Texans rookie Woody Marks capitalizes on primary back role, start, increased touches against Jaguars: ‘He played fast’

HOUSTON – Woody Marks knew exactly what to do when he caught the pitch from quarterback Davis Mills: turn on the jets.

The Texans’ rookie running back accelerated into the end zone for his second touchdown run of the season. And the red zone touchdown, a one-yard score in the second quarter Sunday, punctuated a big performance from the fourth-round draft pick from USC.

Not only did Marks start ahead of veteran and five-time Pro Bowl selection Nick Chubb, but he finished the game with 63 yards on 14 carries, his second-highest production and workload of the season. He also caught two passes for 18 yards, for 81 yards of total offense in a dramatic comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars during which he delivered a key block to run interference for Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills on his game-winning scramble for a touchdown.

In an elevated role, perhaps a sign of things to come as Marks played extensively more than Chubb with 80 percent of the offensive snaps with Chubb playing 13 percent of the time coming off a foot injury.

“It’s amazing, just seeing the smiles, smiles on everybody’s face, everybody’s doing good,” Marks said. “We’re just going out there and balling, getting the touchdown. You see the defense hyped up. On the sidelines, standing up, not just sitting on the bench. It’s just a sight seeing them come on the field with us and celebrate, too.”

This is the kind of performance that could elevate Marks on the depth chart, which lists Chubb first. This was below Marks’ season-high of 111 yards of total offense against the San Francisco 49ers, but it felt like a significant moment for him.

“Woody, he played fast,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He made plays, especially plays on the perimeter, which is where I’ve seen him shine the most when he can get the ball in space. He did a really nice job of handling the bulk of the carries for us.

“When Chubb came in and got his opportunities, he had some explosive runs. He ran physical. He looked like he had a little extra burst to him. So, it was good, a one-two punch that we were able to use. Those guys did a really good job.”

Regardless of whether Chubb becomes the primary back, Chubb is going to be involved. He rushed for 47 yards on five runs and caught one pass for five yards.

For the season, Marks has rushed for 304 yards on 81 carries for a 3.8 yard average per carry. He has 15 catches for 183 yards on 24 targets.

Will the Texans make a formal change? It didn’t sound like offensive coordinator Nick Caley was inclined to go that way at this time. It’s a back-and-forth partnership and division of workload and roles. between Marks and Chubb.

“You go into a game, and you sit there, and you try to have balance in a variety of ways for all the right reasons,” Caley said. “Sometimes you get into a rhythm and he played well and he was playing well down the stretch. I think they both complement him, and they both complement each other.

“So, he did well. It’s hard to say how every game is going to go. Sometimes it doesn’t go the way you want it to, but he did a great job. I thought he played consistent throughout the game and happy with his performance for sure.”

The Texans’ backfield isn’t expecting a return from Pro Bowl runner Joe Mixon, who remains on the non-football injury list with a “tough and complicated” foot and ankle injury, per sources, that may sideline him for the entire season.

So, it’s all about Marks and Chubb, who has rushed for 402 yards and a 4.2 average with two touchdowns and 11 catches for 59 yards.

“Two different styles,” Ryans said. “I think Woody’s a shifty back, more speed. Getting on the edge just presents some different problems.

“Chubb, just consistent power, pressing forward, making plays and making really tough, physical runs. So it’s two different guys, two different styles. I think they complement each other well.”

Marks, a standout as a pass-catching back at USC and Mississippi State before transferring, has a role and the Texans like what he’s doing.

“Consistency,” Caley said. “He’s gotten better every single week, not just as a runner. Obviously, you can catch the ball, but blitz pickup. He’ll put his face on guys and be physical.

“That’s a big part of what we ask those guys to do. So, it’s just a complete package and continuing to get better and learning from things as we go. There’s plenty to learn from, too, as we get going.”

Beyond what Marks did as a runner and receiver out of the backfield, he had 29 yards on the game-deciding drive before Mills’ 14-yard run on third down to put the game away. It was Marks who got in the way to wall off pursuit as Mills got into the corner of the end zone.

“I had an out route coming in, coming through, going out,” Marks said. “I kind of knew I was covered. The linebacker was sitting over there. I saw Davis coming out. ”I was like, I know if I go up and fit, he’s going to trail me.

“And then when I looked back, I was peeping outside of my eye, and then I seen him just keep trailing me. Then, I just went and boxed him out. I knew Davis would make it to the touchdown.”

For Marks, it’s simply about the next carry, the next catch and the next block. He’s concentrating on the task at hand.

“Just staying laser focused, no matter what the outcome was,” Marks said. “I’m happy. Just got to go out and get to work. I’m proud of the game, we got the win."

Marks rushed for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns last season and caught 47 passes for 321 yards for the Trojans.

He finished his collegiate career with 3,016 rushing yards and 31 touchdown runs with 261 catches for 1,564 yards and five scores.

Signed to a four-year, $6 million contract, Marks figures to have a bright future in Houston.

The way Marks has stoned rushers in pass protection has earned him a lot of respect inside the Texans’ locker room.

“We kind of had a thing in college: ‘No blocking, no rocking,’” Marks said. “So, you’re not blocking, you ain’t getting that rock. So, you got to block so you can stay on the field.”

Marks’ low-key, humble personality is growing on his teammates. His Atlanta style has taken notice by the Texans, including quarterback C.J. Stroud.

“He’s super Atlanta,” Stroud said. “If you can put somebody in a bucket of what Atlanta looks like, I’d say it’d be Woody. That was the first thing, because I have a lot of friends from Georgia, from the Atlanta area, and he’s super that way. He’s just quiet, to himself, but plays really good ball.”

What does being Atlanta entail?

“I’d say probably how I dress,” Marks said. “Atlanta guys kind of dress, you got the hat, they always wear jeans, or they got some basketball shorts on with a shirt, some slides on.”

Marks believes his versatility has helped him succeed early in his NFL career.

“Catching the ball out of the backfield, making the defense kind of don’t know what you’re gonna do,” he said. “Can run it in between the tackles, outside, he can catch the ball out of the backfield. I think that’s a big plus for the offense.”

Whether it’s running or passing, Marks can make an impact.

“He’s just a playmaker and you get playmakers the ball,” Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins said. “We know what type of guy Woody is and that he can make plays in the biggest moments and you seen what he did. We all seen it.”

Stroud said he enjoyed watching Marks play in college and that they utilized him in a similar way against the Titans.

“I thought he was really elusive, really crafty, I thought he did a good job since those days in the Lincoln Riley offense,” Stroud said. “Today we kind of used him in that light, spread him out, give him some familiarity running the ball on some plays that he’s ran before, and he’s very dynamic pass catcher.”

It was Marks who scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, one on a run and another on a catch for the first scores of his NFL career.

“I’m making the defense kind of don’t know what you’re gonna do,” Marks said of his trademark versatility. “He can run it in between the tackles, outside, catch the ball out the backfield. I think that’s a big plus for the offense.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com