1. Everything lining up on, off field for Dolphins WR Kenny Stills
Jason Lieser
May 22, 2017
Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills is entering the prime of his career, and everything in his life seems to be setting him up for the most stability he’s had as a football player.
This season will be his third with Miami, marking the longest he’s been on a team, and he intends to be there for a while. Coming off one of his most productive seasons, as well as a year of significant engagement in the community, Stills re-signed on a four-year deal in March.
"I definitely feel stable here,” said Stills, who pointed out that he felt that way with the Saints, too, before they traded him. “I’m going to continue to be involved in the community, continue to try to lead this team. And the biggest thing we’re trying to do here is win. We’ve got to continue to win.”
Stills was a top priority for the Dolphins in the offseason and he appeared to turn down more lucrative offers in order to stay with them.
He developed an instant bond with coach Adam Gase last season after being used in a much more limited role by the previous staff. Gase spoke so highly of Stills in the offseason that he said he’d have to retool his offense if Miami failed to re-sign him. He played 84 percent of the offensive snaps, fifth-highest on the team, and put up 726 yards and nine touchdowns on 42 catches.
Last season marked a turning point for Stills in the locker room as well, when he realized it was his time to step up as the leader of his position group. Stills, Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker are all roughly the same age (Stills turned 25 last month; the other two are 24), but Stills has the longest tenure.
In years past, he followed veterans like Marques Colston and Greg Jennings, but now it was his turn to be that figure for others.
Stills also experienced great support from the staff and owner Stephen Ross when he protested during the national anthem last year, which added to his comfort level with the Dolphins. It also spurred him to get out in the community more to explain the message of his protest and hear how people received it.
“I knew it was coming after taking a knee—I just didn’t realize how bad it was going to be,” he said. “Getting in the community and working with the kids was a way that I felt like I could get out and make a change. I want to be here in Miami for a long time, and obviously I signed my extension, so I’m going to be here. Just making a difference in the community, making a difference in the young kids’ lives, because I know they’re the future generations. I know they’re going to be running this country.
“It’s amazing that we have such a strong presence in the community here. Regardless of where I was, that’s something I was going to be doing. But it was amazing to me to be a part of this community this season and I look forward to be working with them here.”
2. Ndamukong Suh shoulders blame for Dolphins' poor run defense
By Omar Kelly, May 23, 2017
Sun Sentinel
It’s the problem that nobody seems to have a solution for.
The Miami Dolphins signed Ndamukong Suh to a six-year, $114 million contract three offseasons ago believing that he’d fix a run defense, which allowed 1,937 rushing yards on 453 carries in 2014.
The next year, with Suh onboard, the Dolphins allowed 2,019 rushing yards on 502 carries, and last season allowed 2,247 yards on 464 carries.
The Dolphins were 30th against the run last season, allowing 4.8 yards per carry. It was the fifth most rushing yards a Dolphins defense has allowed in franchise history.That means that every season since Suh’s signing the Dolphins’ run defense has gotten worse, and nobody in the organization has figured out how to fix it.
“I don’t really know how to answer that question, sorry,” new Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons said when asked about Miami’s run defense.
Like Suh, Timmons was signed primarily to fix Miami’s issues stopping the run.
Miami won 10 games and made it to the playoffs last season despite allowing a franchise-worst 6,122 yards. Image what could have been accomplished if the Dolphins’ defense wasn’t terrible against the run.
“I put a lot of it on myself,” Suh said following Tuesday’s organized team activity session. “I’m supposed to be the anchor and plan to be the anchor, and continue to be that way. One, I think it starts with us upfront, without question, especially with how the defense is set up.”
Suh said there was a learning adjustment in his first season. Players like himself and Cameron Wake needed time and snaps to figure out how to play with one another.
Last year, Suh said that the unit had a better understanding of the wide-nine defensive front Miami was utilizing. However, Suh added that the team’s struggles against the run were a product of poor execution.
“It’s never one person or even one sort of spot. A [defensive] lineman doesn’t hold an edge and a linebacker misses fit, and then a safety misses a tackle. It’s complex,” said new defensive coordinator Matt Burke this offseason. “No one obviously wants to not have a good run defense. It’s not something you go into a game saying. But it’s hard to really pinpoint [the problem]. We’re addressing a lot of issues, I think.”
Suh, who earned his fifth Pro Bowl berth after contributing 72 tackles and five sacks last season, is optimistic things will improve in 2017 because Burke is familiar with the wide-nine scheme and the personnel from his stint as Miami’s linebackers coach last season.
