Football analyst defends Derrick Henry on national television
Kyle Brandt is an analyst and co-host on the famous NFL Network show Good Morning Football, on which he joins Peter Schrager, Jamie Erdahl, and former Tennessee TitansCB Jason McCourty to debate the NFL's hottest topics. During Friday morning's show, the crew began debating the NFL Top 100 Players list that is revealed before every […]
Kyle Brandt is an analyst and co-host on the famous NFL Network show Good Morning Football, on which he joins Peter Schrager, Jamie Erdahl, and former Tennessee TitansCB Jason McCourty to debate the NFL's hottest topics.
During Friday morning's show, the crew began debating the NFL Top 100 Players list that is revealed before every season by NFL Network. The list is based off of a survey given out to players across the league.
While discussing the running backs that will appear on the list, a debate broke out about who should claim the top spot in the NFL amongst running backs: Derrick Henry (TEN) or Jonathan Taylor (IND).
Most of the panel, including an ex-Titan, believed Taylor should land in the top spot, but Brandt went against the group and went to bat for Henry.
Brandt made some points that any Titans fans can resonate with.
"We're talking about the belt of the best running back," Brandt said. "I don't think it was taken cleanly last year. There is an uncertainty and an asterisk due to Derrick Henry going out."
Brandt then listed the numbers that every Titans fan knows, but the rest of the football world refuses to remember.
The great misconception about Derrick Henry is, you look and last season like 'he was hurt, he didn't do much'…that's not true," Brandt said.
"He missed half the season and had almost 1000 yard. He had 11 touchdowns in 10 games. He was excellent last year. He was almost averaging a 1900 season and 20 touchdowns…so let's just pump the breaks on ripping the crown off his head."
Brandt was then asked if he thought Henry would be the top running back of the NFL list, to which he said "I think he should. I think the players still look at him as The King."
It's about time someone said it.
The NFL world today is littered recency bias. It often clouds the judgement of both the fans and the media members that create regular content. It's a shame how fast they forget.
Derrick Henry has been the best running back in the NFL for three straight years now. In both 2019 and 2020, he led the league in yards, touchdowns, and yard per game.
He was the 2020 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year.
In just eight regular season games, Henry still finished among the top ten running backs in yards, and he led the league in yards per game, with 117.1 (on pace for 1991 yards).
Before Jonathan Taylor can come for the crown, he's got to outperform King Henry in a full season.
It's refreshing to hear a media member finally acknowledge that. Kudos to you, Kyle Brandt.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
