Bo Nix, the dynamic quarterback for the Denver Broncos, enters his second year with renewed vigor and important lessons learned from his rookie season. After undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason, Nix is hungry to improve on a dazzling debut. He passed for 3,775 yards and 29 passing touchdowns while exhibiting his dual-threat ability with 430 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. The Broncos should be building confidence heading into the new season. There are three important themes that will be central to Nix’s maturation and success.
Despite these struggles, Nix’s first year was not without success, as he posted a 66.3% completion percentage. There were concerns too. His completion percentage fell all the way down to 44.9% on passes thrown 20 yards or more. This season, Nix hopes to rectify these uneven moments while continuing to build a wall of protection from his coaching staff and teammates.
Offseason Recovery and Training
The offseason has featured Nix going under the knife with ankle surgery, something Nix considers an important step to becoming a better version of himself this season. He emphasized the importance of rest and strength training, stating, “Rest is a component, I think and it’s important. … Make sure you give your shoulder a long rest from throwing but keep it strong.”
Nix has done a number of different things in his training to take a multifaceted approach to how he’s going about this, working on things outside of throwing. He’s confident this more holistic and health-focused strategy will set him up to better weather the rigors of the long and challenging season ahead. “I decided that it was too early for a season to end,” Nix said, reflecting on his commitment to continuous improvement.
Coaching staff—including head coach Sean Payton—have impacted Nix’s development like few others. Payton was very clear on just how important it is to design effective playcalls that make use of Nix’s skillset. Anderson continued: “Finding out what we do best as an offensive unit and what plays really make [Nix] click and thrive.
The Role of Support Systems
Nix knows that his development as a player is solely up to him. He’s aware that being buoyed by the support of his teammates has been an integral part of his development. He underscored how important pass protection and a strong running game is, something all quarterbacks need in order to thrive. “I want to always look and see what I can do better,” he remarked, indicating his desire to improve his game through collaboration.
The Broncos’ deadline trade for tight end Evan Engram should push the versatility and effectiveness of this offense to new heights. Last year, Nix battled with shallow receiving targets at the tight end position. Catching passes from Brett Rypien, Lucas Krull led all Broncos tight ends with 19 receptions. Engram’s addition might well give Nix more of those critical short and intermediate targets outside the hashes.
What’s most stunning to opponents and coaches alike has been his improvement in mobility. His ability to feel and evade pressure. The guy was only sacked 24 times last season. Perhaps even more impressively, none of those sacks occurred in the Broncos’ 20-yard line, showcasing his incredible ability to move within the pocket.
Embracing Continuous Growth
As Nix prepares to capitalize on last season heading into the new season, he knows it can’t make him lazy. “I can’t ever be just comfortable in how I do things,” he stated firmly. More than anything, he knows that championship-level success requires relentless adaptation in order to be successful at the NFL level.
Nix understands that each team presents unique defensive schemes, and some games will call for a more conservative approach. Payton echoed this sentiment by cautioning against an overwhelming increase in volume: “Each team has a different defensive structure, but I think the mistake would be this large jump in volume.”
The QB is focused on making sure that doesn’t happen, that he stays unpredictable as the season rolls along. If I sit here and pretend that I’m the best that I can be as a player, then I won’t get any better. I still have to continue challenging myself to improve. I want to be nice, one of the nicest,” he continued, painting a picture of an artist who’s always looking to hone his craft, even further.
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