The Dolphins upgraded the linebacker unit by adding Timmons and selecting former Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. Miami traded for defensive end William Hayes, a run-stuffing specialist. And, the Dolphins’ defense will get back two starters — linebacker Koa Misi and safety Reshad Jones — who were sidelined by injuries most of last season.
However, who will be paired with Suh at defensive tackle remains a concern.
Jordan Phillips, a 2015 second-round pick, has been inconsistent his first two seasons in the NFL. Last year, he started 11 games and contributed 23 tackles, half a sack and one interception.
Phillips trained with Suh at the Nike complex in Oregon for the third consecutive offseason, and Suh is optimistic the 24 year old will blossom in Year 3.
“Third year is a year that definitely you either show what you can do from a consistency standpoint, and I think that’s something they want from Jordan,” Suh said. “I think they see a lot of great things from Jordan, and Jordan has made great plays — made big plays — and other times he’s struggled in some aspects. But I think we’ve all gone through those growing pains.”
The Dolphins also selected former LSU standout Davon Godchaux and Oklahoma State standout Vincent Taylor in the later rounds of the draft and there’s hope that at least one of those defensive tackles will push Phillips, if not unseat him, for the starting spot.
Both rookies said they’ve admired Suh their entire football careers, and hope to learn from him.
“It’s flattering, and it says that I’m old,” said Suh, who turned 30 in January.
With the guaranteed money portion of his deal done after this season how many rushing yards Miami allows in 2017 could be a sign of whether Suh’s still elite, and if he’s still worth the massive contract the Dolphins gave him in 2014.
3. Yes, rookie running back Joe Mixon looks big and fast among the vets. He exploded out of one hole so quickly that Fejedelem only had time to get an arm around his neck in an accidental clothesline ... Mixon just ran back to the huddle: "You've got to just keep running." ...
But the wily vet got him. Mixon thought he was down after one run, but hands were all over the ball and Burfict pounced on it: "You still have hold on to it," Mixon said ...
4. 5 reasons why Joe Mixon should start in 2017
by LB3PTMAN May 22, 2017
One thing nobody can deny about Cincinnati Bengals’ 2017 second round draft pick Joe Mixon is that he is very talented. A few years ago, the Bengals’ backfield was mentioned as one of the best in the NFL. Now it features more questions than answers. It even misses out on being a top five Bengals position group. Hopefully Mixon can be the answer to many of the questions in the backfield. But the biggest question as of now is, how early and often he will see the field.
With that in mind, here are five arguments for why Mixon should be the Week one starter at running back in 2017.
1) Jeremy Hill has been ineffective for the past two seasons.
Hill has been objectively bad since the end of his extremely impressive rookie campaign. Other than a few outlier games against teams like the Browns, Hill has averaged close to or below 3.0 yards per carry for the past two years. You can blame this on a variety of factors including the scheme changing, the blocking being less dominant, or Hill getting too fancy in the backfield. Whatever way in which you justify it, Hill is no longer fit to be a starter in Cincinnati.
2) Giovani Bernard is coming off a torn ACL.
Bernard is an excellent second back and can even take over starter duties for short periods of time. He has showed some wear and tear when asked to take over starting duties for long periods of time in the past, but, that’s not his job. His role as a change of pace back isn’t changing, the only problem with Bernard for 2017 has nothing to do with his talent and more to do with the fact that he tore his ACL in the second half of the 2016 season. Now, reports say his rehab is going great and he should be ready before the season, but that should be taken with a grain of salt. On top of that, players coming off ACL injuries are often not themselves at first and take some time to get back up to speed.
3) Mixon is a top 10 talent, if not for off-the-field issues.
Mixon is an extremely talented running back and purely based on talent, could be the top running back in this year’s draft class. Mixon tested very well athletically and has the ideal running back size unlike first round pick Christian McCaffrey, who is too small for many teams to consider him their feature back. Mixon has an ideal blend of size, speed and talent and if it weren’t for his off-field issues, he could have easily been the top running back off the board and gone before the Bengals’ Round 1 pick was made. Do you think Leonard Fournette and McCaffrey will be starting this year with the Jaguars and Panthers, respectively? If they’re starting, Mixon should be, too. The Bengals can’t afford to leave his talent on the bench.
4) If you're going to draft Mixon, you should use him right away to justify the baggage.
As soon as the Bengals picked Mixon, there was an immediate uproar against the team with many people insulting the Bengals and their locker room culture. That is generally not the kind of look you want brought upon your organization. It even has some fans saying they’re done with the team.
