They’ve lost three games already, two of which can be directly tied to his worrying habit for putting the football on the ground, but Derrick Henry still sees something positive in the Baltimore Ravens starting 1-3.
Henry spoke with reporters after the Ravens slipped to a 37-20 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. The two-time NFL rushing champion told the press, including ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, “I look at it with a positive mindset. We 1 and 3, ain’t nobody gonna come out and do it for us. We got to back to work.”
Those bullish comments may seem misguided, given the way the Ravens are haemorrhaging points defensively and turning the ball over on offense. There’s also the not-so small matter of how healthy franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson is after he exited the game on Sunday, September 28 with a reported hamstring injury.
Things are about as bleak as they could be for the Ravens, but Henry at least gives them hope. Provided the 31-year-old can return to the form that made him feared around the league.
Henry’s chances of being the bell-cow the Ravens need depend on two factors.
Ravens Need More of Derrick Henry
Getting back on track will mean getting back to basics for the Ravens. That’s good news for Henry, who is still a workhorse capable of big plays.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get to showcase those talents enough at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Henry was given a mere eight carries, a scarce workload he downplayed to the press.
The 10-year pro told The Baltimore Sun’s Josh Tolentino, “I’ve just got to take advantage of my opportunities. I don’t try to get too caught up on that. Just make something happen out there with the opportunities that I get.”
Eight carries is certainly not enough for a five-time Pro Bowler who can take over any game. Yet, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken may have been jaded about calling Henry’s number too often because of the veteran’s recent issues with ball security.
Henry has vowed to clean up the mistakes, but he needs the football for that to happen. Monken’s offense also needs what powers it to be taking the lead.
Especially if Jackson is sidelined.
Lamar Jackson’s Status the Biggest Concern for Ravens
Head coach John Harbaugh couldn’t, or wouldn’t, give a definite update about Jackson’s status after the game. Harbaugh simply said, “No, I don’t. I don’t have any, really, updates on the seriousness of injuries right now. There’s nothing that looks like it’s season-ending by any stretch for anybody,” per Tolentino’s colleague Brian Wacker.
The last line about the severity of ailments suffered in Kansas City is positive for Jackson, but the possibility he could miss any time is still a major blow for the Ravens. Even a hobbled Jackson would put a dent in what’s mostly been a prolific offense this season.
This is why more carries for Henry can make the difference. He’s still a durable force who can carry this team through a difficult period.
Overloading the line of scrimmage and letting Henry work over defenses would be on brand for vintage Ravens football. Monken has shifted the emphasis somewhat to accommodate Jackson’s maturation as a passer, along with creating more opportunities for an improved wide receiver corps.
These Ravens are more dynamic throwing the ball than at any time in the franchise’s history, but something more conservative is called for to end a damaging, team-wide slump. A defense struggling to stop anybody needs protecting, and so might Jackson’s deputy Cooper Rush.
The Ravens must limit the number of snaps their feeble defense is exposed to by controlling the clock with heavy doses of Henry.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Derrick Henry Puts ‘Positive’ Spin on Ravens’ 1-3 Start appeared first on Heavy Sports.