9 hours ago
Why a RB-by-committee could work for the Ravens in 2025
Why a RB-by-committee could work for the Ravens in 2025 Derrick Henry is out of this universe, but the Ravens could benefit from a RB-by-committee approach in 2025.
Everyone has done it at some point. We have all debated the NFL game. We have all obsessed over strategy. It's easy to throw on our imaginary Baltimore Ravens coaching caps and scream instructions from the couch in a temperature-controlled environment.
Each time we do so, we arrive at the same lesson. Eric DeCosta doesn't ask us for advice on how to run the team. John Harbaugh and his staff never call us to discuss play calling. But, alas... None of that has ever lessened our desire to offer an unsolicited opinion.
That doesn't mean we're uninformed. Football is a less complicated game than we make it. The passing game sets up a draw handoff. The screen is designed to combat the blitz. The rushing attack sets up the play-action pass, and yes, friends... Running games travel well in bad weather.
Adding Derrick Henry to a Ravens offensive attack already featuring Lamar Jackson proved to be deadly. During the 2024-25 NFL season, Baltimore led the NFL in rushing yards (3,189) and yards per carry (5.8).
They also led the NFL in rushing attempts that gained 20 yards or more. They enjoyed 29 of those, and they tied the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals for first place in rushing attempts that exceeded 40 yards. Each team had seven. Lamar and Derrick were quite the tandem, but Baltimore discovered they had a diamond on the roster in the form of Justice Hill.
In 15 regular-season games, Hill tallied 228 yards and a 4.9 yards-per-carry average on 47 attempts. He's partially the reason for the following question. Should the Ravens exercise a committee approach in 2025?
Why a committee approach for the Ravens' backfield may not be the best play
It's hard, on the surface, to buy into any game plan that requires Derrick Henry to be given the ball less often. Just typing, reading the words, or saying them out loud seems asinine.
The King's first season in Baltimore was the second most productive of what is already a Pro Football Hall of Fame-worthy career. He notched the second-highest rushing total of his career. He finished second only to Saquon Barkley while tacking on another Pro Bowl nod, his fifth. He also earned a Second-Team All-Pro nomination.
King Henry is a threat to hit a home run from anywhere on the field. He's dangerous and downright scary any time he touches the football, and even if he doesn't, opposing defenses must be wary of him and account for him at all times. That sounds like a good enough reason never to take him off the field, right?
But here's the thing. There's always a temptation to wonder if guys we don't know as well can shoulder a bigger load and perform well when asked to do more. The Ravens don't have that problem. They have two other potential game-changers who can spare The King to keep him fresh all season.
Their presence makes it easy to argue that a little 'addition by subtraction' could pay dividends later. Their presence leads us to believe a committee approach may not be a bad thing.
The argument for a committee approach in the Ravens' backfield
So, how might this committee idea benefit The Flock? It's pretty simple. A well-rested Henry spells trouble for any team lining up vs. Baltimore during the postseason. The Ravens have the horses, guys who can shoulder the load while providing the proverbial (and literal) change of pace.
The aforementioned Justice Hill put together a strong season when asked to relieve the top man on Baltimore's depth chart. In addition to what he added as a rusher, he chipped in as the Ravens' fifth-leading receiver, snagging 51 receptions and tallying 383 yards and a 9.1 yards-per-reception average.
Three of Hill's touchdowns last season were scored as a receiver, but Henry and Hill alone do not make a backfield committee. For that, third-year Raven Keaton Mitchell must be added. He is expected to enjoy an expanded role this season.
Mitchell is the speedster of this bunch if the ACL tear suffered during Week 15 of his rookie season is entirely behind him. He missed most of the most recent Ravens campaign after beginning the march on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but it was clear he wasn't 100% healthy upon his return and activation in Week 10.
He won't get the ball much as Baltimore will favor Henry and Hill, but if Mitchell is ready to go in 2025, everyone should fear the Ravens forevermore. He was recently named a breakout candidate. If that theory proves to be accurate, he provides Lamar Jackson with another weapon and all but ensures what we already know.
The Ravens have an excellent chance to lead the NFL in rushing again. Then, when the temperature drops, an already dominant running game can help catapult Baltimore into football's biggest game and another shot at their third Lombardi trophy. Now, wouldn't that be quite the sight to see?
