Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is a bruiser.
At 6’3″ and 247 pounds he takes down everyone in his way or just runs over them.
Highlights from @KingHenry_2's unbelievable 2,027-yard season 😳 @Titans pic.twitter.com/xY9t85DjLD
— NFL (@NFL) February 15, 2021
Henry just completed his fifth NFL season.
Many view him as one of the best in the game at his position.
Coach Vrabel marvels at his ability, and his teammates laud his work ethic.
Vrabel talked about Henry after his extraordinary effort against the Texans.
“Obviously, we were all witness to somebody taking a game over…[Henry] really put us on his back and carried us.”
Upon learning he was clocked at 21.62 miles per hour on a 94 yard touchdown run against the Texans, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said:
“I didn’t know he could run that fast. Props to Derrick, man. … Nobody works harder than him. I see it first hand every day in practice.”
Is he overrated?
He definitely is not, and here are three reasons why.
1. Stats
In five seasons he has rushed for 5,860 yards.
He has come on strong in the past three seasons with 1,059, 1,540, and 2,027 yards respectively.
Henry finds the end zone frequently.
He has 45 rushing TDs in the past three seasons and 55 in his career.
Derrick Henry doesn’t pay attention to stats though.
He is all about the team effort.
“I just want to do my job to help my team and do anything I can to help us win. Stats really don’t matter. You do what you need to do to help your team win then everything else takes care of itself.”
Henry is always quick to compliment those who help him succeed when he is having a big game.
“I told those guys while the game was going on and we were out that I appreciate all of them – receivers, tight ends, fullback, O-Line – like I said the unselfishness for them to have that excitement about the way the game’s going for me – I always appreciate that.”
2. Ball Control
He only has 10 fumbles in his entire NFL regular season career.
That is extraordinary ball control for a man who has a lot of carries.
He has carried the ball over 1,180 times in his career.
When Henry uncharacteristically fumbled the ball against the Cleveland Browns on December 6, 2020, that was his first fumble in nearly a year.
3. Awards
.@Titans RB Derrick Henry (@KingHenry_2) was named 2020 AP Offensive Player of the Year last night.
READ https://t.co/COBMpigxr3#NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/1HJuXte3ZC
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 7, 2021
The 27 year old is already decorated with individual accolades.
He is both the rushing and touchdown leader for two straight seasons, 2019 and 2020.
Henry is a two-time Pro Bowler in 2019 and 2020.
He was second team All Pro in 2019 and first team All Pro in 2020.
Henry was also named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2020.
He is among five NFL players that has multiple 90+ yard touchdown runs in his career.
Derrick Henry. 99-yard touchdown pic.twitter.com/cQNl7qe6Pm
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 7, 2018
Henry is tied with Tony Dorsett with a 99 yard run and achieved the aforementioned 94 yard run in 2020 against the Houston Texans.
Derrick Henry is still young in running back years so he is far from done showcasing his premier skills to the rest of the NFL.
Leave a Reply