06-08-2022, 10:53 AM
(06-08-2022, 10:32 AM)wcu Wrote: One Bengal made this Next Gen Stat ranking, and it wasn't necessarily the one I expected...
Rank 6
Joe Mixon
Cincinnati Bengals · RB
10+ yard runs: 26
10+ pct: 8.9%
15+ mph runs: 51
15+ mph pct: 17.5%
On one hand, Mixon is indeed an explosive rusher. His 51 15-plus mph runs and 26 10-plus-yard rushes prove that. At the same time, he's a runner who didn't gain much more than expected in 2021. Sure, he finished with the second-most rushing yards after contact last season (1,054), but he gained only one rushing yard over expected for the entire season. He also tied for the fifth-fewest average yards gained before contact in 2021, making the 15-plus mph runs a bit of an outlier.
Mixon rushed for 901 yards outside the tackles, the third most in the league. He is essentially a runner who wins by getting to and around the perimeter before taking off. It's a slow build, but it can be devastating -- and blinding, judging by his three carries that reached a top speed of 20-plus mph (tied for third-most in the NFL).
The rest of the list can be found here: https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-10-most-explosive-runners-of-2021-josh-allen-jalen-hurts-lamar-ja
For context, his "10+ yard run percent" of 8.9% ranks as 35th out of 58 backs who received 75 carries or more. I don't know what a good threshold is here, so I will post more complete data below, with varying carry thresholds....
Backs w/ 75+ carries - Mixon ranks 35th out of 58
Backs w/ 100+ carries - Mixon ranks 30th out of 49
Backs w/ 125+ carries - Mixon ranks 28th out of 41
Backs w/ 150+ carries - Mixon ranks 22nd out of 30
Backs w/ 200+ carries - Mixon ranks 16th out of 18
I personally would not classify Mixon as an explosive rusher, but this isn't all his fault. The Bengals offensive line sucked last season.
