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Titans vs. Ravens: Stacked boxes aren’t enough to stop Derrick Henry

By Ravi Konjeti

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball while defended by Tashaun Gipson #39 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball while defended by Tashaun Gipson #39 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry might be the best in the league, and even stacked boxes aren’t enough to stop him.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry is having a career year in his fourth season in the NFL. Henry led the league in rushing with 1,540 yards, and his 16 rushing touchdowns were tied for the most despite missing a game in the regular season.

Henry didn’t slow down in the playoffs, racking up a season-high 34 carries for 182 yards against the New England Patriots. This came after he ended the regular season with a 211-yard game to clinch a Wild Card berth against the Houston Texans in Week 17.

Most opponents fully understand that the Titans’ game plan fully revolves around getting Henry and the run game going, and then using play action off of that. Opposing teams generally opt to stack the box with eight or more defenders to stop the run at all costs.

Stacked boxes are generally quite successful against run-heavy teams. Usually against stacked boxes, teams will  have to opt for pass plays or get shut down for low yardage on run plays.

However, Derrick Henry is a different monster entirely, and part of that has to do with how good his offensive line is.

According to Next Gen Stats, Henry has posted 12 touchdowns, 15 10-plus-yard rushes, and 571 yards facing a stacked box this season. All of those stats rank first in the league.

What Henry is doing this season is amazing and not seen in today’s game. Henry hasn’t slowed down despite what the opposition is doing. It’s crazy to see 75 percent of Henry’s rushing touchdowns come from stacked boxes.

If the Ravens want to utilize stacked boxes as a solution to slow down Henry on Saturday, it might be a long game for them. Henry seems like has been up for the challenge all year long. The Titans should not be discouraged against running even when they see stacked boxes, as Henry can and will run over all of them.

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