The 1-6 Cleveland Browns are entering a new phase of their season, with Jameis Winston stepping in as quarterback after Deshaun Watson was sidelined for the year due to a torn Achilles tendon.
This week, the Browns face a tough challenge against the Baltimore Ravens as they seek to get back in the win column. A Browns coach recently conveyed a strong message to the team about how to defend against the league’s leading rusher, Derrick Henry. According to Scott Petrak from the Chronicle-Telegram, safeties coach Ephraim Banda emphasized the importance of tackling Henry, stating, “No poodles. There’s no shying away from contact. We have to have the mindset of solving the problems with violence.” This approach is crucial when facing Henry, who leads the league in rushing with 873 yards and eight touchdowns—over 200 yards ahead of his closest competitor.
Henry is averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry and is on track to potentially break the single-season rushing record at nearly 31 years old. His synergy with quarterback Lamar Jackson is working perfectly, contributing to the Ravens’ current five-game winning streak.
While the Browns’ run defense has been decent, allowing an average of 126.1 yards per game, they will need to perform well against both Jackson and Henry. To assist the defense, it would be beneficial for the Browns’ offense to sustain some lengthy drives.
