The Run Game

[SunsetBengal]

(11-02-2022, 06:49 PM)Destro Wrote: I have been a Mixon defender. He got a lot of unneeded hate over the years. I am sure some of that is due to his past, some due to his contract. He has carried the ball behind these trash bags of an O-line for years. Time and time again, he gets the ball and there are three defenders already in the backfield to meet him, but he still gets the blame.

That said, he is pretty bad now. Like really, really bad...at everything

Now, the line still is not great, and these dumb toss plays and runs from shotgun are garbage, but add in his decline, it makes for just sickening displays. For years, RBs have had shorter and shorter careers and/or times of relevance. Pro Bowl back released and to another team two years later. I think Mixon went from good to atrocious in record time. Time to do something...anything...different.

As a unit of 5, the OL looks very pedestrian, especially when focusing on pass protection grades.  However, when you look at run blocking from the interior, that's where the movement is happening.  They need to take what is there, up the middle is there, utilize it!  

Heck, from shotgun they could even fake the toss right play and counter to the Left and typically gain good yardage.  If casual fans can observe missed opportunities like that, you know that the coaches see it too.  It's either a lack of desire to run the ball on the part of the coaches, or the player (Mixon), and from what we've seen over the years from him, I'm leaning toward Mixon has lost some fire.