The Tennessee Titans got the offense rolling after a slow, 2-4 start to the season last year when they named Ryan Tannehill the team’s starting quarterback.
The Titans saw practically instant improvement with Tannehill taking snaps instead of Marcus Mariota, but the former Dolphin wasn’t the only reason for Tennessee’s success.
Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry was at the heart of the Titans’ ground game, and all but carried the team through the postseason.
Earlier in the offseason, the Titans signed Tannehill to a four-year extension worth $118 million, and placed a franchise tag on Henry.
“We want Derrick around for a long time,” Titans general manager Jon Robinson said on Good Morning Football. “We’re working on that. We continue to have back and forth with his representation. He’s a core part of what we do. He’s really good at running the football.”
Henry was prolific last season, finishing out the year with the NFL’s rushing title (1,540 yards) over Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns, recording 16 rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores.
Whether or not Henry cash in on a larger payday remains a subject of debate, but there’s no arguing against how much of a factor he’ll continue to be for the Titans in the upcoming season.
