NFL analyst uses amusing comparison to explain how Derrick Henry will thrive with Ravens

Derrick Henry just merged on to a multi-lane interstate highway by joining the Baltimore Ravens .

That's how ESPN's Field Yates sees it, anyway. While speaking on "The Mina Kimes Show," Yates compared Henry joining the Ravens after playing for the Tennessee Titans to switching from driving on a back road in Vermont to a Californian highway.

It's an amusing bit of analysis from Yates, whose larger point was that Henry should have plenty of room to run in Baltimore.

"There are places you need to get to in Vermont where it's a one-lane highway for like 50 miles," Yates said. "And if you're stuck behind somebody that's not going very fast, you're going to have to go at whatever speed they decide you're going to go. And now you live in California where there's those eight-lane highways — maybe not Texas-level — but huge highways. That's what Derrick Henry is now going to be experiencing in Baltimore.

"Because you just can't, from a numbers-game standpoint on defense — if you want to gum up the rushing lanes and try to slow down Derrick Henry, that's fine. Lamar Jackson has led the NFL in passing touchdowns. He's the reigning MVP this past season. He's going to carve you up. Pick your poison."

Yates' point is that Baltimore's offense is too dangerous for defenses to just stop one area. If they sell out to stop the run, Jackson will beat them with the pass. If they give Jackson's passing game the proper respect, it's going to open up lanes for Henry.

Of course, that's exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs did to beat the Ravens in the AFC Championship — they stopped the run and forced the Ravens to throw. Jackson and the offense could not make them pay.

However, Henry is a greater running threat than anyone Baltimore has had with Jackson. The Ravens likely aren't going to put Henry on the shelf and stop using him. Additionally, this is Jackson's second season in OC Todd Monken's offense, which could allow for more comfort and advanced play-calling for Jackson .

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh previously said the Ravens aim to do some things to open up more space for Henry to run . Harbaugh said the Ravens believe that Henry gets increasingly harder to stop if he can get momentum going.

Enjoy the multi-lane interstate, Derrick Henry.