Whether it’s fair or not, the Bengals were singled out for drafting Mixon and the front office knew they were going to get significant negative attention for it. But, in selecting him regardless of that, they clearly imagined quickly receiving a good return on their investment. Let’s see that investment pay off sooner than later and leave NFL fans in awe of Mixon’s on-the-field ability.
5) The Bengals' offense needs a running back who can create plays on his own, despite bad offensive line play
The offensive line is easily the biggest concern for Bengals fan and will remain that way until the players prove to be at least an average unit. With that in mind, getting a guy like Mixon is a big help as he can create for himself better than a player like Hill. Additionally, Mixon has the ability to run out of the shotgun, which gives quarterback Andy Dalton a better view of the field and the ability to get the ball out more quickly. He will make the offense less predictable when on the field in the shotgun and is also extremely dangerous when going out for a pass. He will have to be respected in both regards, which is a great thing for offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, and this offense.
Are you convinced Mixon should be the starter for 2017? Will it need to wait until mid-season, as was the case with Hill? Or, will it come Week 1, as it should? The Bengals need to get off to a quick start this year, considering the tough division, and can’t allow themselves to fall behind due to starting Hill and seeing him continue to be ineffective.
5. [Bengals LB Nick] Vigil figures to get a long look in the nickel, as does [Jordan] Evans, the sixth-round pick who blew through his 40-yards dash in 4.51 seconds. They may really have something here because he’s every bit 6-3, 235 pounds, but they won’t know Evans’ physical side until the pads come on. But no matter, Evans is destined to get plenty of work for specials teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.
6. How will new safety Tony Jefferson be used?
A four-year, $34 million contract is awfully rich for a traditional strong safety, so the bet here is that Jefferson will be deployed in a way unlike any other safety we’ve seen during defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ tenure. With the re-signing of veteran safety Lardarius Webb and the uncertainty at the weak-side inside linebacker spot due to the unfortunate retirement of Zach Orr, it makes sense for the Ravens to use the dime as their primary sub package with Jefferson essentially lining up as a hybrid linebacker in passing situations. His greatest strengths in Arizona were the ability to stop the run and to cover tight ends, which are critical responsibilities for a linebacker in a more conventional nickel alignment. Considering Webb played well in the second half of 2016 and will now be relegated to a part-time role, Jefferson needs to be a difference-making presence to justify the Ravens throwing him so much money that could have been used to address a below-average offense from a year ago.
7. Steelers QB Landry Jones considered in the bottom half of backup QBs, per ranking
by Jeff Hartman May 17, 2017
I know what you were thinking when you read the title “Steelers QB Landry Jones considered in the bottom half of backup QBs, per ranking”...
...and water is wet.
I realize for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers their love/hate relationship with Landry Jones tilts far more towards the hate side than the love. Sure, when he came off the bench and beat the Arizona Cardinals in 2015 it was amazing, but fans tend to remember the missteps more than the successes.
Needless to say, when I saw Sports Illustrated ranking all 32 NFL teams in regards to their backup quarterback situation, I was intrigued to see where Jones landed.
Before getting into the ranking, it should be noted Joshua Dobbs, 2017 NFL Draft pick in the fourth round, is also included in these rankings, but as a rookie there is little-to-no chance he takes the QB2 job away from Jones, especially with Jones’ brand new contract this offseason.
Nonetheless, Jones and Dobbs ranked 20th out of 32 teams.
Check out the rankings:
1. Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots
2. Matt Moore, Dolphins
3. Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch, Broncos
4. Colt McCoy, Redskins
5. Deshaun Watson, Texans
6. AJ McCarron, Bengals
7. T.J. Yates/Cardale Jones/Nathan Peterman, Bills
8. Mitchell Trubisky/Mike Glennon, Bears
9. Chad Henne, Jaguars
10. Geno Smith, Giants
11. Drew Stanton, Cardinals
12. Kevin Hogan/Brock Osweiler/DeShone Kizer, Browns
13. Chase Daniel, Saints
14. Derek Anderson, Panthers
15. Nick Foles, Eagles
16. Ryan Mallett, Ravens
17. Case Keenum, Vikings
18. Matt Barkley/CJ Beathard, 49ers
19. Bryce Petty/Christian Hackenberg, Jets – special Jets category
20. Landry Jones/Josh Dobbs, Steelers
21. Trevone Boykin, Seahawks
22. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
23. Matt Cassel, Titans
24. Kellen Clemens, Chargers
25. Connor Cook/EJ Manuel, Raiders
26. Matt Schaub, Falcons
27. Brett Hundley, Packers
28. Kellen Moore, Cowboys
29. Scott Tolzien, Colts
30. Sean Mannion, Rams
31. Jake Rudock/Brad Kaaya, Lions
32. Ryan Griffin, Buccaneers
The rankings aren’t, or shouldn’t be, a shock to anyone considering how Landry Jones has performed when starting the past two seasons; however, I find it hard to believe Bryce Petty, Matt Barkley, Chad Henne and anyone the Cleveland Browns put under center is considered to be better than Jones.
