How Can Bo Nix Avoid a Sophomore Slump?

 Nix’s Upside

Broncos Country absolutely adores Nix, especially after proving to the fanbase that he can overcome adversity.

In his freshman season, Nix initially struggled, leaving fans second guessing if they had made a mistake selecting him 12th overall. But since then, he hasn’t looked back. He posting a 93.3 passer rating, forcing pundits to label him as an above average QB with a high ceiling.

The raw talent is there, and it’s hard to ignore; an absolute cannon for an arm, extremely athletic with great pocket presence, and rarely gets sacked behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. But as much as Nix proved himself last year, his game still raises some question marks that could lead to a few hiccups in his second year commanding the Broncos offense. 

Handling the Pressure

Everyone has a weakness: Superman’s is kryptonite, Josh Allen’s is the Chiefs, and Bo Nix’s is pressure, bad decision making, and what those decisions lead to. 

Nix doesn’t get sacked a lot thanks to his athleticism and strong offensive line, but when the pocket starts to collapse, he is at his worst. Nix’s instinct is to force passes to avoid being sacked, which often leads to interceptions, giving the other team more opportunities to score. 

Last December, against a below average Colts team, Nix faced adversity. Despite a comfortable 31-13 win, Nix threw three interceptions but was only sacked once. Instead of force-feeding guys like Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. when the pocket collapses, Nix needs to remain calm. Making bad decisions like the ones against Indianapolis are a recipe for disaster for young quarterbacks, especially in meaningful games. 

Time To Prove It

Bo Nix has been a godsend for the Broncos so far. He looks like the long-awaited answer to their quarterback dilemma that has been present ever since Peyton Manning retired in 2015. 

The talent is certainly there with Nix, and with new weapons like Evan Engram, he has all the tools to explode this year. However, the Broncos must realize that Nix needs to conquer the mountain that is the sophomore slump if they want to make their way back to the playoffs. 

Bo Nix replicating his rookie campaign is exactly what Denver needs to take the next step.