The Tennessee Titans' backfield has been boasted as a "thunder and thunder" duo of DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry. Dexter McCluster wants to add some pizazz to the combination.
Jim Wyatt of the team's official website noted that McCluster can add the lightning to the thundering combo.
"I think it will open up a lot more opportunities for me," McCluster said of the Murray-Henry smashmouth combo. "When you have some big guys that are going to run downhill, that can cause more confusion to a lot of people. I hope (defenses) forget all about me and I can get open.
"I think coach (Mike) Mularkey knows the type of player I am and (offensive coordinator Terry) Robiskie knows it as well. So they are going to make a conscious effort to keep me involved, and special teams has been great for me so I am going to do my best to make an impact there too."
Signed away from Kansas City in 2014, McCluster hasn't broken out as a change-of-pace, Danny Woodhead-type back. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound runner earned a combined 378 rushing yards and 457 receiving yards in two disappointing seasons.
"I think I've said it before: He clearly has a role here," Mularkey said of McCluster. "The offense is multi-faceted, and he will be parts of many different packages to try and attack defenses."
The Titans plan to play a smashmouth brand of football in 2016, using Murray and Henry as battering rams to churn out first downs and keep defenses off Marcus Mariota. With the top two backs gobbling up most of the touches, we don't expect McCluster to have a huge numbers season barring injury. But the Titans will need his shiftiness in the backfield in change-of-gears situations.
