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INDIANAPOLIS – The warning that Chris Ballard is not afraid to publicly state when discussing free agent defenders thinking about coming to Indianapolis, Justin Houston is adhering to it quite well.
In fact, Houston sounds like a full-on endorser after just a few months of being a member of Matt Eberflus’ defense.
“If you want to be great, you’ve got to work and I love that,” Houston begins. “(Eberflus) doesn’t care who you are, he’s going to push you. There’s no guy better than the next guy. He doesn’t care who you are. If you have that Colts helmet on, you’re coming to work. If you are on his side of the ball, he’s going to call you out, if you are lacking.
“Just be prepared to work and I love that because it’s going to bring the best out of you.”
Ballard and Eberflus have to love hearing comments like that from their most decorated defender.
Watching Houston in Training Camp and you see him being a man of his word in embracing the constant effort-filled defense.
“The first thing I see when you mention his name is the buy in,” Eberflus says in agreement. “He’s buying into the effort and mentality in which our standards are set. So that’s No. 1.
“Then the power, those are the things he brings to the table. He can level rush and then come back inside and use that extreme power and lead that he has. He has done a nice job with that during the 1-on-1 periods, as well as the teams periods.”
Off the edge, Houston isn’t going to be a blur with his speed rush at the age of 30. But given how the Colts attack with their defensive line, involving a high propensity of stunts, Houston’s power can be used a lot.
In camp, Houston has loved going up against Anthony Castonzo, who he calls one of the best tackles in the NFL.
The Colts’ need for Houston is rather obvious given his sack history.
But his presence has been more than welcomed early this camp, with veteran Jabaal Sheard sidelined due to a knee injury.
The Colts have needed a vet leading the group and Houston is doing that while getting used to a different scheme.
“This defense, I’m with my hand down, you’ve got to play the run game a little different,” the 4-time Pro Bowler says.
“It’s not more so reading in this scheme, it’s more so attacking. I just have to get used to attacking and not just reading.”
While Houston continues to settle into this new role, he’s already fulfilling the top responsibility of playing defense in Indianapolis.
