Ravens running backs coach had minor concerns on Derrick Henry’s scheme fit; now, those are long gone

The Baltimore Ravens’ addition of running back Derrick Henry was labeled by the NFL world as a perfect pairing. Our own SB Nation’s Joseph Acosta called it a “match made in smash-mouth football heaven.” Good Morning Football’s Akbar Gbajabiamila said putting Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry together is the “equivalent to when the Los Angeles Lakers brought in Shaquille O’Neal to help out Kobe Bryant.” But not everyone saw this as a perfect pairing upon closer inspection.

The Ravens frequently run out of shotgun formations. The Ravens use shotgun to grant Jackson the decision to hand it off to the running back or keep the ball and gash them with his speed in the opposite direction. Or, they simply run it out of the gun. And while Henry—one of the greatest running backs of his generation—can run from just about anywhere, how would he fit schematically? During minicamp, Ravens running backs coach Willie Taggart was candid in sharing it was a bit of a concern.

“You know what? Coming in, I … [After] 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 [Henry] be in it?’ And I’m not going to lie, I questioned that,” Taggart said.

Now, Taggart finished the sentence with confidence in Henry’s feet and his ability to move.

“… until he got here, and [I saw] the big man move his feet, and I’m like, ‘Woah.’ It’s really impressive for a guy that size to move the way he does. And he’s got, not necessarily Zay Flowers’ feet, but from a big guy, he’s pretty swifty on his feet and [has] great vision and all,” Taggart said. “But seeing him do it from the gun, I don’t have any … I don’t think we’ll have any problem doing it.”

Now, two weeks into training camp, any leftover reservations from Taggart are long gone as he grinned when being asked about Henry’s ability running from the gun.

“I can’t wait until the season – I’ll put it that way – I can’t wait til the season and watch [Derrick Henry] play; watch him in a different style of offense that what he’s been in before,” Taggart said. “I think Derrick’s going to be able to show that he’s much more than just a downhill runner – he can do everything the little guys do. He can make people miss, [and] he can jump cut – he can do it all. For me, that’s what been impressive to see him being able to do all those different cuts and things – he made some cuts like Justice Hill at times, I’m like ‘Woah.’ I don’t care who you are – [when] you see that big guy, and he’s rolling … When he’s in third gear, you’d better watch out. You might have a chance when [he’s in] second gear, but after that it’s problems.”