There’s no denying that the Tennessee Titans have a strong history when it comes to running backs. Players such as Eddie George, Chris Johnson, and of course hall of famer Earl Campbell going back to the old Houston Oilers days. The direction of the franchise changed for a long time to come in 2016 when they selected Derrick Henry out of the University of Alabama in the second round. Since then, no running back in the NFL means more to his team than the monster known as Derrick Henry. Very few running backs in the league can do what Henry does.
Derrick Henry Will Be Under More Pressure in 2023
Carrying the Team
Henry has accumulated 78 rushing touchdowns since he came into the league. Since 2018 however, he has been on another stratosphere. Rushing for 7,101 yards on 1,464 attempts and averaging 100 yards per game. He even ended up rushing for over 2,000 yards in 2020, joining the likes of Chris Johnson, Jamal Lewis, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, and Adrian Peterson as the only running backs to do so.
CROWN THE KING.
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2021
Derrick Henry has rushed for 2,000 yards in a season! #Titans
📺: #HOUvsTEN on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/fohj8JnptQ pic.twitter.com/Exzeqd9Kg6
During this stretch, the Titans have made the playoffs four times and reached the AFC Championship game in 2019, their first trip to the conference championship since 2002 in the days of Jeff Fisher and Steve McNair. They mainly did that off the ability of Derrick Henry. During the 2019 playoffs, Henry rushed for 446 yards on 83 attempts. Scoring two touchdowns on the ground. He also added a passing touchdown as well in the Titans upset win over the Baltimore Ravens.
DERRICK HENRY JUST THREW THE PERFECT JUMP PASS.
— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2020
What can't he do?! #Titans #NFLPlayoffs @KingHenry_2
📺: #TENvsBAL on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/81PYwJcw9t pic.twitter.com/9paFSVZqq6
No question he is the thoroughbred for the Titans but now Tennessee is in transition to a rookie quarterback.
Enter Will Levis
Ryan Tannehill has been under center for Tennessee since the middle of the 2019 season. Overall, he’s been successful since taking over for Marcus Mariota. However, the team went out and selected University of Kentucky quarterback Will Levis in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The move was made after Tannehill struggled in back-to-back home playoff games in 2020 and 2021, which was followed by a down season in 2022.
That saw Tannehill struggle on the field and battle an ankle injury. With the Titans collapsing down the stretch last year by losing seven in a row and watching the Jacksonville Jaguars beat them to take the AFC South division, the clock is ticking on Tannehill’s time as Tennessee’s quarterback. Tannehill was already benched at one point last year for rookie Malik Willis, so head coach Mike Vrabel isn’t afraid to pull the trigger.
The Future of Derrick Henry
This brings it all back to Henry. Running backs are not seen as a big commodity in today’s NFL, unlike even just 20 years ago. The Titans are one of the few teams in the league who heavily use their star running back. Only a team like the New York Giants can relate to the Titans. They are a throwback to teams that lean on the running game to win. Henry will be entering his eighth season in the NFL and is pushing 30 years old. The toll that has been taken on his body no matter how big or strong he is, can’t be overlooked. He can’t be asked to do everything forever. With a rookie quarterback likely to take the reins soon, Henry will be asked to do a lot more than usual. As we all know, he already does so much for the Titans and Mike Vrabel’s offense.
Main Image: Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
