View from Nashville: In Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown and Jonnu Smith, Titans have a trio no one wants to tackle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Boom, boom, boom.

As the Titans deliver big blow plays on offense, they’ve done a large share of it with three guys who can deliver big blows.

Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, and Jonnu Smith bring size and speed combinations that many teams covet and they are a trio defenses can’t be especially eager to tackle, particularly late in a game if the Titans are having success.

“I think that that would show up on film,” Mike Vrabel said. “That would be true on film. But again, they have a really good skillset for catching or running at the second level. They’re strong players, they have good play strength, they’re not afraid of contact. We, like a lot of other people, are trying to get them into the second level and give them some space to do something with the football.”

Play-caller Arthur Smith has done a great job of that, as Henry, Brown, and Smith have run away from people more than they’ve run over them.

Henry has averaged 3.3 yards after contact per carry, the best mark of 35 qualified NFL running backs and a full yard better than the league average.

Brown gets 8.9 yards after the catch, the best of 66 qualified receivers and more than double the league average of 4.4 yards for receivers.



Jonnu Smith runs for 7.8 yards after the catch, second-best of 42 qualified tight ends. Noah Fant was tops with 8.2, George Kittle got 7.0 and the league average was 4.8.

“I think the one thing about those three guys is, coaches say ‘no fair dodging,’” Kevin Byard said. “When they get the ball they drop step, they get downfield, they are trying to break tackles and score touchdowns. I think that mentality it great to have as a runner: It doesn’t matter who’s in your way, try to score every time you get the ball.

All three have better game-speed than would be expected based on their size and 40s.

Henry is 6-foot-3, 247-pounds and ran a 4.54 at his combine back in 2016.

Brown is 6-1, 226 and ran a 4.49 in the spring.

Smith is 6-3, 248 and was clocked at 4.62 in 2017.

The Patriots work hard to take away an opponent’s top threat or threats.

Henry figures to be priority one, and Brown No. 2.

Smith could be a key figure Saturday night as the Patriots have not fared well against tight ends. Patrick Chung plays a key role in tight end coverage and he’s been playing poorly.

The Titans play the most three-tight end in the NFL and are top-five in two-tight.

Since Week 9, 28 percent of targets against the Patriots have been to the tight end, per Warren Sharp. And New England is allowing the greater success rate to two- and three- tight end packages than any other team over the course of the season.