NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans running back Derrick Henry made the rounds on the lower bowl Monday night, signing one autograph after another prior to the team's practice.
Henry, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, didn't need to introduce himself. He's already a popular guy in Nashville.
"They were yelling my name,'' Henry said with a smile. "There's some Bama fans out here. I appreciate the support."
Henry really made his mark when the scrimmage started. He was one of the offense's biggest stars on Monday night, displaying the same bruising running style and nifty moves he did while leading Alabama to another national championship.
Henry got plenty of work last night behind running back DeMarco Murray.
"He's a stud. He's a stud,'' Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo said of Henry. "He's definitely going to continue to get better. He has a few things to work on as far as keeping his pads down low when he gets down to the goal-line and things like that, but overall the guy is going to be a stud in this league.
"There's no question (he's going to help this year). We have DeMarco leading the pack and Henry to come in and carry the load as well. I think it's going to be a great one-two punch."
Henry scored two touchdowns on the night. His best run came on a 25-yard burst up the middle, when he showed great vision. He had several runs in the 8-10-yard range, but was stuffed at the two-yard line by defensive back Marqueston Huff not long after a touchdown run was called back because of a penalty.
"I am just trying to get better,'' Henry said. "I just want to come out here and compete with the offense. We have a good defense, and we're trying to make them better.
"Anything I can do to help the offense. … We want to be physical. We pride ourselves at being physical."
Running back David Cobb also ran with power later in the scrimmage, punching it in for scores on two separate occasions himself.
Titans coach Mike Mularkey said he liked what he saw from the backs on a night when the defense really stood out.
"I had the best view," Mularkey said. "They had great vision and I loved that they pressed the holes. You want them to get the defense to commit. They set up their runs. They split some (tackles). Those were real runs, especially down in the red zone. Those were real plays."
Titans players take the field for Day 8 of training camp at Nissan Stadium. (Donn Jones Photography.com)
