To your defense, there's a middle ground between both sides, I feel. I don't know what his numbers were in 2024, but in 2023, Henry was the 4th best short-yardage back in the NFL, converting at 83%. I went back to dissect it, and it was fairly straight forward. Mostly dives and stretches out of the I-formation. We did some of that last night, with two varying results.
The first attempt was a healthy 6 yard gain that was almost a score. Brace yourself for the second attempt:
View attachment 7482
On a run intended into the center of the defensive line, FB Pat Ricard blocks LCB Jack Jones. LG Andrew Vorhees pulls and doubles on an already halted DLE Bradley Chubb. And nobody touches MLB Tyrel Dodson and ROLB Jaelan Phillips, who meet at the summit for a TFL. The closest assignment adjacent to Dodson is RG Daniel Faalele, who's immediately beaten by a swim move courtesy of LDT Jordan Phillips, and thus can't finish out the combo block to move onto the MIKE.
Then we pivoted to two passing plays, and worked off of the running game for the score. Which is a solid mix of both facets. But nobody can look at the play above and tell me any RB is supposed to make it through that gauntlet. That is the definition of doomed by design.