This hasn't been verified in a conversation. It's only an opinion. The Baltimore Ravens have to be asking themselves how they can get more out of Derrick Henry, right? The good news is they don't need to reinvent their offense to get more out of him. They need to make opposing defenses think twice before loading the box and committing extra bodies to stopping the run.
The Ravens have leaned on Derrick Henry to carry a significant portion of their offensive workload as they've navigated quarterback injuries, but even the most productive running backs need some help from the players around them. When defenses can crowd the line of scrimmage without worrying about what might happen behind them, running lanes become harder to find and the margin
for error gets smaller.
That is where the quarterback's ability to challenge defenses through the air becomes especially important. A credible passing threat can force opponents to reconsider how aggressively they commit defenders to stopping the run, creating opportunities that might not otherwise be available.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle spoke with the media on Thursday. He believes Jacoby Brissett can provide that element for Baltimore. His presence could have implications beyond the passing game, particularly for an offense looking to get Henry more favorable opportunities.
Doyle believes Brissett's ability to attack vertically can make life easier for Henry
The value of Brissett's presencehas been one of the larger topics of conversation this week. Doyle spoke to that when discussing how the quarterback could influence Baltimore's running game. The key, according to the offensive coordinator, is making defenses account for a downfield passing attack rather than letting them focus on Henry.
"I think that the biggest thing is, anytime you're able to get under center and then stretch the ball down the field and start to attack a little bit more vertically, you start to make that second and third level of the coverage a little bit softer. So, it's not as one-sided where you're running into loaded boxes. They kind of have to defend every blade of grass, so to speak. [Jacoby Brissett] will provide a huge value there, and obviously we would like to build on that as we move forward throughout the season."
The explanation is straightforward, but the potential impact is significant. When linebackers and safeties have to respect the passing game, they cannot commit as aggressively to the line of scrimmage. That can give Henry more room to operate and make it harder for defenses to anticipate Baltimore's intentions before the ball is snapped.
Brissett's ability to operate under center and push the ball downfield could also give Doyle more flexibility in how he structures the offense. Rather than allowing opponents to dictate the terms of the matchup by loading the box, Baltimore can force them to defend multiple possibilities.
That doesn't mean Brissett has to become a high-volume passer for Henry to benefit. The threat of a vertical attack can influence defensive positioning even when the offense ultimately hands the ball off. For a back who can punish defenses when he gets room to build momentum, those small advantages can matter.
The blocking still has to hold up for Henry to benefit. Making a safety hesitate can help, but it will not rescue a missed assignment at the line of scrimmage or a possession repeatedly pushed backward by penalties. Baltimore needs the passing threat and run execution to complement each other. Brissett can influence how a defense responds, while the offensive line and Henry still have to take advantage of the space available.
Brissett has only recently joined the offense, so establishing that balance will take time, but Doyle sees an opportunity to use the veteran quarterback's experience and passing ability to create a more favorable environment for Henry. The Ravens need both elements working together, and Brissett could help make sure opposing defenses can't devote all their attention to the ground game.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Declan Doyle explains how Jacoby Brissett could unlock Derrick Henry
