Derrick Henry’s Struggles Against The Browns Should Not Be Pinned On Him

With Lamar Jackson unavailable against the Cleveland Browns, Derrick Henry seemed poised to take on a larger role in Baltimore’s offense. However, the All-Pro running back struggled to get anything going, finishing with just 58 yards on 17 carries. Cleveland appeared well-prepared for Baltimore’s rushing attack, utilizing an aggressive defensive approach that made finding running lanes difficult for Henry throughout the afternoon.

Fear of a player can have a significant impact on how opposing defenses approach a game; it can change how a team lines up and what their plan is as a whole. Cleveland appeared far more fearful of Derrick Henry’s rushing ability than Tyler Huntley’s passing, allowing the Browns to commit additional defenders to stopping the run.

One example came in the third quarter with 2:32 remaining. Cleveland lined up with a single deep safety and eight defenders in the box. Huntley tossed the ball to Henry, but there was nowhere for him to run. Josh Cuevas was unable to get across the formation quickly enough to block defensive tackle Sam Kamara, allowing Kamara to penetrate the backfield and tackle Henry for a one-yard loss.

Another example came earlier in the third quarter. Cleveland once again lined up with a single deep safety and eight defenders in the box. Baltimore attempted a counter run, but the play went nowhere, largely due to the number of defenders positioned near the line of scrimmage. Jared Verse came through unblocked and limited Henry to a one-yard gain. Even if Baltimore had accounted for Verse, several other Cleveland defenders were positioned near the intended running lane.

There were still occasions when Baltimore’s blocking was effective enough to spring Henry for substantial gains despite Cleveland’s defensive alignment, but those opportunities were few and far between.

One such case came on Baltimore’s first offensive play. Henry received the ball on a counter run, with Cleveland once again crowding the box and leaving only one safety deep. This time, however, the blocking was excellent. Mark Andrews successfully engaged edge rusher Isaiah McGuire, allowing Henry to run right before cutting to the left of Roger Rosengarten’s block and picking up 11 yards for a first down.

There was also Henry’s costly fourth-quarter fumble. Carson Schwesinger did an excellent job ripping the ball from Henry’s grasp, although it is fair to expect a running back of Henry’s caliber to maintain possession through that contact.

The fumble was a cherry on top of a bad-tasting sundae for Baltimore, but Henry’s struggles should not be taken as evidence that the Ravens have suddenly become a poor rushing team. Cleveland appeared comfortable crowding the box and daring Tyler Huntley to beat its defense through the air, leaving Henry with fewer opportunities to find open running lanes and placing greater pressure on Baltimore’s injury-riddled offensive line to execute its blocking assignments.

Getting Lamar Jackson back should help alleviate some of those problems by forcing opposing defenses to account for his passing ability. The eventual return of recently acquired center Cam Jurgens could also provide some much-needed stability along the offensive line.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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