One of the most common misconceptions about Arthur Smith’s offense in Tennessee is that it ran as well as it did because of Derrick Henry and Derrick Henry alone. The cries of “Atlanta doesn’t have Derrick Henry!” began immediately when the Smith hiring was announced, but the reality was always that A) Smith’s scheme would have to translate minus Henry and B) the passing game was more efficient than the ground game in Tennessee, though Henry’s bruising running style was a difference maker.
The open question was whether Arthur Smith and this front office would try to snag the equivalent of Henry, a true workhorse back to run the ground game through, or whether they’d put together more of a committee.