Woody Marks gains confidence as Ryans praises camp growth
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans says running back Woody Marks has shown increased confidence since OTAs, looking faster and quicker while excelling as a receiver with refined route running in camp. Marks led Houston in rushing as a rookie but now shares the backfield with trade acquisition David Montgomery.
Key Takeaways
- DeMeco Ryans says Woody Marks has shown confidence since OTAs and looks faster and quicker with the ball.
- Ryans praised Marks for defined tops of routes and being a tough cover deep or underneath.
- Marks rushed for 703 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie while leading Houston on the ground.
- Veteran David Montgomery is the projected starter after an offseason trade, with Marks still expected to share work.
- Houston wants a stronger run game to ease pressure on quarterback C.J. Stroud after a weak rushing year.
Camp buzz around Future Tech & AI Wonders often chases novelty, but the Texans story is simpler: a young back refining his craft. According to Yahoo Sports reporting on Ryans' comments, Marks is flashing growth even without the featured role.
What did DeMeco Ryans say about Woody Marks?
Ryans traced the jump to OTAs. He said Woody has shown confidence again, looks faster and quicker running the football, and is excelling in the passing game.
"Woody has shown confidence back since OTAs," Ryans said. "Seeing him running the football, looking faster, quicker, but also in the passing game, excelling. He is very defined at the top of his routes, which is cool to see. He's a tough cover because he's so quick. He can beat you deep and also beat you underneath as well. He's done a really great job."
That praise matters because Marks is not projected to open as the lead back. The feedback frames him as a sharper complementary piece rather than a player fading after a rookie lead role.
How does Woody Marks fit with David Montgomery?
Montgomery joined Houston via trade and is the projected starting running back. Marks, last season's team rushing leader, is taking a back seat in the depth chart narrative.
Reporting still casts the duo as a potential two-headed attack. Montgomery is not expected to be a pure bellcow, which leaves meaningful snaps for Marks as a change-of-pace and receiving option.
Local radio coverage has echoed the positive visual, with Audacy framing the young back as looking strong in Houston. The core facts still rest on Ryans' evaluation of confidence and routes.
Why do sharper routes matter for the Texans offense?
Marks posted 703 rushing yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Houston still needs more production from the position group to balance the attack and take pressure off C.J. Stroud.
Last season the Texans ranked among the league's weakest rushing offenses. A more defined route runner out of the backfield gives the offense another way to stress defenses between the tackles and in space.
If Marks sustains the quicker, more confident play Ryans described, Houston can pair Montgomery's veteran presence with a second-year back who already knows the system and now looks more decisive at the top of routes.
Preseason remains about roles and health. For Marks, the headline from camp is clear: confidence is up, the routes look cleaner, and the Texans still see him as a vital piece of the run-game reset.