Derrick Henry will challenge a Browns defense who must prove that he can attack

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns were one of the worst wrestling teams in the NFL last season, and we'll see how far they went when Derrick Henry and the Titans went to the FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday.

Henry rushed for 1,059 yards in 2018, thanks to a push on the last four games (585 yards). But the challenge for the Browns comes from his 656 yards after contact and 37 broken tackles. Henry is ranked second in the NFL in both categories.

"They want to try to run first and create that play action. We know that," Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. "We have to do a great job to stop this racing game. Henry is a great physical back who loves to play downhill. He will try to test the perimeters of the defense. We must do a great job to adjust the edges and return it to the inside. "

Henry flourishes on his way to the outside. He had 35 runs for 249 yards outside the left and 36 for 229 from the back to the right end last season. There was no traffic lane that Henry used more than those.

This puts the Browns corner kick in maximum alert.

"We now know that our corners will be an important part of the game this week with as much as the Titans will try to bounce the ball out," said Wilks. "The central point with these guys is to chase the hip and make sure the ball stays on our inner cushion."

Security Jermaine Whitehead could end up near the line of scrimmage a lot this Sunday, but also on a wide distance covering a tight end or slot receiver, putting him in Henry's path back and forth.

He knows everything about trying to tackle the former winner of the Alabama Heisman Trophy. Whitehead went on to compete with Auburn and played it twice. He knows that at 6 feet 3 inches, 247 pounds, Henry is not like most of the NFL semi-finalists.

"His racing style is different from any other running back we play against," Whitehead said. "A bigger guy, a guy with a knee high. You have to put your pads on him and get him down. You attack it high and you will rebound. You must have a plan to attack it on all aspects of the field. It is a different tackle in the hole than on the key. "

The Titans' offensive line has changed since last season. Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan will not be playing Sunday due to suspension, and no one knows exactly how Dennis Kelly will play. But former Ram Rodger Saffold, one of the league's best offensive linemen, will be at his side in the left guard.

Henry was calf injured at training camp and did not play pre-season, but was not listed in Titan's injury report this week. Wilks is waiting for what Henry is playing. He also expects to see a lot of Dion Lewis (517 yards rushing, 59 catches for 400 yards in 2018).

"Lewis also has a very good back," Wilks said. "(He) is also doing great work to reach the perimeter and can run between tackles. I think that they will try to enter and try to establish that the racing game will be on the road for the first game of the year. That's what they do and then create the vertical shots on the ground. "

How do you prevent Henry from running wild? Corner corner Terrance Mitchell has a simple answer.

"I have to get it down," Mitchell said, "get it down."

Whitehead looks at Henry like every other talented running back in the NFL. They have the ability to explode on 300 meters, and they can also be stuffed, Whitehead said. To achieve this last goal, the Browns will need everyone to work together.

"The DNA of the defense swarms the ball with effort," Whitehead said. "You try to have as many hats as you can to ball, but we have a game plan and we will try our luck."