10-17-2019, 03:10 PM
(10-17-2019, 12:06 PM)Au165 Wrote: This sounds cool and I can work through the new issues each of those "solutions create", in fact I can show cut ups of a lot of those solutions not working from this very year. I am a big fan of hiding flaws through scheme, but you can't hide much with a team this bad. Mixon catching more isn't saving this team, he is basically on pace to catch 10 balls less than last year when he was a pretty pedestrian weapon in the passing game.
When the QB has to get the ball of quick teams play tighter which allows more rallying which makes the short passing game less effective. I'd actually argue AJ being back is going to be the biggest help to the passing attack out of the backfield. Even though the line will still stink teams will play with more depth off the snap which should prevent rallying giving Joe more one on one situations when he does catch the ball. I'd still point out, I think Mixon has been worse this year even when he has had solid blocking at times.
Other teams with bad offensive lines figure out a way. Let's look at 3 bad offensive lines, 2 of which have allowed more sacks than the Bengals unit.
NY Jets - terrible line has allowed 25 sacks yet Bell leads the NFL in routes run per game at 24.4.
San Diego Chargers - PFF ranked their line 29 AFTER the preseason games. Ekeler runs 19.2 routes per game.
Arizona Cardinals - Terrible line. Ranked 30 after preseason games. Have allowed the ultra-mobile Kyler Murray to get sacked 22 times yet David Johnson runs 17.7 routes per game.
Now let's compare the receiving stats of those running backs to Mixon's.
Mixon 14 REC, 97 YDS, 1 TD (6 games)
Bell 28 REC, 169 YDS, 1 TD (5 games)
Ekeler 42 REC, 372 YDS, 3 TD (6 games) Hell, Ekeler had more receptions in 1 game against Denver than Mixon has had all season.
D. Johnson 30 REC, 315 YDS, 3 TD (6 games)
Again, other teams with terrible offensive lines find a way to get their playmakers out of the backfield the ball, but the Bengals resign themselves to not doing it. That's what it comes down to.
