With new line, Bengals looking for even bigger things from Mixon
When the Cincinnati Bengals hired offensive line coach Frank Pollack in 2021, a source close to Pollack shared why running back Joe Mixon could have a resurgent season.
This former NFL coach stressed that when Pollack had coached the Bengals in 2018, the Bengals had a rookie center, a left tackle and a left guard playing their last full seasons before retirement, a right tackle who had just been waived and an undrafted free agent at right guard. In that 2018 season, Mixon had 1,168 rushing yards and the best year of his career to date.
The coach said it wouldn’t matter that the Bengals would have a poor line in 2021.
He was right, as Mixon rushed for a career-high 1,205 yards in 2021.
Pollack’s wide-zone scheme opened up the opportunity for Mixon to have a career year. In 2022, for the first time, Mixon will play in a widezone scheme with an above-average offensive line.
Four years into Bengals coach Zac Taylor’s career with Mixon, it’s clear how Taylor prefers to use his No. 1 running back. Just like a baseball manager can maximize his top relief pitcher in high-leverage situations in the middle innings, Taylor and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan believe they can maximize Mixon’s value by keeping him on the field for early downs.
Mixon will almost never play more than 75% of the snaps. The Bengals can use his ability in the passing game on early downs, but opposing defenses see the run game as less of a threat on third down.
Mixon had his most well-rounded season in 2021, and he took bigger steps in pass protection than he had in any other season. The Bengals still had Samaje Perine on the field for the final downs of the Super Bowl.
Perine’s upside as a pass blocker and Chris Evans’ potential as a gadget running back and receiving threat give the Bengals a few different styles at the position when Mixon is off the field.
Bengals running back depth chart: Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine, Chris Evans, Trayveon Williams, Elijah Holyfield, Shermari Jones
Competition to watch: Samaje Perine vs. Chris Evans
During the offseason, Bengals assistant wide receivers coach Brad Kragthorpe gave Evans a highlight reel of star NFL running backs like Austin Ekeler and Alvin Kamara.
While Evans isn’t a Pro Bowl candidate like those two running backs or even a starter, the Bengals coaching staff wants Evans to be ready to run similar plays to Ekeler and Kamara, two of the best receiving threats at the running back position in the NFL.
“Once you get to Mixon, Perine and me, I can’t be a guy who’s just here,” Evans said. “I’ve got to be able to add something else to help the team in a different way. On special teams, in the slot, and running routes. I take running routes as my prized possession. I can’t let anyone do that better than me because that’s my role.”
Even though he’s a running back, Evans enters the season as the Bengals’ fourth-most talented receiver. He has experience in the slot, and has shown as a kick returner what he can do with the ball in space.
“I’m a smarter player and a more physical player (than last year),” Evans said. “I’m smarter, faster, more hungry. I’m ready to get immersed in my role.”