ESPN: Will Mixon or Ross Be Tougher On Defenses?

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(07-01-2017, 06:12 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: That just is another idea that AJ will be drawing the safety over and leaving Ross single-covered, but also throws in that Eifert will do damage.  I wonder if we'll use Eifert properly, though, and actually utilize him more as a receiving option more and down the field more.  Uzomah and Kroft should also be considered as dangerous.

I personally think that it will be Mixon and that he'll take the league by storm (assuming Marvin doesn't stay loyal to Hill, but given how ineffective Hill has been, I have faith in Marvin) because it's been a long time that we've had a back like him that can do so much and take any play to the house.  As always, the line play does worry me and that could damage Mixon's play, but I think they'll at least be decent, and all of our other weapons should keep defenses in check.  

Anybody else excited about this article?

I sure am!  Good find.  I love reading articles like this one.  

I am going to go with Ross only due to the fact that Hill is in his contract year, and Gio should be 100% close to the beginning of the season.  That isn't to say that I don't think Mixon will be a big addition.  I just have a feeling that with more weapons on the field (Ross and Eifert at the very least with AJ), that defenses will not be able to stack the line and the running game in and of itself will be improved, regardless of who is toting the rock.  

Hill lost the playoff game with a fumble, and he seems to have become less decisive as a RB, but a contract year is a heck of a motivator.  He knows that there will be lots of less expensive options in the draft so to get a good "second bite of the apple", he will need to have an outstanding season.  I doubt strongly he would end up back here, but the Bengals could be the beneficiary of a great season plus a supplemental pick.  

Ross has been my dream pick for some time now.  The Ravens reporter seems to get it best.  If he is single covered, you have to play off.  If you play off and miss a tackle, he's gone.  If you play press and he beats it, he's gone.  Ross is going to help open up the middle of the field as safeties will have to play deeper for these reasons.  He may not end the season with something like 85 receptions, but his mere presence will be a huge factor.