Tennessee Titans ‘plan’ for Derrick Henry has different offseason approach for star RB – Tennessee Titans Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was operating reps with the first-team offense, one thing was totally different.

He did not have his star wideout since he grew to become the starter in 2019, after A.J. Brown was traded within the offseason, however that wasn’t it.

Lots of it needed to do along with his security blanket being caught in… a sandpit?

That’s proper, star operating again Derrick Henry wasn’t on the receiving finish of Tannehill’s handoffs like regular within the offseason, he was as a substitute working in… a sandpit.

“It is actual,” Henry mentioned of the sandpit with assistant power and conditioning coach Brian Bell preserving a detailed watch on issues. “I find it irresistible. It will get me in form. It is simply good work. It is good restricted operating. You need to actually dig, and it will get your legs burning.”

Henry has discovered a brand new supply of motivation from those that doubt he’ll be himself after a Jones fracture of his proper foot derailed his 2021 season, however the sandpit is among the many ways in which Henry goes about attacking every day in quest of bouncing again.

He admitted to being fueled by the doubters and responded with “We gonna see” when requested in regards to the rumblings that he was on the decline. As Henry ran by means of the sandpit, it grew to become clear that his higher physique was greater. However he would not appear to have misplaced the breakaway velocity that led to many massive runs over his profession.

However the questions are nonetheless there as Henry, who missed the ultimate 9 regular-season video games in 2021, enters his seventh season.

New York Giants operating again Saquon Barkley shared Henry’s motto of every day enchancment by attacking every day after Barkley missed six video games final season due to an ankle harm and has additionally been earmarked for a decline after dashing for under 593 yards final season.

Like Henry, Barkley needs to point out that he is not on the decline, however he was extra direct about it.

“I simply wish to kill, simply go loopy,” Barkley mentioned. “I am bored with the BS that’s mentioned about me or this workforce, and I wish to go on the market and show to this group that the participant they drafted continues to be there.”

Regardless of solely enjoying in eight video games, Henry completed within the prime 1o in dashing yards (937) and dashing touchdowns (10) and tied for the second-most runs of 40 yards or extra (two) final season.

Henry, who was main the league in dashing on the time of his harm, was on tempo for his third consecutive season with a minimum of 300 carries . He was trending towards turning into the primary participant to hurry for two,000 or extra yards in two seasons.

Neither Henry nor the Titans had been ever involved about Henry’s workload. They’d their eyes on the larger image: Successful.

“Getting Derrick the ball provides us a greater probability to win,” offensive coordinator Todd Downing mentioned early final season. “The steadiness is wins and losses.”

Added Henry, “No matter I can do to assist, I’m at all times for it.”

The Titans’ bodily model of play begins with giving Henry loads of carries to set the tone on offense. Henry’s 900 whole carries during the last three seasons are greater than some other again.

“Derrick’s a quantity man,” Titans basic supervisor Jon Robinson mentioned. “He needs the ball. He likes it once we give it to him. That is a steadiness that it’s a must to, from a training standpoint with trainers, with the power coaches, simply work out what’s finest for the soccer workforce. Crucial factor is the supply of the participant loads of instances, extra so than the flexibility of the participant.”

Henry mentioned it was good to get again for the divisional playoff sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals final January, regardless of the outcome. It allowed him to beat a lot of the rehab course of and provided an opportunity to see how the foot held up in stay motion.

Getting sport motion carried over into the offseason and allowed him to come back again able to go.

As soon as minicamp rolled round, it was clear that Henry put within the needed work throughout the offseason. Titans coach Mike Vrabel, vice chairman of sports activities medication Todd Toriscelli, head power and conditioning coach Frank Piraino and Henry collectively got here up with a program to handle Henry’s workload throughout coaching camp.

“He is in a great place,” Vrabel mentioned. “Derrick needs to be as concerned as attainable. We’ve got open dialogue. He is been nice, and he is been all for no matter it’s that we resolve and we expect is finest for him, and in the end the workforce.”

Henry participated in particular person intervals of observe and was within the backfield at instances after they labored on inside runs to get some contact with defenders, however he was totally on a unique discipline when the Titans went to workforce intervals and seven-on-seven, even in joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Along with the sandpit, Henry often did wind sprints with coach Piraino whereas the offense had stay reps in opposition to the protection. Different instances he’d work on go catching with operating backs coach Tony Dews.

“I am simply seeking to enhance every day,” Henry mentioned. “At all times working to be in form. That is why coach Vrabel has me on this plan so when it is time to go, I am prepared and capable of reply.”

At 28 years previous, Henry is inching nearer to the dreaded age of 30 for operating backs, an age the place decline appears to occur rapidly.

However that is not one thing that Henry thinks about. His focus is on being out there to assist the workforce.

Henry can look to Adrian Peterson for instance of nonetheless having the ability to run the ball effectively regardless of getting lengthy within the tooth. Peterson was 30 when he carried the ball 327 instances for 1,485 yards.

“It’s my mindset,” Peterson mentioned. “I don’t get into the 30-year-old operating again factor, that you just’re achieved at 30. I get stronger with age.”

Mockingly, Peterson was 36 years previous when the Titans signed him after Henry’s harm final season, making him the oldest lively operating again within the NFL.

Now Henry will look to make the kind of return that Peterson had when he was 27 getting back from tearing his MCL and meniscus to hurry for two,097 yards.

The workload has began to ramp up over the previous week with Henry collaborating in additional workforce intervals.

“Coach Vrabel and our power/teaching workers assist me keep in form,” Henry mentioned. “I normally get good work in proper earlier than the season begins. Coach Dews does an ideal job ensuring that we’re prepared so we’re seeing it and getting north and south when the time comes.”