Power/Pad level
At 5’10” and 215 pounds, Dixon isn’t the biggest back in the world but he’s more than just a scat back. RBs don’t need to be hulking to be power runners. In fact, an understanding of leverage, particularly by using good pad level, and also the ability to deflect contact rather than take the brunt of the blow are more effective than sheer size for gaining yardage after contact.
Dixon shows very good pad level, braces for contact well, and shows the ability to deflect contact from defenders and still fall forward. These traits will serve him well at the NFL level.
The first play shows a trait touched on before. For RBs, it really doesn’t matter how they get yardage after contact, but it does matter that they get results. Something Dixon clearly likes to do is spin off of contact to fall forward, and he’s very effective at it. While it’s not a “power” move, for all intents and purposes it’s just as effective and lowering his pads and knocking the defender backwards.
Balance and leg drive are important attributes of working through defenders. While this play may not be a pure example of a power run, Dixon’s ability to keep his legs moving and maintain his balance through two defenders hitting his legs is impressive on this play.
While Dixon has other methods of working through contact that rely on his quickness, he’s not afraid of getting low and blowing up a defender, which can be seen in the third play. Here, he gets a great pad level and knocks the defender over, falling forward for three extra yards.
Dixon’s pad level leads to other good things. On the fourth play, he’s able to completely duck under a potential tackler. The final play shows a good pad level combined with nice leg drive to get extra yardage. On his tape, Dixon is consistently falling forward, which is a must for RBs entering the NFL.
Burst/Acceleration
Dixon has fantastic burst, and it really aids with his short area quickness. His 1.56 second 10 yard split in the 40 yard dash was one of the best at the Combine for any position and it showcases his ability to explode through holes and pick up speed quickly. He’s not just a workout warrior, as this ability also shows itself on tape:
Dixon is great at patiently waiting for a hole to open and then hitting that hole as hard as possible. The first play shows that. The second play shows Dixon using his burst to destroy the defensive tackle’s angle in the backfield. He simply runs by the defender. Dixon consistently showcased the ability to out run angles, and he splits two defenders in the third play.
He wasn’t just beating up on weak competition either, as on the fourth play he does a great job recognizing and bursting pass backfield penetration from Oklahoma. He finishes the run by attacking the DB instead of just going out of bounds, which displays his tough mentality. In the final play, his burst lets him get to the edge and then he also has the speed to slip by another defender.
