Eric Dickerson believes he understands what a typical defensive back is feeling when they face off against 247-pound running back Derrick Henry in the open field.

“You can almost read the minds of those DBs,” Dickerson shared with YSL News Sports. “They’re thinking, ‘Oh no! I don’t want to end up on the highlight reel!’”

Dickerson, a 64-year-old Hall of Famer who set the NFL single-season rushing record in 1984 with 2,105 yards, readily named his favorite running back in the current NFL.

Indeed, King Henry, now making waves with the Baltimore Ravens, is an obvious choice. He currently leads the NFL with 572 rushing yards after just five weeks, averaging 6 yards per carry, and is set to play against Washington in the annual Battle of the Beltway after joining the elite 10,000-yard rushing club.

Having teamed up with Lamar Jackson, the quarterback with the most rushing prowess in the league, Henry has proven why many teams overlooked him during the offseason after he parted ways with the Tennessee Titans following eight years together.

This includes you, Jerry Jones, as Henry, who lives in Dallas, was hoping to receive a call from the Cowboys, who could definitely use his talents right now. Jones stated his team was unable to afford Henry after he tore through the Cowboys for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 3. However, this assertion is questionable, given that Jones has claimed his team is “all in” on pursuing a championship.

Regardless, the Ravens inked Henry, 30, to a two-year, $16 million contract that can rise to $20 million with incentives. Baltimore (3-2), currently on a three-game winning streak, also boasts the NFL’s top-rated rushing attack.

“I thought either they or the Cowboys would get him,” Dickerson remarked. “I’m not a Cowboys fan, but their running game pales in comparison to Baltimore’s. It’s definitely a perfect fit for him.”

In some aspects, Henry reminds Dickerson of his playing style.

“Not in many ways,” Dickerson clarified. “He runs upright when he’s in the open field, and that’s definitely a similarity. He’s a big dude, a really big dude. I’m a big dude myself.”

Dickerson, who is 6’3”, played at a maximum weight of 225 pounds. He laughed while recounting the first time he met Henry, who is also listed at 6’3” but has a bulkier build.

“I thought, ‘Wow, you’re huge!’” Dickerson exclaimed. “Massive legs and calves, all the way down.”

When Henry builds momentum – he has recorded an NFL-high seven runs of 20 yards or more this season – his blend of power and speed can be daunting for defenses. He opened the Week 4 game against the Buffalo Bills with an 87-yard touchdown run. Last weekend against Cincinnati, he clinched the win with a 51-yard overtime run, setting up Justin Tucker’s game-winning field goal and entering the 10,000-yard club.

“Many don’t realize how significant those 2- and 5-yard runs are,” Dickerson noted. “They wear down a defense. Suddenly, a 5-yard run converts into a 15-yard run, and a 10-yard run transforms into a 50-yard touchdown. Defenses tire of chasing.”

“They’re thinking, ‘I have to fend off these offensive linemen, chase this guy down, rush the quarterback, and now I’m expected to tackle him again.’”

The physical nature of Henry’s style resonates with Dickerson, who ranks ninth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 13,259 yards. To emphasize his point, Dickerson recalled discussions with fellow Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor, Bruce Smith, and Rickey Jackson.

“We had this conversation,” Dickerson recounted. “I asked them, ‘How would you feel about playing a game where you didn’t face a running back once – just passing all the time?’ They all replied, ‘We would love it.’”

“Chasing running backs is exhausting. That wears them down.”

It’s no surprise Henry becomes even more dangerous as games progress. In the first five matches, he averaged 8.2 yards in the third quarter and had more carries (26) in the fourth quarter than in any other period.

“I’ve always favored bigger backs,” Dickerson admitted, “I suppose because I was one myself. They inflict punishment, especially in the fourth quarter when facing strong defenses. That’s when he shines. You can see defensive backs and linebackers hesitant to tackle him.”

Braving the storm

When the Buccaneers took two chartered jets from Tampa to New Orleans on Tuesday due to Hurricane Milton, the traveling party consisted of around 350 players, coaches, staff, and family members – along with 32 pets.

