This week at camp, we’re examining five questions related to the team.
Topic of the day: How does Derrick Henry alter the offensive scheme?
How much more will the Ravens run the ball?
With 541 rushing attempts, the Ravens lead the league in 2017. However, the way the AFC Championship went, with the running backs getting only six carries, left them with a bad taste in their mouths for not carrying the ball more in the offseason.
Now for Henry, who has been healthy since 2019 and has led the league in carries in four of the last five seasons. Even while Henry had fewer rushes last year—280 compared to 349 in 2022—he was still the best bellcow back in the NFL.
Since Mark Ingram II in 2019, the last time Baltimore had a 1,000-yard rusher at tailback, the Ravens haven’t had a definite top-tier running back. According to Next Gen Stats, in the last eight seasons, the Ravens have not had a single halfback play more than 50% of the snaps. That should alter now that Henry is on board.
It’s unclear if Todd Monken, the offensive coordinator, stated before Organized Team Activities that he would love it if Henry received 300 carries this season out of a desire to maintain leads or because he anticipated regular usage.
“I know this: If [Henry] carries it 300 times, we’re having a helluva year,” Monken stated. It indicates that we use it frequently. We are now playing games. He should be the closer and we want him to finish.”
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Will the Ravens play more plays in spread formation?
The Ravens have executed more plays from shotgun or pistol formation than any other team. Over the last five seasons, they have utilized it 915 times.
On the other hand, Henry is used to rushing out of more conventional pro-style formations where he can accumulate momentum. When the quarterback is at center, he has amassed more yards than any other player.
In the NFL in 2023, Baltimore had the fourth-fewest runs from under center. Even running backs coach Willie Taggart was unsure about Henry’s potential when the Ravens signed him.
“Watching the film in Tennessee, that was a concern; like, ‘We’re in the [shotgun], and we run from the gun, and how would Derrick be in it?'” stated Taggart. “I’m not going to lie, I questioned that, until he got here, and [I saw] the big man move his feet.”
After minicamp, Taggart stated he was not concerned about Henry’s ability to adjust to the running style of the Ravens or Baltimore sticking with what worked for Henry. How much each adapts to the other is the question.
“Derrick engages in sports. He is quite athletic,” Taggart remarked. “I don’t think he’ll have any problem with anything we ask him to do.”
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Will Henry give Lamar more of an opening?
In Baltimore, Jackson has long been the focus of the opposition’s defense. Henry has also been in Tennessee. When both of them are on the field at once, defenders have a dual challenge.
When facing the Ravens, edge defenders are constantly faced with a challenging assignment because they have to read the play and make a snap decision on whether to maintain outside leverage and try to keep Jackson from having the advantage or crash down on the run.
If defenders misplay Henry’s hesitancy, it may result in a long touchdown. Henry is that kind of back. On the other hand, Jackson has lost weight to improve his agility and explosiveness as a runner. Jackson is ready to make opponents pay with huge runs of his own if they are forced to close the distance on Henry.
Jackson’s passing game may be made easier by Henry’s presence, which may also compel opponents to commit more defenders close to the line of scrimmage. When asked during minicamp if Henry’s presence will detract from him, Jackson grinned and responded,
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