Stiff-arming 30: Why Derrick Henry's age-defying play has Ravens again on monitor

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — It was solely the Baltimore Ravens‘ second apply of coaching camp, and working again Derrick Henry heard the identical query he has been requested ever since turning 30 in January: How a lot does his age function motivation?

Henry replied that he would “let my play converse for my age.”

Two months later, Henry is placing up numbers that Walter Payton and Adrian Peterson final achieved at his age. Via 4 video games, Henry is main the NFL with 480 yards speeding. His emergence within the Baltimore offense has gotten the Ravens, who have been 0-2 previous to wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills, again on monitor as Tremendous Bowl contenders.

Henry has taken on the age of 30 like one other would-be tackler, stiff-arming it with a dedication that teammates and coaches admire. His manufacturing on the sector comes from his work ethic on the apply area, his offseason coaching and a inflexible weight loss program.

“He is a really diligent individual,” Ravens offensive sort out Ronnie Stanley stated. “He is aware of all of the issues he must do to play at that stage. And he would not miss a day. He is simply at all times working.”

After spending eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, Henry sees his first yr with Baltimore as a brand new period. However Henry seems to be like the identical playmaker, working over defenders along with his 6-foot-3, 247-pound body after which working away from them with velocity that’s uncommon for somebody his measurement and age.

In Sunday’s 35-10 victory over the Payments, Henry’s 199 yards speeding are probably the most by a participant 30 or older since Peterson in 2015. On the sport’s first play — which the Ravens name “Crimson Crunch” — Henry went untouched for an 87-yard landing, reaching a prime velocity of 21.29 mph.

Henry, who ran for 151 yards towards the Cowboys, and Payton are the one gamers 30 or older to hurry for greater than 150 yards in consecutive video games since 1970, in line with ESPN Analysis. It is Henry’s second-best begin to a season since 2021, when he rushed for 510 yards within the first 4 video games.

“He is a heck of a participant, future Corridor of Famer,” Payments coach Sean McDermott stated after Sunday’s recreation. “Give him his credit score.”

Henry’s age probably factored in him touchdown in Baltimore. He remained on the free agent market longer than anticipated and watched 10 different — and youthful — working backs attain offers within the first two days of the NFL’s negotiating window.

The Ravens, who did not have a lot wage cap house, have been capable of signal Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract. His $9 million in assured cash ranked behind these of 5 working backs who signed free agent offers this yr: the Philadelphia Eagles‘ Saquon Barkley ($26 million), Chicago Bears‘ D’Andre Swift ($15.3 million), Green Bay Packers‘ Josh Jacobs ($12.5 million), Tennessee Titans‘ Tony Pollard ($10.49 million) and New York Giants‘ Devin Singletary ($9.5 million).

Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated Monday that the crew did not see it as a lot of danger to herald Henry regardless of his age.

“He is only a very robust human being,” Harbaugh stated. “Actually, the proof is within the outcomes, and also you sort of go by what you see. So after we have been evaluating the potential of bringing him in right here, I simply suppose we checked out how he is been taking part in. And to see that proceed on clearly is nice, however we did count on him to play this manner.”

The Ravens have been equally impressed with what they’ve seen with Henry past the tape. He not often missed a day throughout spring exercises, and when he wasn’t there, he texted working backs coach Willie Taggart about what he missed. Henry is likely one of the first starters on the apply area on daily basis, working his personal drills off to the facet whereas Baltimore is engaged on particular groups on one other area.

Away from the ability, Henry estimated that he spends practically $250,000 a yr on physique upkeep, from a private chef to a sauna to therapeutic massage remedy. He determined to spend this a lot after studying LeBron James invests over $1 million yearly on his physique upkeep.

“I do not actually attempt to give attention to the stigma on working backs,” Henry stated. “I simply imagine in my coaching and the participant I’m, and simply attempt to exit and execute and assist this crew in any method potential.”

There was uncertainty about Henry’s stage of manufacturing when he arrived in Baltimore. He’s coming off a season through which he recorded 68.6 speeding yards per recreation and 4.2 yards per carry, each of which have been his lowest since 2018.

However final season, Henry performed behind a struggling Titans offensive line. His common of 1.95 speeding yards earlier than first contact ranked thirty fifth within the NFL.

This season, as soon as the Ravens’ revamped offensive line found its footing by Week 3, Henry has discovered some working lanes. His common of three.84 yards earlier than first contact with Baltimore ranks fourth within the league.

“The truth is he would not want a lot room to run,” Ravens offensive sort out Roger Rosengarten stated. “In case you give him somewhat sliver of house, he will reap the benefits of it.”

Henry’s NFL-leading 480 yards speeding are probably the most within the first 4 weeks of a season by a participant 30 or older in twenty years. Former New York Jets working again Curtis Martin recorded 502 yards speeding within the first 4 weeks of the 2004 season.

When the Ravens go to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. ET), Henry can even be getting ready to historical past. He wants 18 yards to grow to be the thirty second participant to run for 10,000 in his career.

The Ravens see Henry’s physicality as a part of their offensive identification and imagine it is contagious.

“It makes you wish to play tougher,” Professional Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard stated. “It makes you wish to block as exhausting as you may, simply because you already know [that] each time [Henry] will get the ball, he will simply get a bunch of yards. He is named ‘King Henry’ for a purpose.”