Originally posted by jonnydel:
I'm assuming you mean Derrick Henry....Travis Henry is a different dude.
They were able to stuff it because TENN went away from it. They only ran Henry 3 times in the 2nd half. It wasn't like they completely stifled Henry but Henry wasn't just running through gaping holes either. The bigger problem was that Tannehill and the Titans couldn't take advantage in the play action game. With Deebo and Kittle - 2 guys who've been monsters off PA, there will be opportunities and anyone who believes Jimmy doesn't have much better arm talent than Tannehill needs to rethink their choice of chemical additives.
With the run game, teams have to commit to it, even if you're down. The moment the Titans went down by anything they abandoned the run game with Henry. We also have a more varied rushing attack. Henry is a between the tackles zone monster but our run game will go between the tackles, counters, traps, power, jet sweeps, reverses all sorts of things that defenses have to account for because we have speed to run through your defense or around it.
I agree that our running game is far more varied and creative than Tennessee, which was basically a bludgeon. If a run play isn't there for the Niners they usually get stuffed because we have small, fast backs. With Henry, he's more like he's just going to run over you. And I also agree that we have the capability to gash people on play action since guys like Juice, Kittle and Deebo can all block and torch you on a pass too, so you can't easily predict what the Niners will do based on their personnel. I guess I'm just pouring a little cold water on the narrative that the Chiefs aren't capable of just stopping the run when they just prevailed over the top back. Sounds like you are of the opinion that the Chiefs didn't respect the ability of Tannehill to beat them, and they won't have the luxury of playing simply to sell out against the run with the Niners. For what it's worth, I hope our game plan is to hit them with passing early. I think they will start determined to stop our run. Put them on their heels with a changeup of style, then start running after some successful early passing. To quote Mike Singletary, "I like that kind of party".
cut by 6 bad grandmothers and then one day 7th ShanDalf wizard finds him and puts him in a pumpkin to go to the Super Bowl and wins a Ring and keys to the 49er kingdom.