What fans should keep in mind is this: Is Landry Jones perfect? Not by any stretch of the imagination, but he is capable. Could he keep the team afloat for more than 3-4 games? No, but there aren’t many on this list who could do that themselves. This preseason Jones will get a ton of repetitions, again, and if Dobbs performs well after Jones, fans will be yelling for him to be the primary backup.
Just don’t count on it happening.
Landry Jones was re-signed for a reason, and the Steelers trust him if something happens to Ben Roethlisberger. Love him, few of you, or hate him, many of you, Landry Jones is sticking around as QB2, at least for this season.
8. [Jags Dede] Westbrook is a player with elite quickness and athleticism, parlaying that into a Biletnikoff Award-winning season for Oklahoma in 2016 and a fourth-place finish in Heisman Trophy balloting. His task now: transition from a spread offense to an NFL. “Of course me coming from a spread offense, it’s been a bit difficult,” Westbrook said upon signing his deal Tuesday. “I come from a spread offense where you signal one individual route, which is what you have, to reading the whole sequence of a play. It’s a bit different for me, but I’m getting it down.” Westbrook’s quickness and speed has caused many to believe he will play slot receiver in the NFL. Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said Westbrook worked outside at rookie minicamp. While he may indeed play slot as a rookie, his future could be on the outside. …
9. While the Jacksonville cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye makes headlines, Aaron Colvin is also a player to watch within the Jaguars’ secondary in 2017. Colvin is projected to be the Jaguars’ third corner in nickel packages, and was highly productive in the 10 games he played in 2016.
In coverage, Colvin was one of the stingiest corners in the league. The 0.75 yards per coverage snap he allowed tied for the fifth-lowest mark amongst 117 eligible cornerbacks in 2016. Exclusively in the slot, Colvin allowed 0.78 yards per coverage snap, good for fifth amongst 52 eligible slot corners.
In both the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Colvin was productive when asked to rush the passer. On a combined 53 pass-rushing snaps, he has accounted for 13 QB pressures, hovering among the top 10 corners in pass-rushing productivity. 2017 is a contract year for Colvin, and if he can sustain the potential he’s shown in spurts over a whole season, it would be extremely beneficial for both the Jaguars and his future.
10. The Jaguars also had several players working on the sideline during practice. Safeties Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church, cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Aaron Colvin, running back T.J. Yeldon, tight end Neal Sterling and third-round pick Dawuane Smoot were among the group. Colvin was seen in a walking boot. It's worth nothing that he was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury toward the end of last season.
11. As expected, [Broncos] first-round draft pick Garett Bolles will compete with veterans Ty Sambrailo and Donald Stephenson for the left tackle position. But in probably the biggest surprise of the day, Joseph said that Stephenson has the starting job for now and that Bolles will have to earn that position.
“We got Bolles in the first round, but he’s got to earn his place,” coach Vance Joseph said after practice. “Stephenson has been there every day between phase 1 and phase 2; he’s a veteran player. As far as the starter right now it’s Stephenson with Bolles, and we’re also working Ty Sambrailo. It’s three guys working that left tackle position.”
Considering Stephenson and Sambrailo were both at one point considered among the five worst tackles in the NFL last year, it’s a big surprise that Bolles won’t have more of an opportunity to push them aside right out of the gate. Given the open nature of the QB competition, it’s a little strange that there’s not a similar approach with the position of greatest need for improvement on the roster.
12. Starting just six games last season, [Broncos LB Corey] Nelson registered 40 solo tackles and also defended an impressive five passes. Nelson, who started his career as a special teams contributor, has shows flashes of potential, particularly in coverage.
Nelson needs to polish his technique before becoming a full-time starter, but his solid play during Marshall’s absence last season showed promise for a player looking to take a big step forward in 2017.
13. Two years ago, the Chiefs had both James Winchester and Andrew East compete during the offseason for the long snapper position. Winchester, who won the spot, actually signed a contract extension with the Chiefs this past January. Winchester doesn’t just snap the ball, he makes plays during punt returns as well.
