Although running back Joe Mixon has had off-the-field issues, his talent and production are remarkable. Regardless, the San Francisco 49ers need playmakers on offense and Mixon would be a much-needed addition.
Joe Mixon, the redshirt sophomore from Oklahoma, has had outstanding back-to-back seasons. This would give head coach Kyle Shanahan a two-headed monster at running back with Carlos Hyde and Mixon.
This past season, Mixon was second in the FBS for all-purpose yards per game, with 194.3 yards per game, trailing only RB Christian McCaffrey.
Not only is the Oklahoma RB a runner out of the backfield, he is also a pass-catching threat, lining up all over the field.
San Francisco 49ers
He’s a three-down back, who was also used in short down and red-zone situations. At Oklahoma, he also returned kickoffs and some punts. If drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, he would immediately take over the kickoff and punt-returning duties.
He’s a special talent on the field, but due to the domestic violence incident, back in 2014, his draft stock has slipped..
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Mixon claimed that NFL teams told him he had a first-round grade. But, later his agent, Peter Schaffer, went back and stated that it was mostly feedback they had heard. It wasn’t the official draft grade that teams give players.
Pelissero goes on to add that NFL teams have taken Mixon off their boards completely and he may not get drafted at all.
For as talented as Mixon is, the San Francisco 49ers should look to add him in the draft. John Lynch and Co. shouldn’t hesitate and pull the trigger on Mixon.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Mixon comes in at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, which is a prototypical size for an NFL running back.
Let’s first take a look at Mixon’s rushing numbers from his two years at Oklahoma. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season and came back and had two solid season after.
The defenses he goes up against on a weekly basis are not great, as he plays in the Big-12 Conference, but still the statistics are eye-popping:
| Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2015 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | FR | RB | 13 | 113 | 753 | 6.7 | 7 | 28 | 356 | 12.7 | 4 | 141 | 1109 | 7.9 | 11 |
| 2016 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | SO | RB | 12 | 187 | 1274 | 6.8 | 10 | 37 | 538 | 14.5 | 5 | 224 | 1812 | 8.1 | 15 |
| Career | Oklahoma | 300 | 2027 | 6.8 | 17 | 65 | 894 | 13.8 | 9 | 365 | 2921 | 8.0 | 26 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 2/19/2017.
Arguably, Mixon’s rushing totals are lower than the other top running back prospects in this draft. Running back Leonard Fournette from LSU had 1,953 rushing yards in 2015 and RB Dalvin Cook from Florida State had 1,765 rushing yards.
But when receiving yards are thrown into the mix, Mixon outshines both Fournette and Cook. Mixon nearly tripled Fournette’s output and had about 100 more yards than Cook.
Mixon is a threat all over the field, he is able to catch passes out of the backfield with more consistency than the projected first-round running backs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Joe Mixon is one of the top 25 draft prospects. He’s a home-run threat, as he has 54.5 breakaway percentage. This means that when he touches the ball, nearly half the time, he has the potential to breakaway from the defense.
The Sooners’ RB averages 2.60 yards per route, which ranks second among all Power-5 running backs. Ranking second again, Mixon also possesses an overall grade of 87.1.
This kind of on-the-field performance cannot be ignored and he would be the offensive playmaker that San Francisco needs. Kyle Shanahan was able to do wonders with running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in Atlanta. Imagine what he can do with a backfield duo of Hyde and Mixon?
Breaking Down the Film
Watching Mixon play in games against Texas Tech, Auburn and West Virginia, a lot of different plays stood out. These plays highlight his different skill-sets and his innate home-run ability.
Taken from DraftBreakdown.com, the full video against Texas Tech can be seen there.
In this first play, Mixon lines up the backfield, but is matched up one-on-one against a linebacker. He easily beats him with one move and has the breakaway speed to turn it into a 56-yard touchdown:
Later in the game, Mixon shows his vision and patience on a running play. He originally goes left, realizes there’s nothing there and has the creativity to go all the way to the other side.
It ends up being a huge play that was engineering by Mixon’s vision:
Also, Mixon lays a huge stiff arm on the 250-pound Texas Tech linebacker, showing the toughness and strength that the Oklahoma RB possesses.
