The Indianapolis Colts took it on the chin in the first two games of the season when the Houston Texans and the Green Bay Packers ran over their run defense.
So it was an eye opener when the Chicago Bears were only able to muster 63 rushing yards against the Colts. What happened? Chicago ran the ball 28 times against the Colts but averaged less than 3.0 yards per rush.
With standout DT DeForest Buckner unavailable, the Colts needed some big bodies, and they moved one in.
He's Raekwon Davis. Standing 6-foot-7 and checking in at a Yeti-like 335-pounds. He's massive, mountainous and can move. In the words of an old teammate of mine, guard Steve Courson, "He's a large prairie mammal." And he's our Classic Jurassic Meat-Eater matchup of the week.
Davis will vacillate between a loose 3-technique to nose tackle. And both guards will see him.
To be sure, the Colts will roll out several different front-end combos in trying to plug the leaks. But the addition of more snaps for Davis and trying to get him on the field with fellow meat-eater and 6-foot-4, 320-pound nose tackle Grover Stewart theoretically, and practically, creates a log jam on the inside that could stifle the running game of the Steelers.
Make no mistake about it, he's not there for his sterling disposition. He's a space eater to be sure. And when the duo block comes his way, he will bend, lockout and fight like he's holding back a car rolling down hill on him. When he doesn't want to be moved, well, he doesn't move.
For such a tall trench fighter, Davis can present a low pad level. When he's matched up with Stewart, they present enough mass on the inside to make running the ball to the outside look more appealing.
Davis isn't the quickest or the fastest. But he's solid. And when he gets his hands up in the air while engaging in a bull rush, the crossing routes can be a bit tricky to navigate.
On a pass rush, he will whack, hack and chop, looking to inflict enough pain while knocking down the arms of a pass protector to get a pass rush home. He's not going to quick you, or throw a fancy move on you. He will physically assault you. Hunker down and buckle up with this one fellas.
Davis will stuff double teams and get off blocks. And if he doesn't get off a block, he will absorb a couple of guys. While he might not make the play, he will leave enough bodies in his wake to allow others to make plays.
Overall, he seems to be the extra run stuffer the Colts desire to knock some yardage off opponents' run game. For the Steelers to be successful in Indy, they will have to account for and lock up with Raekwon Davis.