Jason Lieser
May 22, 2017
Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills is entering the prime of his career, and everything in his life seems to be setting him up for the most stability he’s had as a football player.
This season will be his third with Miami, marking the longest he’s been on a team, and he intends to be there for a while. Coming off one of his most productive seasons, as well as a year of significant engagement in the community, Stills re-signed on a four-year deal in March.
"I definitely feel stable here,” said Stills, who pointed out that he felt that way with the Saints, too, before they traded him. “I’m going to continue to be involved in the community, continue to try to lead this team. And the biggest thing we’re trying to do here is win. We’ve got to continue to win.”
Stills was a top priority for the Dolphins in the offseason and he appeared to turn down more lucrative offers in order to stay with them.
He developed an instant bond with coach Adam Gase last season after being used in a much more limited role by the previous staff. Gase spoke so highly of Stills in the offseason that he said he’d have to retool his offense if Miami failed to re-sign him. He played 84 percent of the offensive snaps, fifth-highest on the team, and put up 726 yards and nine touchdowns on 42 catches.
Last season marked a turning point for Stills in the locker room as well, when he realized it was his time to step up as the leader of his position group. Stills, Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker are all roughly the same age (Stills turned 25 last month; the other two are 24), but Stills has the longest tenure.
In years past, he followed veterans like Marques Colston and Greg Jennings, but now it was his turn to be that figure for others.
Stills also experienced great support from the staff and owner Stephen Ross when he protested during the national anthem last year, which added to his comfort level with the Dolphins. It also spurred him to get out in the community more to explain the message of his protest and hear how people received it.
“I knew it was coming after taking a knee—I just didn’t realize how bad it was going to be,” he said. “Getting in the community and working with the kids was a way that I felt like I could get out and make a change. I want to be here in Miami for a long time, and obviously I signed my extension, so I’m going to be here. Just making a difference in the community, making a difference in the young kids’ lives, because I know they’re the future generations. I know they’re going to be running this country.
“It’s amazing that we have such a strong presence in the community here. Regardless of where I was, that’s something I was going to be doing. But it was amazing to me to be a part of this community this season and I look forward to be working with them here.”
2. Ndamukong Suh shoulders blame for Dolphins' poor run defense
By Omar Kelly, May 23, 2017
Sun Sentinel
It’s the problem that nobody seems to have a solution for.
The Miami Dolphins signed Ndamukong Suh to a six-year, $114 million contract three offseasons ago believing that he’d fix a run defense, which allowed 1,937 rushing yards on 453 carries in 2014.
The next year, with Suh onboard, the Dolphins allowed 2,019 rushing yards on 502 carries, and last season allowed 2,247 yards on 464 carries.
The Dolphins were 30th against the run last season, allowing 4.8 yards per carry. It was the fifth most rushing yards a Dolphins defense has allowed in franchise history.That means that every season since Suh’s signing the Dolphins’ run defense has gotten worse, and nobody in the organization has figured out how to fix it.
“I don’t really know how to answer that question, sorry,” new Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons said when asked about Miami’s run defense.
Like Suh, Timmons was signed primarily to fix Miami’s issues stopping the run.
Miami won 10 games and made it to the playoffs last season despite allowing a franchise-worst 6,122 yards. Image what could have been accomplished if the Dolphins’ defense wasn’t terrible against the run.
“I put a lot of it on myself,” Suh said following Tuesday’s organized team activity session. “I’m supposed to be the anchor and plan to be the anchor, and continue to be that way. One, I think it starts with us upfront, without question, especially with how the defense is set up.”
Suh said there was a learning adjustment in his first season. Players like himself and Cameron Wake needed time and snaps to figure out how to play with one another.
Last year, Suh said that the unit had a better understanding of the wide-nine defensive front Miami was utilizing. However, Suh added that the team’s struggles against the run were a product of poor execution.
“It’s never one person or even one sort of spot. A [defensive] lineman doesn’t hold an edge and a linebacker misses fit, and then a safety misses a tackle. It’s complex,” said new defensive coordinator Matt Burke this offseason. “No one obviously wants to not have a good run defense. It’s not something you go into a game saying. But it’s hard to really pinpoint [the problem]. We’re addressing a lot of issues, I think.”
Suh, who earned his fifth Pro Bowl berth after contributing 72 tackles and five sacks last season, is optimistic things will improve in 2017 because Burke is familiar with the wide-nine scheme and the personnel from his stint as Miami’s linebackers coach last season.