Mixon has a natural ability to catch the ball too, as he has soft hands and rarely drops the ball. In this play below, he runs a route from the backfield, and snags a one-handed catch easily.
Caught in stride, Mixon turns it into a touchdown:
The full video in his game against Auburn in the Sugar Bowl can be found here on DraftBreakdown.com.
Right off the bat, Mixon shows his ability to cut back and burst through the hole. Although he possesses good patience and vision, he flies through the hole when he sees it.
The play was called back for chop-block penalty:
On the other hand, his pass blocking has been hit or miss. Oklahoma typically did not have him pass block as he is a receiving threat.
But in this instance against Auburn, he just falls back and allows for the rusher to get to QB Baker Mayfield:
Mixon continues to show his burst and jets in the open field in this play against Auburn:
The Sooners’ RB also stays on the field in 3rd and short situations, shown in this clip below in a game against West Virginia:
Mixon was vital in Oklahoma’s red-zone offense and would be a much needed threat for the 49ers in the red zone:
What the Scouts are Saying
According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Mixon has the ability to be on the field every single down. Zierlein claims that Mixon can change the game in the ground and through the air. Some weaknesses however are that Mixon struggles to create with weaker offensive line play, but he can be a chess piece that moves around the field.
An NFC North Scout added that Mixon is a top-40 player, that won’t go there due to his off-the-field issues. He won’t create for himself, but can be a huge impact.
Zierlein compares him to Le’Veon Bell and throughout watching Mixon’s game film, I felt the same thing. He has a patience and calmness similar to Bell as they dance around in the backfield before making the first move.
Matt Miller of Bleacher Report ranks Joe Mixon the 52nd ranked prospect, and claims that he has the best potential out of anyone in the NFL draft.
The San Francisco 49ers cannot afford to miss out on a running back prospect like Mixon who can be had later in the draft due to his off the field issues.
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Addressing the Domestic Violence Concerns
Back in 2014, Joe Mixon punched a fellow female student at Oklahoma. She had four broken bones in her face and completely lost feeling for months. As a result, Mixon was suspended for the entire football season.
He pleaded to the misdemeanor charges, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and also attend counseling.
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By no means is domestic violence or hitting a woman okay. I do not condone what he did and think it’s absolutely despicable and gross. But, the United States Judicial System decided that his legal punishment should only be community service and counseling.
So why should the NFL be responsible for punishing Mixon any further? Undoubtedly, Mixon will drop in the draft and probably could be had on day three. The San Francisco 49ers should not have to worry about the PR backlash that would ensue from drafting Joe Mixon.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan should only concern themselves of adding talented, NFL-caliber players who can turn around the 49ers. Mixon’s more than capable of being a vital cog in the offense.
Furthermore, Tom Pelissero of USA Today adds that Oklahoma officials believe that Mixon’s incident was an isolated act and he’s regarded highly in the locker room.
Also, John Middlekauff, a former NFL Scout, who has sources in Oklahoma claimed that coaches and staff there swear by Joe Mixon. They absolutely love the running back and believe that he’s a completely changed and new person.
Final Thoughts on Mixon
When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted WR Tyreek Hill in the fifth round, many were hesitant, according to Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated. But now one of the most electrifying stars in the NFL, fans in Kansas City have embraced their superstar in the making.
Similarly, when the Seattle Seahawks drafted DE Frank Clark, they received a lot of criticism for their draft choice. Since then, Clark has gone on to terrorize opposing offensive lines. Fans and fellow teammates have embraced Clark and don’t regard his pre-draft issues as much anymore.
Similar to Mixon, both players were involved in domestic violence issues before the NFL Draft, but teams drafted them anyways. Both teams received a lot of fair criticism, but with stellar play on the field, fans have began to embrace those stars.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan should not worry about the heat they would take from local media if they draft Mixon. Instead, they should be concerned about how to integrate him into the offense and turn him into a star.
Next: Evaluating Whether Marshon Lattimore is Worth The 49ers No. 2 Pick
The NFL is a bottom-line business. John Lynch and Co. should only worry about whether or not RB Joe Mixon will produce on Sundays. Based on his tape and numbers, the 49ers should not be scared to draft Mixon in the NFL Draft.