The Baltimore Ravens have their best offensive structure in years locked in ahead of the 2024 season, as they have signed an All-Pro running back in Derrick Henry to slide into the backfield alongside MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens are fresh off coming inches away from a Super Bowl before their inability to run the football in the AFC Championship ruined their chances. With Henry in the fold, John Harbaugh and Todd Monken now have no excuse not to stick it in his gut as often as possible.
In an appearance on NFL Network's "The Insiders," veteran Ravens safety Marcus Williams warned the rest of the AFC about how nightmarish this combination of Jackson's speed and Henry's power will stretch defenses in the AFC to their breaking point.
"We're not going to go into how I'm going to tackle them, because I don't got to tackle them," Williams said. "That's all about the other team now...These other safeties that's gotta go up against them in the division, they're going to have a tough time. Lamar looks good, he's throwing the ball great. He's smooth, he's fast. I can't wait to see both of them on the field together."
#Ravens S Marcus Williams with @BaldyNFL and me on The Insiders on @nflnetwork to talk Lamar Jackson/Derrick Henry: “These other safeties that gotta go up against them in the division, they’re going to have a tough time. … I can’t wait to see them on the field at the same time.” pic.twitter.com/jL7bw6brDN
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 21, 2024
Ravens DB Marcus Williams warns AFC over Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry combination
It is not hyperbolic or a suggestion of Ravens fandom to imply that if both stay healthy, Jackson and Henry could set the record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback-running back. The current record is 2,428, set by Washington's Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris in 2012.
Henry is still the creme de la creme of toting the rock between the tackles across the NFL, as he was second in rushing yards despite terrible offensive lines and bad quarterback play. The same infrastructure that got the recently departed Gus Edwards over 5.0 yards per carry often should help boost Henry's numbers.
Jackson was a headache for opposing defenses when he had Willie Snead and Miles Boykin. Fresh off an MVP, he now has the best surrounding cast of skill position players he has ever had. Mark Andrews is still great, Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely are coming into their own, and Henry is still a sledgehammer in the backfield.
Williams might be breathing a bigger sigh of relief than anyone else on the team. After years of getting bowled over by Henry, he can now watch as the gargantuan running back exacts his revenge on the rest of the AFC.