The Dolphins upgraded the linebacker unit by adding Timmons and selecting former Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. Miami traded for defensive end William Hayes, a run-stuffing specialist. And, the Dolphins’ defense will get back two starters — linebacker Koa Misi and safety Reshad Jones — who were sidelined by injuries most of last season.
However, who will be paired with Suh at defensive tackle remains a concern.
Jordan Phillips, a 2015 second-round pick, has been inconsistent his first two seasons in the NFL. Last year, he started 11 games and contributed 23 tackles, half a sack and one interception.
Phillips trained with Suh at the Nike complex in Oregon for the third consecutive offseason, and Suh is optimistic the 24 year old will blossom in Year 3.
“Third year is a year that definitely you either show what you can do from a consistency standpoint, and I think that’s something they want from Jordan,” Suh said. “I think they see a lot of great things from Jordan, and Jordan has made great plays — made big plays — and other times he’s struggled in some aspects. But I think we’ve all gone through those growing pains.”
The Dolphins also selected former LSU standout Davon Godchaux and Oklahoma State standout Vincent Taylor in the later rounds of the draft and there’s hope that at least one of those defensive tackles will push Phillips, if not unseat him, for the starting spot.
Both rookies said they’ve admired Suh their entire football careers, and hope to learn from him.
“It’s flattering, and it says that I’m old,” said Suh, who turned 30 in January.
With the guaranteed money portion of his deal done after this season how many rushing yards Miami allows in 2017 could be a sign of whether Suh’s still elite, and if he’s still worth the massive contract the Dolphins gave him in 2014.
3. Yes, rookie running back Joe Mixon looks big and fast among the vets. He exploded out of one hole so quickly that Fejedelem only had time to get an arm around his neck in an accidental clothesline ... Mixon just ran back to the huddle: "You've got to just keep running." ...
But the wily vet got him. Mixon thought he was down after one run, but hands were all over the ball and Burfict pounced on it: "You still have hold on to it," Mixon said ...
4. 5 reasons why Joe Mixon should start in 2017
by LB3PTMAN May 22, 2017
One thing nobody can deny about Cincinnati Bengals’ 2017 second round draft pick Joe Mixon is that he is very talented. A few years ago, the Bengals’ backfield was mentioned as one of the best in the NFL. Now it features more questions than answers. It even misses out on being a top five Bengals position group. Hopefully Mixon can be the answer to many of the questions in the backfield. But the biggest question as of now is, how early and often he will see the field.
With that in mind, here are five arguments for why Mixon should be the Week one starter at running back in 2017.
1) Jeremy Hill has been ineffective for the past two seasons.
Hill has been objectively bad since the end of his extremely impressive rookie campaign. Other than a few outlier games against teams like the Browns, Hill has averaged close to or below 3.0 yards per carry for the past two years. You can blame this on a variety of factors including the scheme changing, the blocking being less dominant, or Hill getting too fancy in the backfield. Whatever way in which you justify it, Hill is no longer fit to be a starter in Cincinnati.
2) Giovani Bernard is coming off a torn ACL.
Bernard is an excellent second back and can even take over starter duties for short periods of time. He has showed some wear and tear when asked to take over starting duties for long periods of time in the past, but, that’s not his job. His role as a change of pace back isn’t changing, the only problem with Bernard for 2017 has nothing to do with his talent and more to do with the fact that he tore his ACL in the second half of the 2016 season. Now, reports say his rehab is going great and he should be ready before the season, but that should be taken with a grain of salt. On top of that, players coming off ACL injuries are often not themselves at first and take some time to get back up to speed.
3) Mixon is a top 10 talent, if not for off-the-field issues.
Mixon is an extremely talented running back and purely based on talent, could be the top running back in this year’s draft class. Mixon tested very well athletically and has the ideal running back size unlike first round pick Christian McCaffrey, who is too small for many teams to consider him their feature back. Mixon has an ideal blend of size, speed and talent and if it weren’t for his off-field issues, he could have easily been the top running back off the board and gone before the Bengals’ Round 1 pick was made. Do you think Leonard Fournette and McCaffrey will be starting this year with the Jaguars and Panthers, respectively? If they’re starting, Mixon should be, too. The Bengals can’t afford to leave his talent on the bench.
4) If you're going to draft Mixon, you should use him right away to justify the baggage.
As soon as the Bengals picked Mixon, there was an immediate uproar against the team with many people insulting the Bengals and their locker room culture. That is generally not the kind of look you want brought upon your organization. It even has some fans saying they’re done with the team.
