Bracing for a rugged runner
Stopping Titans’ physical Henry big priority for defense
Derrick Henry runs with bad intentions, using a straightforward, rugged style to bulldoze through linebackers in his path.
The Tennessee Titans’ imposing running back represents a large problem for the Texans’ defense heading into a pivotal AFC South road game Sunday.
At 6-3, 247 pounds, Henry has prototypical size and rare mobility for such a big running back.
The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama, despite dealing with a lingering hamstring problem that has robbed him of some of his ability to finish off runs in the open field, is a formidable presence.
“He’s a great player,” Texans inside linebacker Zach Cunningham said. “It’s definitely going to be a physical game.”
Henry ranks second in the NFL behind the Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb with a career-high 1,243 rushing yards. He has 13 touchdown runs and is averaging 5 yards per carry.
“He’s a big guy, probably one of the biggest backs, probably the biggest back in the league,” Texans cornerback Bradley Roby said. “It’s just about everybody rallying to the ball and wrapping him up and limiting those yards after contact.”
Henry rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns during a 42-21 win over the Oakland Raiders last Sunday. It was obvious that the hamstring injury affected him, but it didn’t stop Henry from remaining in the game and overpowering the Raiders’ defense.
“Ain’t no quittin’ in me,” Henry told Tennessee reporters. “My leg is going to have to be halfway off for me to stop. I’m going to go out there and help my team win games and play through it.”
The Texans rank 18th in the NFL in run defense, allowing 109.5 yards per contest. They’re 25th in total defense, surrendering 375.3.
A major part of the Texans’ defensive game plan will revolve around trying to contain Henry. He also has 18 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He has fumbled five times, losing three of them.
“He’s hard to stop,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He is a big back, physical back. He’s a good player. He’s got good vision. They throw him the ball out of the backfield, (and) he’s hard to tackle. You’ve got to set the edge and build a wall. That’s what we’re going to try to do.”
The Texans are traditionally stout against the run but have had their issues lately stopping backs. Henry is similar in style to Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, who rushed for just 47 yards and 40 yards in two losses to the Texans this season.
Henry doesn’t have a strong track record against the Texans. In six career games, he has rushed for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Henry rushed for 109 yards and one TD in a loss to the Texans two seasons ago, the only time he’s hit the century mark against them.
In two games against the Texans last year, Henry rushed for 56 yards and 30 yards.
“All backs are the same,” Texans inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney said. “Their job is to run the ball hard. My job is to tackle them. Henry is a big guy. Just wrap him up and we should be good.”
The respect teams have paid to account for Henry is a major factor for a team that executes the play-action game adeptly with quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Titans are averaging 31.4 points per game since Tannehill, the former Texas A&M standout acquired in an offseason trade with Miami, replaced Marcus Mariota.
Under Tannehill, they’re leading the NFL with 14.4 passing yards per attempt on play-action plays. He passed for 276 yards against the Raiders off playaction passes and he has two of the top five games in yards off play-action fakes since the 2016 season, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Texans struggled at defending play-action against Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock during a 38-24 loss last Sunday, allowing him to pass for 309 yards and three TDs.
“It’s just really eye control and fundamentals,” Texans safety Justin Reid said. “They’re going to run the ball hard, really try and have everybody bite up on the run and throw something over your head at some point, kind of similar to Denver’s game.”