Tennessee Titans: 5 Early bold predictions for the 2017 season
2. Derrick Henry will score double-digit touchdowns
Derrick Henry is the definition of a bruising running back, the perfect guy to bring in at the goal line. DeMarco Murray is approaching 30 years of age and the Titans should start think about how to be smart with his snaps, especially in jumbo packages and short-yard situations. This is where Henry comes in, who is much more equipped in these situations to begin with.
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The Titans were the most successful team at scoring in the red zone last season, thanks to a great offensive line, Marcus Mariota’s aforementioned perfection and their versatility at running back. Murray received a proportional amount of carries in the red zone as he did outside of it.
Murray was given the ball 40 times inside the 20, including 26 inside the 10-yard line. Henry carried the ball 21 times in the red zone, with 11 coming inside the 10. Now a year removed from his rookie season, I expect these carries to look much differently.
Murray led Henry 3-to-1 in total snap count in 2016. The veteran will still be ahead on this ratio in 2016, but it should be closer to 2-to-1. This ratio will especially be different at goal-line, where I believe the bruising 2015 Heisman Trophy winner will become the go-to guy. Because of the Titans’ superb efficiency in the red zone and the increased number of trips they will make this season, Henry will score often in 2017, and easily into double-digit figures.