LA Rams: Darrell Henderson is offense’s adrenaline

Thoroughbred horse Henderson

Let’s switch gears for a moment and talk about the concepts of horse racing. In horse racing, the conditions of the track play a heavy part in a horse’s chances of winning any given race. If the track conditions are fair, some racehorses excel and can win the race more often than not. But if the track conditions are wet, rainy, or splashy, you need to look for a horse that wins races in those conditions, also known as a ‘mudder’.  Henderson is a fair-weather runner.

Darrell Henderson is ranked among the Top-10 NFL explosive running backs per Next Gen Stats. That ability to rip one for a huge chunk of yards is incredibly valuable in the NFL, but should not be used all willy-nilly. He is a player who is more dependant on a steady diet of a limited number of carries than most players.

I love what Darrell Henderson can do on the football field. When he gets in that zone, yards come in big chunks and the offense seems unbeatable. He’s a gazelle, a fast-moving bounding outside type of running back who ignites the entire offense with his spontaneous combustion. Those bursts of rushing to the freedom of open spaces not only bring the offense back to life but back into focus.

Former Rams running back Steven Jackson loves Henderson too. He is excited to see what Henderson can do this season.

LA Rams head coach Sean McVay has been pressed throughout training camp about his perspective for third-year running back Darrell Henderson. Each time, McVay is positive in that reply, expressing confidence in his now-primary running back.

"“Darrell Henderson’s a really good football player. I have a ton of confidence in him. Thought he did a great job leveling some runs off today. He really is a complete player. It’s never been an ability question with him, it’s just a matter of keeping him healthy, figuring out what that perfect amount of touches is per game and then we’ll see who establishes themselves behind him.” – Sean McVay as per Around the NFL staff"

Behind him, as the LA Rams have only identified Henderson as the sure starter. But there will be more to the LA Rams running game. Let’s swim further on this issue away from the shoreline.