09-20-2023, 12:11 PM
(09-18-2023, 10:52 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: That's probably it, but it is worth noting that 2019 was his 3rd year and afterwards he was eligible for extension and peaked just in time to get paid. Then after he got paid he dipped for another 3 years.
Now he knows with all the off-the-field stuff and pay cut he's hanging in the NFL by a thread and needs to reassert why he should be kept around. He's also playing for a couple million dollars in incentives.
I've always loved Mixons team energy and while he I'm sure he's motivated by money like anyone would be i don't think that's why we've seen changes in his production. I'm not the most educated in Oline blocking schemes but Mixon thrives in certain blocking schemes. He kind of sucked his rookie year and if I remember correctly had a slight knee issue he took care of early then the 2nd half of the season he really came on. That success carried over to 2018 for the whole year. Then in 2019 Taylor came in and they changed blocking scheme and Mixon was literally the worst back in the league the 1st half of the season then when changing blocking schemes I assume he became the 2nd back in the league behind only Derrick Henry I believe. Then the next 3 seasons we continued to try and change the scheme to a wide zone I believe and Mixon does not do great in this. Now we have changed out of it most seasons but we always seem to try the wide zone to start the season. I think the reason for Mixons early success is we've finally started with a scheme that favors our personal power gap I believe again not the most educated on this.
It's unbelievably really that simple of a reason for his issues and crazy how stubborn our coaching staff has been to realize this. Of course there had been some other factors little injuries and only going under center when we run and other tells of a runs. I also think in 2021 our big play pass game made the run an after thought and not worked on as much. Then our new Oline acquisitions last year made us think we could now do the wide zone.
Not saying Mixon is a perfect back or even a top 5 back with the correct blocking scheme but top 10? I think so.
