Derrick Henry's Legs Are Too Long For Short Yardage

Wade Payne. Shutterstock Images.

Before I begin I Should Preface: 

The title should really be "Derrick Henry is not as effective as one would think running in between the tackles in short-yardage situations against a stacked box" but it was a little too specific.

Derrick Henry is an amazing football player who is on my fantasy team. Generational talent that is able to gash defenses and hit the gaps, unlike anyone I have seen. He is unstoppable in space and that's given if you can even get close to him to tackle. But for the same reason why he is so amazing may be a double-edged sword. His long ass legs. 

Preface Done Heres The Postface:

Derrick Henry's stride length is the reason he can outstep and outpace everyone else on the field and have huge runs like this one where he breaks away from everyone.

This is just one example of Henry blowing past his opponents. But this advantage may also have a downside.

Against the Cardinals, Derrick Henry was stopped 3 times on the goalline.

This isn't the only time Derrick Henry has been stopped between the tackles. Now I am not talking about all short-yardage situations because Derrick Henry is the best in space, but in between the tackles when the box is stacked he has trouble.

This from last year is another example. Derrick Henry's long legs do not let him get low enough to get the low center of gravity to push the pile or win head-on collisions. (Derrick Henry would 100% run my ass over and his stiff arms and embarrassing other players happen all the time) His long legs make it easy for defenders to just cut him down in these certain situations where Henry can't utilize his stiff arm or pull away in space.

That example from today of Isaiah Simmons cutting him down is an example of how Henry can't get his shoulder low enough to push the pile.

Derrick Henry needs room to pick up speed and momentum while running but doesn't have the diesel motor a guy like Marshawn Lynch had, to push piles and drag defenders, in those situations. 

What I am really trying to say is that I think it would be more effective in short-yardage situations to run sweeps and stretches and get Derrick Henry more space to run and it would maybe be more effective. I know this all sounds super counterintuitive like why can't Derrick Henry the guy who is known for humiliating guys who try to tackle him, can't get tackled for one yard. But these goalline packages with Derrick Henry are way more effective. It is just too easy to wrap up those long legs. 

But whenever he bounces outside he is unstoppable.

Look I have been saying this since last year about Henry, time after time he keeps getting stopped at the goal line, maybe they need to give Khari Blasingame their fullback a couple of carries in short-yardage. He has had 0 attempts this year and is only used in the passing game. He is a bowling ball that probably can sneak through where Henry can't.

Just a thought. The statistics of how many times he has converted in situations when he runs in between the tackles may tell a different story. It's probably just my brain remembering when he gets stopped more than when he doesn't because he is so good.