Joe Mixon says he will set tone for Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon wants to be the tone-setter for the Cincinnati Bengals. Even with the franchise adding weapons to their passing game, the running back believes the offense runs through him.

“For me, it always starts up front and with me and how physical I am coming at it in the game,” Mixon said, via the team’s website. “I’m going to set the tone. I always set the tone for the team. And they feed off of me. There are a lot of plays and a lot of yards out there.”

Even with the addition of wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to the team’s passing game, Mixon believes in himself as the workhorse. Following an injury-riddled 2020, Mixon is attempting to regain the form that made him a 1,000-yard rusher in 2019 and 2018. 

This season, the former Oklahoma Sooners running back will finally get his chance to gel with Joe Burrow. The quarterback and running back each missed ample time in 2020. To illustrate, Mixon only played in 6 games, while Burrow suffered a torn ACL in November.

If Mixon can set the tone like he wants for the Bengals, the team’s offense could be one of the league’s most underrated entering 2021. As Burrow returns to the lineup as well, the team has a surplus of young, talented playmakers.

The “Fabulous Five”

Aside from anointing himself as the tonesetter for the Bengals offense, Mixon gave his offensive counterparts a catchy nickname. 

“The Fabulous Five,” Mixon told the Bengals press corps as he anointed his three wide receivers and quarterback Joe Burrow, per the team’s website. “I was thinking ‘Fantastic Four.’ Me. Jamar (Chase), Tee (Higgins) and TB (Tyler Boyd). But I can’t forget my dog Joey B. I had to throw in ‘The Fabulous Five,’ there … Five people that are real life big play guys. Home run guys.”

How could he leave out the team’s star quarterback in Burrow? Plus, ‘Fabulous Five’ may save Mixon from fighting with Marvel if he ever wanted to trademark the name.

While Mixon and Burrow are exciting, the rest of the Bengals offensive excitement comes from their young, talented receiving corps. Chase, Higgins and Boyd makeup one of the league’s best units.

First, Chase joins the Bengals after being selected fifth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he reunites with his college quarterback in Burrow. The duo lit the college football world on fire at LSU, and they hope to recapture that magic in Cincinnati.

Next, Higgins rookie season started off slow, but the former Clemson Tiger picked up steam as the season went on. After a campaign in which he had 67 receptions, 908 yards and 6 touchdowns, he’s looking for an even stronger sophomore season.

Finally, Boyd has been one of the league’s unsung heroes over his career. He’s had over 1,000-yards receiving in two of the last three seasons, and is the elder statesman of the ‘Fabulous Five’ at just 27 years old.

While Joe Mixon may be the tone setter, the entire Bengals offense will make noise in 2021.

Image courtesy of Ian Johnson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images