During the middle of last season, Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon said he understood why he wasn’t getting more than 20 rushing attempts per game.
“Definitely it can get frustrating at times, but also you have to know the situation,” Mixon said Sept. 24. “It's been kind of tough playing from behind, but we can't put ourselves in that position. That's the consequence when you're playing from behind."
As simple as it sounds, if the Bengals have the lead more often in 2021 than they did in 2020, Mixon’s role in the offense will naturally change.
More:Wide receiver Tyler Boyd embracing role as veteran leader of Bengals' promising offense
Mixon played his final game of the 2020 regular season on Oct. 18 before a foot injury ended his season. With the Bengals trailing on the final series of that game against the Colts, head coach Zac Taylor said he used Giovani Bernard over Mixon as a situational strategy.
If the Bengals had been ahead in that game, Mixon could have run out the clock for the Bengals like opposing running backs for the Cleveland Browns Nick Chubb and the Miami Dolphins Myles Gaskin did against them.
Now healthy, Mixon has the opportunity in 2021 to be the running back who catches passes when the Bengals are trailing as well as the running back who ices the game with a first-down run.
“I thought Joe was on pace for a really good year last year,” Taylor said. “He was doing a great job catching the ball out of the backfield. He was having a lot of production for us. I was excited to see him in that 16-game season and it was cut short, obviously. Joe does all the things we ask him to do.”
During organized team activities, Mixon has been a full participant and looked as athletic as ever cutting across the field and ducking under obstacles while protecting the football. Even when Mixon hasn’t been directly involved, the run game has been a focus for the entire offense.
As wide receiver Tyler Boyd practiced with the other Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers during organized team activities, he emphasized run blocking to his younger teammates.
“If we don’t get the run game going, it’s going to be hard for us to open up the pass game because guys, they’re going to stay out of the box,” Boyd said. “They’re not going to come down and bite on the run and things like that. I’m just trying to get guys stronger and have their minds ready to block.”
Taylor said Mixon will have a mix of opportunities during the regular season. With power running back Samaje Perine and former slot receiver Chris Evans backing up Mixon, the Bengals have more variety in the backfield than they did last season.
Mixon has only played in all 16 games once in his four-year career, and Taylor said he wants to maximize Mixon’s touches.
“We want him to be full-go for the length of the season,” Taylor said. “You don't need to give him every snap. You've got to delegate in a sense and make sure there's roles for other guys where everybody is fresh and giving you the best effort.”
Just like they did for quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals surrounded Mixon with pieces that could help him be more successful.
In addition to right tackle Riley Reiff and rookie offensive guard Jackson Carman, the Bengals brought back offensive line coach Frank Pollack. Mixon had the best year of his career in 2018 when Pollack was previously with the Bengals, and Mixon was one of the most vocal supporters of Pollack’s rehire in 2021.
Pollack’s wide-zone scheme will create more opportunities for Mixon to run downhill outside of the pocket as well as chances for Mixon to be a receiving threat on play-action passes.
“We're always working to use him in the passing game, whatever that looks like - splitting him out, getting him screens, getting him check-downs,” Taylor said. “I think he would have had a fantastic year last year had he stayed healthy, and that's the expectation for him this year."
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