The Baltimore Ravens lost several key players in free agency, but brought in a big name in four-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry. After getting by with Gus Edwards, Keaton Mitchell, and Justice Hill in 2023, Baltimore spent big on one of the most physical running backs in the league. Despite having over 2,000 professional carries to his name, Derrick Henry remained effective during his final year with the Titans. Starting and appearing in all 17 games, the running back finished the campaign with a league-high 280 carries for 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns.
This is a strong season, but the folks at Pro Football Focus believe that Derrick Henry can be even better during his first season with the Ravens. In a recent article, Kate Magdziuk noted that Henry’s offensive line was atrocious in Tennessee and improved blocking should lead to stronger results in Baltimore.
Almost no running back was given less room to work in the 2023 season than Derrick Henry, whose 0.85 yards before contact per attempt ranked 52nd among 57 qualifying running backs. However, now having signed with the Baltimore Ravens, Henry has the opportunity to play alongside Lamar Jackson – the greatest rushing threat in the league at his respective position, which should open things up dramatically.
PFF: Derrick Henry Poised For Positive Regression With the Ravens
It’s hard to overstate how bad Tennessee’s offensive line was in 2023. While Baltimore has their own questions (and we’ll get to that later), the Titans couldn’t block anyone to save their lives. As mentioned above, opposing defenders frequently contacted Henry within one line of the yard of scrimmage, and the Titans had no passing game to keep defenses honest. Derrick Henry found a way to surpass four yards per carry in this putrid environment, so it stands to reason he should be more efficient with the Ravens.
The biggest selling point here is quarterback Lamar Jackson. The two-time league MVP is one of the best players in the game for a wide variety of reasons, including his ability to make life easier for his running backs. Opposing defenses can’t lock in on the run game, as Jackson will easily unsuspecting defenses apart through the air. Even in clear running situations, defenses need to account for both Jackson and the running back on any given running play. Derrick Henry is the thunder to Lamar Jackson’s lightning, and this duo should give the Ravens the most dangerous rushing attack in football.
Of course, you can’t talk about Baltimore’s run game without discussing the uncertainty along the offensive line. Last year, this team had a top-five offensive line with reliable starters at every position. However, thanks to salary cap woes, Baltimore lost their two starting guards to the open market and traded right tackle Morgan Moses to the New York Jets. Second-round pick Roger Rosengarten will hopefully fill in on the outside, but Baltimore’s interior offensive line is a major issue. Fortunately, Henry is capable of overcoming subpar blocking, and Jackson’s presence will scare defenses far more than Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill.
Main Photo: Denny Simmons – USA Today Sports
