Ravens Derrick Henry is 'Real Football!' - John Harbaugh

The Baltimore Ravens signed Derrick Henry in free agency, and head coach John Harbaugh is happy that his defense doesn't have to contend with the two-time rushing champ anymore.

The Baltimore Ravens' biggest strength just got better as Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry joins the NFL's best rushing attack.

With Gus Edwards signing with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency and the unknown of J.K. Dobbins after his injury, Baltimore knew it needed another body in the backfield - well, they got a monster in Henry.

Derrick Henry

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While it was a down year for Henry stats-wise, he still put up over 1,100 rushing yards and had 12 rushing touchdowns, which shows there is still plenty of tread left on those tyres.

As for Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, he is just happy that his defense doesn't have to tackle Henry anymore.

"Well, defensively, he's just real football," Harbaugh said at the NFL owners meeting. "There's one thing to have a reputation, it's another thing to have the challenge of defending him. Just the fact that you have to tackle him. If he gets a head of steam, whether it's in the A gap or outside -- he took a fake reverse about 70 yards against us last year in London. You don't forget those things. Those things sting, and they stay stinging for a long time. So, we respect him, and he's going to help us."

The Ravens were already the best rushing attack in football last season (156.3 yards per game) with a running back by committee approach. Now with Henry, the Ravens have a bonafide No. 1 running back.

With Jackson's dual-threat ability, couple with Baltimore's run game, teams simply have to honor it and as such, play action could again be a big weapon for Todd Monken's offense - with Henry at the center of it.

Defenses will have to pick their poison and either commit more to the box in a bid to halt Henry's influence or allow him to run wild out of the backfield. If defenses commit, then the likes of Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely will rack up yards in open space.

There were a lot of free agency moves over the first two weeks, and with Henry, the Ravens perhaps got the one player who can put them over the edge in their bid for Super Bowl glory.