Through seven games this season, Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix ranks fourth at his position in rushing yards (255) and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (three).
Nix has made plays with his feet both on designed plays like read-option runs and on scrambles. His impressive speed has taken many fans and pundits by surprise — even if the Broncos didn’t know he was quite this fast.
“I think [his speed is] a little bit of a plus maybe we didn’t necessarily see to that extent,” coach Sean Payton said earlier this week. “We had a couple of design schemes last week, a third-down run, some read-option stuff. Things that can help our running game, and he’s smart enough to know how to protect himself.
“Certainly, take the first play of the game. We’re going to take a shot. They do a pretty good job maybe in coverage and he climbs [the pocket]. It becomes a little bit more challenging if you play man-to-man because your eyes, as a cover player, are on your player. We did, I felt, more zone as that game played out a week ago. Certainly, it’s an asset.”
After practice on Wednesday, a reporter told Nix that Payton said he was a little surprised by the QB’s speed.
“Yes, I get that a lot,” Nix said.
Nix has quickly been labeled a dual-threat quarterback. Does he take it as a compliment?
“I think so,” Nix said. “I think it’s a compliment if they give you credit throwing the ball, too. I don’t think anybody wants to just be a running quarterback in the league. The dual-threat is a good tag. It’s important and I think it’s tough, but all of that are just kind of tags. Certain guys that are known to be pocket passers will shock you running the ball.
“I think it’s really whatever the offense is asking of you, however you react to a game. Some guys extend to throw [and] they do it really well. Some guys extend to run [and] they do it well. It’s just finding that happy medium and being consistent with it.”
Nix’s mobility gives defenses one more element to worry about, and it’s been a big addition to Denver’s offense this season.
“I think that it adds another element to our offense,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said. “It allows us to be able to be multidimensional, as I guess some people would say, because they have to worry about him. It’s not just a quarterback that’s going to sit in the pocket. You can go and put a man on everybody else and double some guys, but if you don’t take account for him, he will make you pay with his legs.
“I think it’s something that added a lot of depth to our offense. [It] gives us that dimension that just allows us to be able to do a lot of more things in our passing game and also in the running game because you have to worry about him.”
This week, it will be the Carolina Panthers who are tasked with containing Nix. Opposing quarterbacks have rushed 38 times for 164 yards against the Panthers this season. No QB has scored on the ground against Carolina yet this year, perhaps a trend that Nix could break on Sunday.
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