Ravens Coach Under Fire for 'Crap' Derrick Henry Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Nov 18, 2024 9:32 AM ET

It was bad enough that the Ravens lost to the Steelers in a two-point game on Sunday, a game in which they had the opportunity to tie with a post-touchdown conversion with 1:06 to play in the fourth quarter and the score at 18-16. That conversion attempt failed.

Games between the Ravens and Steelers are always grinding, smashmouth contests, and this was no different. But the loss was punctuated by some odd decisions on how the team used one of its key stars in this game: running back Derrick Henry.

Henry had just 13 carries for 65 yards, tied for the second-fewest carries of the season. The Ravens have lost all three games in which he has had 13 carries or fewer. Worse, Henry was not even on the field for the Ravens' failed conversion.

For the gang on the "Get Up" program on ESPN on Monday morning, this was a "criminal offense."

As former star lineman Damien Woody said, "How the hell does Derrick Henry have 13 touches? Why did you bring him here? Why? In games like this, this was not going to be some high-flying circus act. This is the biggest rivalry in the NFL. This is why you bring Derrick Henry in, for games like this, this knock-‘em-out type of game."

The attention quickly swung to second-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who has been the subject of speculation recently as his name has come up as a potential NFL head coach in the next wave of hirings.

"Todd Monken, man, congratulations, this guy should be a head coach," said former NFL coach Rex Ryan, with trademakr sarcasm. "Why?"

Ryan continued: "Be lucky you’re an offensive coordinator. Everyone in the damn world knows you should run the football with Derrick Henry especially in this, this is going to be a physical game. This is not going to be a high-scoring game. I am going to give the ball to the dude that weighs 260 pounds and runs a 4.3 or whatever the hell it is.

"And by the way, it’s criminal he is not on the field for a two-point play."

2nd play of the game, first game back in more than a month. Nick Herbig forces Lamar to give the ball on this read/option and then chases Derrick Henry for his first fumble in over 500 rushes. What a play. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/NC8OOfDBCk
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) November 18, 2024

Woody also got in on the Monken-bashing, pointing back to the Ravens' loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, in which Baltimore gave the ball to a running back only eight times in the game. "What is Todd Monken doing?" Woody said. "The same Todd Monken in the AFC Championship game that didn’t run the football, tried to get too cute, and look what happened again."

Ryan had one more shot to get in, again oozing with sarcasm: "This guy is brilliant. This coordinator is brilliant. Monken is brilliant. You can’t make this crap up."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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