01-20-2022, 09:22 PM
(01-20-2022, 04:29 PM)ezekiel23 Wrote: It’s obvious what their game plan is.I would be surprised if they even limit Henry.The Bengals need to somehow,someway,at least keep this running game of the Titans from getting out of hand.If they do that,and jump out to an early lead,they’ll probably win the game.Just don’t make the mistake of underestimating Henry.I think he’ll be full go,and possibly carry the ball 30 times.Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
We’ve all seen deceptive techniques used in the NFL before.
(01-20-2022, 04:54 PM)ochocincos Wrote: They'll probably rotate him with Foreman some and even take him out sometime in the 4th quarter, depending on lead.
(01-20-2022, 05:40 PM)MileHighGrowler Wrote: I'd be pretty surprised to find out the Bengals were game planning for one running back over another. With consistency at the run game and a QB that can make some plays with his feet, I'm sure they're looking at containment and making tackles. My nerve meter doesn't go up or down whether it's Henry or another RB starting on Saturday, the Bengals just need to make sure they're shutting down the run.
Greeting y'all from Nashville.
A few things about the Titans run game. Lots has been written about the Titans burning their star running back into the ground due to the number of carries. It's tough to say whether or not that's truth until after his career is done. But Derrick Henry has been a cyborg ever since becoming the starter and with the foot surgery, he's now a literal cyborg. Henry is a complete physical freak of nature with a ridiculous work ethic (many videos online show this). Up until this season, the only game he'd ever missed due to injury was a slightly strained hammy two seasons ago when they sat him for the second to last game versus the Saints. Then he was back in form all the way to the AFC Championship game.
So when Henry broke his foot back on Halloween early in the game (and still finished the game!!!), I will admit that the mood in Nashville was pretty bleak. Combine that with injuries we'd had up and down the lineup. That Jets loss? No A.J. Brown or Julio Jones receiving. Julio has been out more games than he played and is just now getting back to the point where he seems himself, whatever that is for an aging hall of famer. The Titans have suited up 91 different players this year, which is an NFL record and not usually associated with the team who got the #1 seed in the AFC. Good coaching can get you through the tough times.
The other thing that got us through was the GM Jon Robinson and the scouts finding Foreman and Hilliard who were on the couch when Henry went down. Both men showed the ability to hit the hole hard but the first game against New England was a fumblerooski game for both backs. The coaching staff got their form cleaned up and that hasn't been a problem anymore. Foreman has run for multiple 100 yard games and I think Hilliard has one too. Both are so good and matched for this team that the team cut their established third down back Jeremy McNichols right before the last game of the season. It wasn't that McNichols sucked....far from it. But Foreman and Hilliard were upgrades. And it allowed the Titans not to have to change their run-first offensive philosophy while we waited for the King to return.
And when he returns (and barring a setback, he will start this game), the Titans will have one of the most dangerous running corps in the NFL. Any one of those three can break it for a big gain and if Henry breaks it, it's Good Night Irene. Even our fullback Khari Blassingame is also back off IR just in time for this game. For a Titans team that at one point had over 20 people on the weekly injury report, we're remarkably healthy right when we need it (only one player is questionable). Would we run Henry 30 times coming off a major foot injury? With Foreman and Hilliard, you don't have to.
And this is especially important for the defense, who have missed key personnel during much of the season. Just about everyone is back now save anyone on IR. And we picked up Cunningham from Houston late in the season which was a ridiculous steal for us....he should have never made it down the waiver wire that far. He's been disruptive since his first game with us. The last time we played the Bengals the defense couldn't get off the field and a rookie Burrow carved us up. And that was the situation all season...and amazingly that team still made the playoffs. This defense is a lot better and would have better stats had we had a healthier squad.
Everyone here knows that Burrow is dangerous, especially when Chase is available. The Chase vs. Fulton game within the game will be fun to watch since both players have lined up against each other in practice since they were kids, and later at LSU on the Burrow lead championship team in 2019. But fans here are confident that this team isn't going to blow the opportunity home field brings with the #1 seed.
