Bengals’ Mixon sees chance for big year in Taylor’s attack

CINCINNATI — Joe Mixon’s been smiling around the locker room and on the practice field during training camp — and it’s for a good reason.

The Cincinnati Bengals running back sees the opportunity in front of him with firstyear coach Zac Taylor.

“Just the stuff that coach Taylor does. Putting the back in the best position to win one-on-one battles. I feel like for it being a one-on-one battle, no elite running back should get stopped in a one-on-one battle. That’s how you have to view certain things,” Mixon told The Enquirer. “At the end of the day, by him putting me in that position, and by me doing the stuff over the years, that’s the stuff that puts a smile on my face. By me having the skill set that I have, I will be able to excel in those areas.”

Taylor was an offensive assistant coach with the Los Angeles Rams the last two seasons. During Taylor’s tenure in Los Angeles, Gurley rushed for 2,556 yards and had 30 rushing touchdowns. Gurley also had 123 receptions for 1,368 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those statistics won Gurley the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award and earned him two consecutive firstteam All-pro selections.

Mixon believes he, too, is an upper echelon running back and can thrive in Taylor’s offensive system.

“You see the film and you see the stuff that he can do. Everybody can’t do what Todd (Gurley) is able to do in that offense. Todd is an elite running back. You aren’t gonna find no Todd Gurley, in the backyard or on the street. But by me feeling like I’m elite and by me playing at that level, it’s right for me to have a smile on my face like ‘I feel like I can do that same thing,’” Mixon said.

Gurley’s high-usage rate has reportedly caused him to have an arthritic component to his surgically repaired left knee, which has caused concern around the Rams’ organization. Running backs commonly wear down quicker than any other NFL positions due to the continuous pounding that they encounter.taylor wants to manage Mixon’s touches, so he’s fresh late in the season.

“We feel good about the depth in (the running back) room. Every team is different how the year is gonna unfold. We want these guys to be healthy late in the season. We’re gonna take it game by game and try to figure it out from there. But I do feel really good about the depth,” Taylor said speaking of Mixon and Giovani Bernard. “I feel really confident where we are at running back.”