How Derrick Henry could impact Ravens’ formation

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — By teaming up running back Derrick Henry with quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens have one of the most special tandems in NFL history.

This marks the fifth set of teammates to play together after one previously won multiple NFL Most Valuable Player awards and the other was previously named Offensive Player of the Year, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. The last time this happened was 2003, when the St. Louis Rams had Kurt Warner and Marshall Faul

It feels like a perfect fit with the reigning MVP in Jackson and the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year in Henry, except for one difference in their careers: where they line up.

Since 2019, Jackson’s first full season as a starting quarterback, the Ravens have run more plays out of the pistol or shotgun formation (4,886) than any other team. This run-pass style of offense — which Baltimore has used 91% of the time over the past five seasons — best utilizes Jackson as a run threat.

Over that same span, Henry has more rushing yards than any other player (5,795) when the quarterback is under center. He has excelled in the traditional pro-style formation, where he builds acceleration moving toward the line of scrimmage.

So, will Baltimore stick with its pistol formation or tailor the offense to Henry by moving Jackson under center?

“We can go in a lot of different directions,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said at Henry’s introductory news conference on March 14. “Lamar makes us versatile, and I also think what we’ve been doing along those lines fit this guy [Henry] really well. It’s not just his specific talents, because he can run out of any kind of backfield. He can be in the pistol [formation]. We can be under [center]. We can be in the [shot]gun. He can move around. That’s all things that [make] him a versatile player.”

Former Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, who blocked for Henry for seven seasons, recently said on his podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys” that the run-pass option is not Henry’s favorite. He pointed out that Henry wants to run downhill and doesn’t like to turn his shoulder from the line of scrimmage with zone-reads.

Henry disagreed with Lewan’s assessment, saying he would be comfortable with the Ravens’ run-pass options and zone-reads. When the Titans ran the pistol formation in Malik Willis’ three starts in 2022, Henry ran for 141 yards on 17 carries (an average of 8.3 per attempt) and scored three touchdowns.

“I’m confident in my ability, confident to adjust, and [I’m] excited for what’s in store,” Henry said. “Taylor is very opinionated these days. He has his opinion on a lot of stuff, but I’m very confident in my ability.”

Last season, in Todd Monken’s first year as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, the Ravens increased Jackson’s snaps under center. Baltimore totaled 176 snaps under center in 2023, which still ranked as the fourth fewest in the league.

If Jackson is under center more this season, the Ravens could capitalize on the play-action passing game. Since Henry’s first season in the NFL in 2016, the Titans led the league by averaging 9.9 yards per attempt off play-action.

Henry declined to make any predictions on what he can do when lined up with Jackson.

“He’s so dynamic in how he plays, and his playmaking ability, especially me seeing it going against these guys for a little while now,” Henry said. “So, [I’m] excited to play with him. He had a great year this year, [and he] did a lot of great things. We have a lot of great guys in the offense, and I just want to be an added piece to this offense to help them do better than they did last year.”

History says Henry has a very good chance at getting Baltimore over the hump and bringing another Super Bowl to the Ravens.

Three of the previous four instances where a multiple NFL MVP played with a former Offensive Player of the Year resulted in a Super Bowl championship: Joe Montana-Jerry Rice with the 49ers, Rice and Steve Young with the 49ers and Warner and Faulk with the Rams. The only time it didn’t lead to a Super Bowl title was Montana and Marcus Allen with the Chiefs.

The Ravens believe Henry will mesh with the team, and that it goes beyond any scheme.

“I just think the person [and] the guy that loves football — that fits us really well, too,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a tough, physical guy. You play at the high school he played at. You play at the college he played at, [and] where he’s been with [the] Tennessee [Titans] and the kind of leader he’s been.

“Everybody you talk to talks about him in terms of a guy who just loves football, is about football and wants to compete, wants to do his best, wants to do everything he can to help the team win.”