Whether it’s fair or not, the Bengals were singled out for drafting Mixon and the front office knew they were going to get significant negative attention for it. But, in selecting him regardless of that, they clearly imagined quickly receiving a good return on their investment. Let’s see that investment pay off sooner than later and leave NFL fans in awe of Mixon’s on-the-field ability.
5) The Bengals' offense needs a running back who can create plays on his own, despite bad offensive line play
The offensive line is easily the biggest concern for Bengals fan and will remain that way until the players prove to be at least an average unit. With that in mind, getting a guy like Mixon is a big help as he can create for himself better than a player like Hill. Additionally, Mixon has the ability to run out of the shotgun, which gives quarterback Andy Dalton a better view of the field and the ability to get the ball out more quickly. He will make the offense less predictable when on the field in the shotgun and is also extremely dangerous when going out for a pass. He will have to be respected in both regards, which is a great thing for offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, and this offense.
Are you convinced Mixon should be the starter for 2017? Will it need to wait until mid-season, as was the case with Hill? Or, will it come Week 1, as it should? The Bengals need to get off to a quick start this year, considering the tough division, and can’t allow themselves to fall behind due to starting Hill and seeing him continue to be ineffective.
5. [Bengals LB Nick] Vigil figures to get a long look in the nickel, as does [Jordan] Evans, the sixth-round pick who blew through his 40-yards dash in 4.51 seconds. They may really have something here because he’s every bit 6-3, 235 pounds, but they won’t know Evans’ physical side until the pads come on. But no matter, Evans is destined to get plenty of work for specials teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.
6. How will new safety Tony Jefferson be used?
A four-year, $34 million contract is awfully rich for a traditional strong safety, so the bet here is that Jefferson will be deployed in a way unlike any other safety we’ve seen during defensive coordinator Dean Pees’ tenure. With the re-signing of veteran safety Lardarius Webb and the uncertainty at the weak-side inside linebacker spot due to the unfortunate retirement of Zach Orr, it makes sense for the Ravens to use the dime as their primary sub package with Jefferson essentially lining up as a hybrid linebacker in passing situations. His greatest strengths in Arizona were the ability to stop the run and to cover tight ends, which are critical responsibilities for a linebacker in a more conventional nickel alignment. Considering Webb played well in the second half of 2016 and will now be relegated to a part-time role, Jefferson needs to be a difference-making presence to justify the Ravens throwing him so much money that could have been used to address a below-average offense from a year ago.
7. Steelers QB Landry Jones considered in the bottom half of backup QBs, per ranking
by Jeff Hartman May 17, 2017
I know what you were thinking when you read the title “Steelers QB Landry Jones considered in the bottom half of backup QBs, per ranking”...
...and water is wet.
I realize for fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers their love/hate relationship with Landry Jones tilts far more towards the hate side than the love. Sure, when he came off the bench and beat the Arizona Cardinals in 2015 it was amazing, but fans tend to remember the missteps more than the successes.
Needless to say, when I saw Sports Illustrated ranking all 32 NFL teams in regards to their backup quarterback situation, I was intrigued to see where Jones landed.
Before getting into the ranking, it should be noted Joshua Dobbs, 2017 NFL Draft pick in the fourth round, is also included in these rankings, but as a rookie there is little-to-no chance he takes the QB2 job away from Jones, especially with Jones’ brand new contract this offseason.
Nonetheless, Jones and Dobbs ranked 20th out of 32 teams.
Check out the rankings:
1. Jimmy Garoppolo, Patriots
2. Matt Moore, Dolphins
3. Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch, Broncos
4. Colt McCoy, Redskins
5. Deshaun Watson, Texans
6. AJ McCarron, Bengals
7. T.J. Yates/Cardale Jones/Nathan Peterman, Bills
8. Mitchell Trubisky/Mike Glennon, Bears
9. Chad Henne, Jaguars
10. Geno Smith, Giants
11. Drew Stanton, Cardinals
12. Kevin Hogan/Brock Osweiler/DeShone Kizer, Browns
13. Chase Daniel, Saints
14. Derek Anderson, Panthers
15. Nick Foles, Eagles
16. Ryan Mallett, Ravens
17. Case Keenum, Vikings
18. Matt Barkley/CJ Beathard, 49ers
19. Bryce Petty/Christian Hackenberg, Jets – special Jets category
20. Landry Jones/Josh Dobbs, Steelers
21. Trevone Boykin, Seahawks
22. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
23. Matt Cassel, Titans
24. Kellen Clemens, Chargers
25. Connor Cook/EJ Manuel, Raiders
26. Matt Schaub, Falcons
27. Brett Hundley, Packers
28. Kellen Moore, Cowboys
29. Scott Tolzien, Colts
30. Sean Mannion, Rams
31. Jake Rudock/Brad Kaaya, Lions
32. Ryan Griffin, Buccaneers
The rankings aren’t, or shouldn’t be, a shock to anyone considering how Landry Jones has performed when starting the past two seasons; however, I find it hard to believe Bryce Petty, Matt Barkley, Chad Henne and anyone the Cleveland Browns put under center is considered to be better than Jones.
