Free Agent Pickups Devin Funchess, Justin Houston Making Early Impacts

[Blue]

When Ballard talked to reporters to wrap up the 2018 season, he was asked what he felt was the biggest team need heading into the offseason. The answer: pass rush.


So when the Kansas City Chiefs decided to part ways with Houston and his 78.5 career sacks on March 10, just before the start of free agency, Ballard and his staff got to work.


Eleven days later, Houston was putting pen to paper on a reported two-year deal with the Colts.


First, Houston was already sold on Ballard, with whom he had already developed a relationship during Ballard’s time as the Chiefs’ director of player personnel and director of football operations from 2013 through 2016.


But Houston was also intrigued by the chance to move to defensive end in the Colts’ 4-3 scheme, in which he could solely focus on getting after the passer. As an outside linebacker in the Chiefs’ 3-4 defense, an edge rusher can have many more responsibilities, particularly in coverage, that can take away from what they do best.


Other than pure skill and athleticism, effort is the name of the game for Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, and he said the 30-year-old Houston has completely bought in so far.


“The first thing I see when you mention his name is that the buy in. He’s buying in to the effort and the mentality, which our standards are set. So that’s No. 1,” Eberflus said. “And then the power, those are the things that he brings to the table. He could level rush and come back inside and use that extreme power and lean that he has. He’s done a nice job with that – the one on one periods as well as team periods. So he brings a lot of power too.”


But Houston is also a terrific example for the Colts’ younger defensive linemen, who get a chance to see exactly how a four-time Pro Bowler and 2014 NFL sack champion approaches his craft day in and day out.


“Yes, anytime I can help somebody (I will),” Houston said. “They help me just as much as I can help them. So we just talk and communicate. They’re just full of questions, they just want to get better, so they’re just asking me.


“This is year nine for me,” Houston continued. “I’ve got some experience at rushing so they just want to learn and get better.”


So far, so good.


“Justin Houston is just a force out there on the field, he’s a force in the locker room,” Reich said. “His presence is felt in every way. He’s a strong leader, and he’s still playing at a very, very high level.”