he was accusing Colts fans of being the offending party.
Monday’s action included our intrepid reporters’ first chance to see Mack up close in months, of course, but it also weirdly included the beginning of a war against former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum?
Tannenbaum, who wants to make sure you know he’s the real one, based on his Twitter handle, offhandedly picked a fight with the assembled Colts media.
Or, more likely, he simply didn’t know what he was talking about, and tweeted anyway.
Regardless, that’s how we ended up with a tweet calling 2019’s 11th-leading rusher “subpar” based on those efforts.
Rookie RB Johnathan Taylor has the potential to see 40-45% of the carries this season for the @Colts.
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) August 15, 2020
The addition of Rivers, the sub par performance from Marlon Mack during 2019, along with the best offensive line in the NFL leaves Taylor with a recipe for success.
I mean, for goodness sake, Mack beat out Aaron Jones in terms of rushing yardage! Doesn’t the media love that guy?
Luckily for Indy, the Colts media assembled and went on the offensive.
This has the potential to be one of the most fun RB committees in the league, but in what world was Marlon Mack “subpar” last season? https://t.co/4dOkGcL8p4
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) August 17, 2020
If you want to avoid Mack in fantasy this year, we can’t advise you otherwise. Fantasy is its own beast, after all.
But if you’re going to call one of the league’s solid young backs “subpar” just because he might get shoved into a committee, Indy Sports Media is coming for you.
Hey, any reason Tannenbaum isn’t the Jets GM anymore? If so, was that reason “incompetence”? Just wondering!
