Brian Dawkins is among the many who have voiced their thoughts on Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix in the midst of his rookie season, as Nix has shown flashes but has also been a bit polarizing as a prospect.
That’s nothing new though — such was the case when Nix was playing for Auburn, suiting up at Oregon, going through the draft process, and preparing to start as an NFL quarterback.
So far this season, Nix has completed 62.6% of his passes for 1,753 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He also totals 295 rushing yards and four scores on the ground on 58 carries.
So, what could Nix be doing better here? The legendary former NFL safety has a bit of unsolicited advice for the Broncos signal-caller.
The majority of that comes down to simply taking care of the football. Ironically, that’s what Nix was commended for most when he was playing for the Ducks, perhaps unfairly given the “game manager” title by some of his critics.
“What you see from Bo (Nix) is that with some of the creativity, he has to get the ball down the field to get first downs,” Dawkins said in an interview with RG.org. “It’s going to be imperative for him not to turn the ball over. That’s always the case for a quarterback – especially for a rookie – and to not beat himself up too much when he makes mistakes.”
Regardless of what Nix needs to fix and where he’s lacking, there is no escaping the rookie growing pains. They are inevitable, and there should be some understanding there.
“Because mistakes will be made. They will be made, and you can’t beat yourself up to the point that it affects you on the next play on the next read, and that’s going to be the learning thing for him,” Dawkins continued. “But from what I’ve seen from him and from that relationship [with Sean Payton], it seems they’re clicking.”
While some are still skeptical of Nix, he has more than proven himself. Just look at the metrics and the backing he has from those who matter the most — the coaching staff and his teammates.
His 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate is the third-lowest in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. He also has 33 plays that have gone for 20 yards or more and he’s tied for 12th in the NFL with 13 total touchdowns.
Catching flack is nothing new for Bo Nix, but it’s clear that just as it’s always been, it is unwarranted and highly unsubstantiated.
It may take time for he and the Broncos to get to where they want to be as a legitimate playoff contender, but Denver has the right player at the helm to help them do so.
