Is the Derrick Henry Era in Tennessee coming to an End?
The Tennessee Titans season is over. The Two-Tone Blue were officially eliminated from playoff contention after their 19-16 overtime loss to the Houston Texans. The Titans' offense put on a disaster class during the second half and overtime of this game, scoring just three points in the game's final 40 minutes. Though he usually devastates Houston, Derrick Henry arguably had the worst game of his illustrious career, rushing for just nine yards on 16 carries. After the game, the King spoke about the possibility of his career in Nashville coming to a close, and it may be heading that way...
“I’ve been here my whole career. I definitely want to go out strong these last three games and leave it all out on the field.” Derrick Henry after the Titans’ 19-16 OT loss to the Texans (Tweet from Paul Kuharsky)
Derrick Henry can still be an effective running back in this league, but he is no longer consistent enough to be the focal point of the Titans' offense. With the emergence of Will Levis, Tennessee must evolve offensively and make the passing attack their bread and butter. Though Henry struggled considerably today, OC Tim Kelly doesn't deserve a pass for this coaching malpractice. The Titans ran the ball 19 total times on first down today, gaining 8 yards. They threw the ball five times on first down and gained 23 yards. Henry was widely ineffective the entire game, but Kelly failed to realize this the entire afternoon...
What used to work for the Titans no longer works. Derrick Henry's playstyle can't flourish behind this offensive line, and the NFL has moved past the type of offense Tennessee wants to run. Henry can still be a solid short-yardage threat for the Titans this season, but it's clear that Tyjae Spears should be the RB1 in 2024. Spears' brings more to the table in the receiving game than Henry and has been the more efficient runner over the past few weeks. This is going to be a tough pill to swallow for many Titans fans, but Derrick Henry being on a new team in 2024 would be beneficial for both parties. The King will have the opportunity to finish his career on a contender, and the Titans can finally evolve their offense while also building around Will Levis. Tyjae Spears would be the best RB for this new, pass-centric Tennessee offense in 2024. Many will disagree with me, but that's my take...
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IMAGES FROM TITANS.COM STATS FROM PFFR
