Derrick's Day

[deeluxx3]

238 yards and 4 touchdowns on 17 carries was a long time coming for Derrick Henry. Second to DeMarco Murray in the pecking order for his first two seasons in the league, Henry struggled to find a consistent weekly rhythm as a runner, but flashed the potential and skillset that won him the 2015 Heisman Trophy. With Murray retiring, 2018 was supposed to be Henry’s opportunity to earn his spot as a starting running back, and the carries that one commands. It has not quite worked out that way, as the arrival and versatility of Dion Lewis has once again pushed Henry to the sideline for the majority of plays, certainly leaving both Henry and Titans fans wondering whether or not the team views him as an investment worth making once his rookie contract expires.

Throughout his first 2 seasons and 12 games as a Titan, Henry has shown a level of patience and maturity that needs to be appreciated. Unlike some young players who struggle early to transition from being “the man” in college to “just a guy” in the pros, Henry has accepted his role with the team and worked hard to improve, never once giving the media an opportunity to serve a “Henry is unhappy” headline. He’s put the team before himself, hiding his definite frustration that he’s yet to truly receive the opportunity to prove that he can be the Titans’ workhorse.

And then Thursday night happened. That one play happened. With the Titans leading the Jaguars 6-2 and backed up on their own 1-yard line, Marcus Mariota checked out of a QB sneak and into a run for Derrick Henry. 3 yards and a cloud of dust would have sufficed for this particular play, as the Titans just needed to pick up a little breathing room.

But Derrick Henry had something more in mind. Taking advantage of fantastic blocking at the line of scrimmage, Henry darted toward the left sideline – arriving at the 20-yard line virtually untouched – and went to work. Using his vicious stiff arm as his tool, Henry took nearly three years of frustration out on Jaguar defenders A.J. Bouye, Leon Jacobs (who he threw to the ground like a rag doll) and Myles Jack. Every stiff arm more brutal than the previous, he outran the rest of the Jaguar defense for a 99-yard touchdown, tying Tony Dorsett’s record for the longest play from scrimmage.

Henry wasn’t done there. He continued to tack on two more touchdown runs, one from 16 yards out and another from 54, to complete his most productive day as a Titan and cement himself in the franchise record book for most rushing yards in a single game. Both during and after the game, Henry earned praise from current and former players, with the crowd chanting “HEN-RY,” urging him to enter the game when he benched himself to allow Dion Lewis to take a goal-line carry in the 4^th quarter. As a fan watching at home, it was an emotional chant to hear, as Henry had yet to earn the true appreciation and love from a fan base that doesn’t quite yet know the type of player he is.

Derrick Henry worked for this. Derrick Henry earned this. Derrick Henry deserved this. Now the question is, what will Derrick Henry do with this?

 

 

[titanrick]

I just don't see evidence that LaFleur is committed to sticking with the run game.  So if Henry's first couple carries go for 0-2 yards, we largely abandon it for the rest of the game.  The NFL is not going in the direction of a big pounding back and that hurts Henry because if he doesn't break big runs early, he won't get the chance to do it later.

For fantasy purposes, I'm sure hoping for a repeat this week.  I'm just not holding my breath.