ESPN.com · Jul 12, 2023
Why explosive runs are the key for Mixon, Bengals in 2023
CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams has a good sense of when a good run turns into a great one.
Once he gets past the first level of defenders and gets to the linebackers, he knows exactly what the stakes are.
“You make that second guy miss,” Williams said. “And then when you really get into space, it’s like, ‘OK, this is the one.’ That’s obviously when big things happen.”
The problem is the Bengals didn't get enough of those big plays on the ground last season.
Cincinnati considers an explosive rushing play to be 12 yards or more. The team’s running backs had 14 of those in 2022, tied with Houston for the lowest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
