The pairing of the Baltimore Ravens and two-time First Team All-Pro running back Derrick Henry is a match made in heaven which fans, pundits and even casual football fans had been clamoring for years to come to fruition.
In March, it finally happened when the team signed the eight-year veteran to a two-year deal worth $16 million. As excited as those who will be watching from the outside looking in were about the move, his new teammates were even more ecstatic, especially four-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard.
“It’s a dream come true for anyone that has to block in the run game,” Ricard said via the team website. “I’ve been admiring him ever since he’s been in the league. ... Just the things he can do, it’s so unique, so special. He’s just a freak of a person.”
After years of Henry being linked and rumored to be a potential trade target for the Ravens both in the offseason and at the midseason deadline only for it not to happen, Ricard didn’t get his hopes up when Henry was slated to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
“He’s one of those guys that you never think that you can obtain because everyone is going to want him. It’s Derrick Henry,” Ricard said. “[General manager] Eric [DeCosta] did his magic and got him here.”
Everyone got their first glimpse of Henry in a Ravens uniform and what it looks like when he and Ricard share the same backfield during Organized Team Activities in May and even without pads on, the pair look daunting.
As enjoyable as it was to run through plays in shorts with one of the premier running backs and the most productive since 2019, Ricard looks forward to strapping the pads on in training camp in live drills.
“I can’t wait until [training] camp where we can actually hit guys and see how the defense can run through me or around me and then have to wrap [Henry],” Ricard said. “Then once we get into games, I think it’s going to be a big problem.”
The threat of a bruiser like Henry alone is enough to keep opposing defenders and defensive play callers up at night. Now he’ll be running behind a devastating blocker in Ricard and playing alongside two-time league MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson who is the best dual threat in league history.
“You add frickin’ Lamar into the equation and all of our receivers and other backs, it’s going to be very hard to defend,” Ricard said.
As great as the strides the Ravens made in the passing game in the first year under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, it will be fun to watch Ricard help pave the way for Henry to take over and close out games in the ground game.
When the offense lines up in ‘I’ or any heavy formation with Henry directly behind Ricard and with the potential of him getting the ball with a full head of steam and converted defensive linemen as his lead blocker, defenses will likely overcommit to stopping the run which could set more explosive downfield passes to tight ends and receiver off play action.