What fans should keep in mind is this: Is Landry Jones perfect? Not by any stretch of the imagination, but he is capable. Could he keep the team afloat for more than 3-4 games? No, but there aren’t many on this list who could do that themselves. This preseason Jones will get a ton of repetitions, again, and if Dobbs performs well after Jones, fans will be yelling for him to be the primary backup.
Just don’t count on it happening.
Landry Jones was re-signed for a reason, and the Steelers trust him if something happens to Ben Roethlisberger. Love him, few of you, or hate him, many of you, Landry Jones is sticking around as QB2, at least for this season.
8. [Jags Dede] Westbrook is a player with elite quickness and athleticism, parlaying that into a Biletnikoff Award-winning season for Oklahoma in 2016 and a fourth-place finish in Heisman Trophy balloting. His task now: transition from a spread offense to an NFL. “Of course me coming from a spread offense, it’s been a bit difficult,” Westbrook said upon signing his deal Tuesday. “I come from a spread offense where you signal one individual route, which is what you have, to reading the whole sequence of a play. It’s a bit different for me, but I’m getting it down.” Westbrook’s quickness and speed has caused many to believe he will play slot receiver in the NFL. Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said Westbrook worked outside at rookie minicamp. While he may indeed play slot as a rookie, his future could be on the outside. …
9. While the Jacksonville cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye makes headlines, Aaron Colvin is also a player to watch within the Jaguars’ secondary in 2017. Colvin is projected to be the Jaguars’ third corner in nickel packages, and was highly productive in the 10 games he played in 2016.
In coverage, Colvin was one of the stingiest corners in the league. The 0.75 yards per coverage snap he allowed tied for the fifth-lowest mark amongst 117 eligible cornerbacks in 2016. Exclusively in the slot, Colvin allowed 0.78 yards per coverage snap, good for fifth amongst 52 eligible slot corners.
In both the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Colvin was productive when asked to rush the passer. On a combined 53 pass-rushing snaps, he has accounted for 13 QB pressures, hovering among the top 10 corners in pass-rushing productivity. 2017 is a contract year for Colvin, and if he can sustain the potential he’s shown in spurts over a whole season, it would be extremely beneficial for both the Jaguars and his future.
10. The Jaguars also had several players working on the sideline during practice. Safeties Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church, cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Aaron Colvin, running back T.J. Yeldon, tight end Neal Sterling and third-round pick Dawuane Smoot were among the group. Colvin was seen in a walking boot. It's worth nothing that he was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury toward the end of last season.
11. As expected, [Broncos] first-round draft pick Garett Bolles will compete with veterans Ty Sambrailo and Donald Stephenson for the left tackle position. But in probably the biggest surprise of the day, Joseph said that Stephenson has the starting job for now and that Bolles will have to earn that position.
“We got Bolles in the first round, but he’s got to earn his place,” coach Vance Joseph said after practice. “Stephenson has been there every day between phase 1 and phase 2; he’s a veteran player. As far as the starter right now it’s Stephenson with Bolles, and we’re also working Ty Sambrailo. It’s three guys working that left tackle position.”
Considering Stephenson and Sambrailo were both at one point considered among the five worst tackles in the NFL last year, it’s a big surprise that Bolles won’t have more of an opportunity to push them aside right out of the gate. Given the open nature of the QB competition, it’s a little strange that there’s not a similar approach with the position of greatest need for improvement on the roster.
12. Starting just six games last season, [Broncos LB Corey] Nelson registered 40 solo tackles and also defended an impressive five passes. Nelson, who started his career as a special teams contributor, has shows flashes of potential, particularly in coverage.
Nelson needs to polish his technique before becoming a full-time starter, but his solid play during Marshall’s absence last season showed promise for a player looking to take a big step forward in 2017.
13. Two years ago, the Chiefs had both James Winchester and Andrew East compete during the offseason for the long snapper position. Winchester, who won the spot, actually signed a contract extension with the Chiefs this past January. Winchester doesn’t just snap the ball, he makes plays during punt returns as well.