“There were big dogs, small dogs, cats,” Bucs spokesman Nelson Luis said. “I’ve never witnessed that many pets all together, and they were very well-behaved.”

This bonding experience helped the Bucs as they prepared for the NFC South showdown on Sunday against rival Saints. Luis likened the logistics to piecing together a jigsaw puzzle. The team practiced at Tulane University and had to change hotels from the Hyatt to the JW Marriott due to a weekend event. Team meetings were held at the Ritz-Carlton.

“Most of the players have their families here, so that gives them peace of mind and allows them to concentrate on football,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles informed reporters.

Bowles noted that the Bucs utilized lessons learned from their previous evacuation in 2022, when they relocated to Miami due to a hurricane.

“From what we learned, we have become better organized in terms of our meeting times, how we gather, when the families dine, and ensuring everyone comes together,” Bowles stated. “It’s not necessarily easier, but definitely more structured.”

Many team meals included family members, and various activities, like a visit to the zoo, were arranged for the children.

The Buccaneers’ owners, the Glazer family, should be acknowledged for their proactive response during the crisis. They secured hotels in Gainesville, Florida, for family members who could not join the team in New Orleans. With nearly 70% of homes in the Tampa area losing power due to the storm, the Buccaneers are arranging alternative accommodations for when the team returns home after the game on Sunday.

The Buccaneers have two home games lined up for the next two weeks, starting with a Monday night game against the Ravens on October 21 and followed by another NFC South matchup against the Falcons six days later.

Upon further review, hurry up and show the HD video!

Despite the NFL improving its review process for instant replays—including a system called “replay assist” that allows for automatic corrections without a coach’s challenge—an issue arose on Thursday night when the replay officials at the league’s center missed a clear video of a botched Seahawks punt return until it was too late.

With the 49ers ahead 23-17 early in the fourth quarter, they recovered a ball that had touched the hand of Seahawks returner Dee Williams. The officials ruled that Williams did not make contact with the ball, allowing the 49ers to down it at the Seattle 18-yard line, a decision that was challenged by 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.

“I figured they would have access to multiple camera angles,” Shanahan explained, which prompted him to throw his red challenge flag after a staff member saw a replay showing Williams’ hand move after the ball hit the ground near him.

However, the replay officials did not view the clearer footage that was shown on Amazon after referee Craig Wrolstad confirmed that the original ruling remained unchanged.

“About two minutes later, I heard the guys in the (coaches’) box getting anxious, saying they had seen another angle that indicated it was a fumble,” Shanahan added.

Mark Butterworth, vice president of instant replay at the NFL, clarified the incident to a pool reporter.

“We reviewed all available angles, and we received the raw feed from the broadcast truck,” Butterworth explained. “There was no clear or obvious video evidence that the returner touched the ball.”

It turned out to be an issue of timing. The officials in New York did not access the most definitive footage. Even though the NFL has made strides toward a more efficient replay system, it is still a poor reflection on the league when millions of fans watching the live stream witness something that was overlooked by officials in the command center.

This time, the NFL was fortunate. The mistake did not cost the 49ers the game as they went on to win 36-24. Still, it was a pivotal moment that allowed the Seahawks to keep possession and potentially score.

Perhaps the lesson here is that in the future, someone in the replay center should be tasked with monitoring the broadcast or livestream for clarity, just as the 49ers staff member did.

Quick slants

• Steelers star T.J. Watt, the only player to lead the NFL in sacks three times, achieved his 100th career sack on Sunday night during his 109th game, making him the second-fastest player to reach this milestone, surpassing DeMarcus Ware (113 games). Reggie White did it in just 96 games.
• The Titans have a top-ranked defense, allowing only 243.8 yards per game, and will face the Colts on Sunday as one of two teams (the other being the Chargers) that have yet to permit a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher, or a 100-yard receiver this season.
• Lamar Jackson is just 8 yards away from surpassing Cam Newton’s career rushing total of 5,628 yards, trailing only Michael Vick, who set the record at 6,109 yards—a mark that Jackson could exceed in just a few weeks.