Falcons defense focused to stop Derrick Henry
FLOWERY BRANCH — While the Titans’ quarterback position is in a state of flux, the team’s constant is running back Derrick Henry.
The Falcons (4-3) are set to play the Titans (2-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ryan Tannehill, 35, is in his 11th season and was last seen walking with crutches after he sustained an ankle injury before their Oct. 22 bye week.
The Titans drafted a quarterback in each of the past two NFL drafts. The Titans selected Malik Willis (Roswell High/Westlake) in the third round (86th overall) in 2022 and Will Levis in the second round (33rd overall) in 2023.
In addition to issues at quarterback, the Titans are unsettled at left tackle and are hoping to get wide receiver Treylon Burks back from injury.
The Titans are built around running back Derrick Henry, who has rushed 98 times for 425 yards and three touchdowns this season.
“We’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game,” Falcons linebacker Nate Landman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s a top back for a reason.”
Henry, who played at Alabama and has three 1,000-yard seasons and one 2,000-yard season in the NFL, has a quality backup in rookie Tyjae Spears, who has rushed 31 times for 171 yards and a touchdown.
“They do a good job of running the ball,” said Landman, who led the Falcons with 12 tackles in the 16-13 win over the Bucs on Sunday. “We pride ourselves on trying to stop people from running the ball. Hopefully, we’ll go in there with the right mindset and a good scheme. We are just going to play our football, attack and aggressive football.”
The Falcons lead the league in fewest rushing touchdowns allowed, with one. In the win over the Bucs, it was the Falcons’ fourth consecutive game without giving up a rushing touchdown.
The Bucs featured back was Rachaad White. The Falcons know they are stepping up in weight class in facing Henry and Spears, who was a standout at Tulane.
“They’ve got a good scheme over there,” Landman said. “Derrick is a great back. He’ll be a challenge for us for sure.”
Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith spent the first four seasons of his career with the Titans. They drafted Smith in the third round out of Florida International in 2017.
“We are humans,” Smith said. “We have this innate ability to feel certain things and feel certain emotions. Part of being a professional is putting those things to the side and coming in here and doing what we need to do.”
Smith played the past two seasons in New England before he was traded to the Falcons in March. He is off to a fine start after reuniting with his former Tennessee position coach, Falcons coach Arthur Smith. Jonnu Smith has 28 catches for 309 yards and a touchdown.
“Of course there are some guys and familiar faces over there that (I’ve) got a lot of love and respect for,” Smith said. “We’ll just go in and handle our business and play our brand of football. That’s what we have to do at the end of the day.”
Smith acknowledged that Nashville holds a special place in his heart.
“Of course, that’s where it all started,” Smith said. “That’s where I got my phone call on draft day with all of my family in the room. It was the Tennessee Titans, it wasn’t (anyone) else. So, of course, I’ll always have a unique place in my heart, personally. That day can never be taken away from me.”
But that’s history, and he plans to earn his money with the Falcons.
“Of course, you can’t avoid those feelings or those emotions,” Smith said. “But at the end of the day, we’re all here to be professionals. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go.”
Arthur Smith is good friends with Titans coach Mike Vrabel. His son, Tyler Vrabel, is on the Falcons’ practice squad.
“Vrabes will have them ready to go,” Smith said. “Regardless of who plays quarterback, I promise you. They will be ready.”
This will be the 16th meeting. The Titans lead the series 8-7.
In the last meeting, Sept. 29, 2019, Henry rushed 27 times for 100 yards and a touchdown in a 24-10.