There is no question the Cincinnati Bengals suffered from a severe lack of firepower on offense last season. As a result, running back Joe Mixon has taken it upon himself to kick things up a notch.

Mixon showed up to workouts looking noticeably slimmer this offseason. According to Geoff Hobson of the team's official website, he credited his workouts in the heat as the reason for his slighter frame:

“I was working in that heat,” says Mixon, who got it both barrels in his hometown of Oakland and his adopted home of Norman, Okla. “I feel like that’s where I play my best. I was trying to get low last year but I wasn’t able to make it. I feel real good. My body feels real good. I feel like I’m in really good shape.”

One person who is excited about Mixon's potential is Bengals legend Ickey Woods.

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“He can definitely be a bell cow. A 1,000-yard back. A 1,300-1,400 yard back if he has the right offensive line in front of him,” Woods says. “He can average 80, 90 yards a game and be right there.”

Mixon showed plenty of promise in his rookie season. This should come as no surprise considering he was touted as one of the most talented running backs in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, his troubles off the field resulted in him dropping to Cincinnati in the second round.

It did not take long for Mixon to establish himself as the lead back. His emergence broke up the 1-2 punch of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard that the Bengals had been relying on for several years. However, he was never truly able to break loose last season, finishing with 178 carries for 626 yards and four touchdowns. Mixon also managed to haul in 30 receptions for 287 yards. That said, he could be poised for a workhorse role in the offense this season.