One of the biggest steals of the 2019 NFL offseason in free agency was Justin Houston signing with the Indianapolis Colts. It was a late move in the offseason from general manager Chris Ballard and one that paid off big-time for the franchise.
Even though the Colts didn’t make the playoffs last season, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about them in 2020. Houston is a big part of that excitement.
During the 2019 season, Houston ended up recording huge numbers. He ended up with 44 total tackles to go along with 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. Not bad numbers from the veteran pass rusher.
Next Gen Stats shed even more light on just how good Houston was for the Colts last season. He was actually among the NFL’s elite in one unique statistic. Houston ranked No. 2 in the league in third-down pressures, just behind Los Angeles Rams’ superstar Aaron Donald.
Houston may be 31 years old, but he is still among the league’s most feared and most consistent pass rushing threats. Being able to get pressure on third down is a major key for defense to get off the field. Indianapolis has one of the best in the business.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Houston is going to be asked to shoulder a large workload again. The Colts even went out and beefed up their defensive front with the blockbuster trade to acquire DeForest Buckner from the San Francisco 49ers.
It has been a long time since defense was a strength for the Colts. With Houston being one of the main leaders, Indianapolis feels very good about their chances of that happening in 2020.
Expect to see another big season from Houston with the Colts this year. He may not receive a ton of hype, but he is deserving of it.
