Running back Derrick Henry joining the Baltimore Ravens offense is diabolical.
It’s been nearly three months since the Baltimore Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry. The team, pundits and fans universally loved the addition. One of the NFL’s greatest tailbacks of this generation is now paired with the best rushing team in football since quarterback Lamar Jackson stepped onto the field in 2018. And while Henry is no longer a spring chicken, turning 30 years old in July, he’s still a dominant force.
Last season, Henry managed an impressive 1,167 rushing yards behind a porous Tennessee Titans offensive line. The Ravens’ leading running back, Gus Edwards, behind one of the NFL’s best run-blocking offensive lines totaled 810 yards.
Yes, their scenarios were different. Henry was the Titans offense. Edwards was not the Ravens offense nor their bell-cow back as he contended with numerous others for carries, including Jackson. But taking into account the numbers, the averages and the fact Edwards has been frequently named one of the closest tailbacks to Henry in terms of size, speed and similar skillsets, I delved into the numbers from the 2023 season to further emphasize what the Ravens are getting by going from the Gus Bus to King Henry.
As a personal note, this isn’t a slight to Edwards. The Gus Bus was arguably the best running back in the Jackson era. Maybe not the best in a single season, with Mark Ingram II putting up big-time numbers in 2019, but consistently it’s been Edwards the Ravens could rely on. This is just a demonstration of what the Ravens had last season in a big, physical back akin to Henry, and what a notable upgrade the Ravens added by signing Henry.
“Wow, Derrick Henry outperformed Gus Edwards?!” — Nobody.
Yes, the featured back of the Titans outperformed a Ravens running back who split carries with others in the backfield, including Jackson. But it’s how he was outperformed that speaks to what the Ravens are getting in Henry.
Henry averaged more yards per carry. He did so on fewer yards before contact and gained more yards after contact than Edwards. Of his 1,167 rushing yards, nearly 80% of those yards (930) came after contact. Henry totaled more yards after contact than all of Edwards’ rush yards. And though defenses schemed most to stop Henry in the Titans’ offense, he broke off more explosive runs and breakaways. All this was done with a worse situation, both in skill positions and offensive line.
Now, the dominant offensive line from 2023 won’t be blocking for Henry. Both guards are gone, along with their right tackle. The Ravens have replacements in mind, both to free up Henry and protect Jackson, but it won’t be clear as to who it will be or their effectiveness for months to come. But even if the Ravens offensive line takes a step back, Henry won’t be the lone focal point for defenses to scheme against. There still remains a two-time MVP quarterback, All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Zay Flowers to account for.