{"id":95170,"date":"2020-09-24T13:29:20","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T17:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=95170"},"modified":"2020-09-24T13:29:20","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T17:29:20","slug":"expect-big-things-from-derrick-henry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/09\/24\/expect-big-things-from-derrick-henry\/","title":{"rendered":"Expect Big Things From Derrick Henry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s been tough sledding for <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/titans\/\" target=\"_self\">Tennessee Titans<\/a> star running back <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HenrDe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Derrick Henry<\/a> <\/strong>through the first two games of the season. Yes, he has 200 yards rushing, and yes, he\u2019s the second leading rusher in the NFL behind <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/packers\/\" target=\"_self\">Green Bay Packers<\/a> running back <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=JoneAa00,JoneAa20&amp;search=Aaron+Jones&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Jones<\/a><\/strong>. But dive a little deeper into the numbers and they aren\u2019t what we\u2019re accustomed to seeing from Henry. He\u2019s averaging only 3.6 yards per carry and has only four rushes over 10 yards. Henry\u2019s longest rush of the season is 14 yards and he\u2019s yet to reach the end zone. Expect things to turn around as Derrick Henry is primed for a big week three.<\/p>\n<h2>Expect Big Things From Derrick Henry Going Forward<\/h2>\n<h3>A Tale of Two Halves<\/h3>\n<p>Derrick Henry\u2019s past two seasons are a tale of two halves. A notorious slow starter, Henry\u2019s stats shift dramatically in the second half of seasons:<\/p>\n<p>2018 \u2013 2019<\/p>\n<p>Games 1 \u2013 8: 881 yards rushing and seven touchdowns<\/p>\n<p>Games 9 \u2013 16: 1,718 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns<\/p>\n<p>And who can forget his performance in the 2019 playoff run that saw him rush for 446 yards and two scores. An abbreviated off-season and no preseason could exacerbate Henry\u2019s inability to start fast, but Henry doesn\u2019t hold all of the blame.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Derrick Henry named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December<\/p>\n<p>97 carries. 625 yards. 8 TDs. \ud83c\udfc6 \u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Uk5RJjPr6H\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/Uk5RJjPr6H<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xZbymR9Gke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/xZbymR9Gke<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tennessee Titans (@Titans) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Titans\/status\/1080835857844711425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 3, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Coaching Carousel<\/h3>\n<p>Derrick Henry has played for three different offensive coordinators in four years prior to this season. Inexplicably, <strong>Matt LeFleur<\/strong>, the Titans\u2019 offensive coordinator in 2018, would not elevate Henry to the Titans\u2019 feature back until late in the season. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/L\/LewiDi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dion Lewis<\/a> <\/strong>saw a shocking 42% of the carries in 2018 despite averaging a full 1.6 yards per carry less than Henry and scoring only one touchdown compared to Henry\u2019s 12.<\/p>\n<p>To go along with the coaching carousel in Tennessee, the Titans were hyper focused on developing their underperforming number two overall pick,<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MariMa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marcus Mariota<\/a><\/strong>. Not that this shouldn\u2019t have benefited Henry. Investments on the offensive line and outside weapons should open running lanes, but it didn\u2019t. Mariota\u2019s struggles to develop into a premier passer in the NFL allowed defenses to stack the box. They weren\u2019t afraid of Mariota. When the quarterback can\u2019t beat you, you\u2019re free to focus your defensive attention elsewhere. Often times, that meant the focus shifted to Henry.<\/p>\n<h3>New Titans, New Derrick Henry<\/h3>\n<p>But things are different now. Derrick Henry\u2019s past can\u2019t be used as a projection of his future success or failure. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/09\/20\/time-to-start-talking-about-ryan-tannehill\/\" target=\"_self\">This is a new team and a new offense with <strong>Ryan Tannehill<\/strong> at quarterback<\/a>. In 2019, with Mariota under center, the Titans averaged 16 points per game. Once Tannehill took over as the starter in week 7, the Titans averaged 30 points per game, never scoring less than 20. Having not started the entire season, the Tannehill-led Titans scored 402 points. The last Titans team to do that? The 12-4 team from 2003 led by <strong>Steve McNair<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Through the first two weeks of the 2020 season one theme is evident: Don\u2019t let Derrick Henry beat us &#8211; which typically happens in embarrassing fashion for linebackers and defensive backs. Defenses are daring <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/T\/TannRy00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Tannehill<\/a><\/strong> to beat them with his arm, and he\u2019s doing exactly that. Defenses can no longer simply stack the box and send eight defenders at Henry\u2019s legs. Tannehill will take advantage and win. The Titans aren\u2019t one-dimensional anymore and no one should be more excited than Henry.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ryan Tannehill took over in week 7.  Since then, the Titans have scored 45 touchdowns on offense and made just 7 field goals&#8230;. that makes the Titans a ridiculous outlier here. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QFVd32ntf9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/QFVd32ntf9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Football Perspective (@fbgchase) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/fbgchase\/status\/1308525420543959042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 22, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We are approaching a full season\u2019s worth of starts for Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee, including the three playoff games last year. The numbers:<\/p>\n<p>271 of 397 (68.3%)<br \/>3,455 yards (8.7 YPA)<br \/>33 TDs<br \/>6 INTs<br \/>5 rushing TDs<\/p>\n<p>11-4 record<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonSk1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MikeHerndonSk1\/status\/1307846048866537476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 21, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead to this Sunday\u2019s matchup at Minnesota, look for Henry to have a big game. The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/nfl-teams\/vikings\/\" target=\"_self\">Minnesota Vikings<\/a> are allowing 155 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks, fifth worst in the NFL. Not to mention they\u2019ll be without two defensive stars up front, defensive end <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/H\/HuntDa01.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Danielle Hunter<\/a> <\/strong>and linebacker <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BarrAn00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Barr<\/a><\/strong>. With Tannehill beating teams with his arm, expect Henry to take advantage. Slow starts are a thing of the past.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"qJYYqduGSQ5NcUkJ4vs4oA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1272922296\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'qJYYqduGSQ5NcUkJ4vs4oA',sig:'z0VEgZcGqZXRqW6ZJ1CbR4sx0qC_HsPzlmjt0wT6ru4=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1272922296',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a new team and new offense with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. The past of Derrick Henry can\u2019t be used as a projection of his future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3668,"featured_media":95206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,11],"tags":[596,61,88,45,40,814,58],"class_list":["post-95170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-titans","tag-derrick-henry","tag-football","tag-marcus-mariota","tag-minnesota-vikings","tag-nfl","tag-ryan-tannehill","tag-tennessee-titans"],"modified_by":"Will Noltie, Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3668"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}