Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry might have won the rushing title in 2019, but he understands he is a notoriously slow starter.
The former Heisman Trophy winner admitted he would like to kick things into high gear earlier in the season, though he noted the importance of gathering momentum at the end of the year (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk):
Henry averaged 72.6 yards per game over the Titans’ first eight games, which isn’t bad but also isn’t close to what he did in the second half. Henry averaged 137 yards per game in his final seven contests — he didn’t play in Week 16 and picked up 446 more yards in the postseason — and that pace would add up a new single-season record if done over a full season.
The trajectory of Henry’s 2018 season was similar and he said on PFT Live that he’s not sure why it takes him a while to get going, but he’d be happy to see things change in 2020.
“I can’t figure it out,” Henry said. “I hope it keeps rolling like that. I’d definitely like to start that momentum earlier, but as long as I finish strong I’ll be happy with that. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Henry's dominance helped the Titans advance to the AFC Championship Game, where he figured to play a pivotal role against a shaky Kansas City Chiefs run defense.
But aside from some strong runs in the first few drives, the Chiefs kept Henry in check. He gained just 69 yards on 19 carries as the Chiefs booked their ticket to Miami for the Super Bowl.
Although Henry will be a free agent this Spring, he is the centerpiece of Tennessee's offense. The Titans figure to pay him while possibly using the franchise tag on quarterback Ryan Tannehill in an effort to retain two of the players whom were so pivotal in helping to turn Tennessee's season around.
Follow Us
Subscribe