Paul Bretl | 10/16/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers have put a lot more on the plate of cornerback Keisean Nixon this season, and this do-it-all role at the cornerback position is one that he’s certainly embraced and also filled quite well.
“I think Keisean’s had a really good year, and I think it’s been kind of quiet that lot of people haven’t brought him up,” said defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. “But look at what he’s been able to do? His coverage has been tight, he’s been able to blitz, he’s been aggressive against the run.”
Through the first three games of the season, Nixon was the Packers slot cornerback, just as he was a season ago. However, in part due to injuries and in part defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wanting to get safety Javon Bullard closer to the ball, over the last three games, Nixon has filled the boundary cornerback role as well. Over the last two games, in particular, Nixon has played 100 snaps lined up out wide compared to just 22 from the nickel.
It was during training camp that the Packers started preparing Nixon for potential boundary snaps–a role that he’s quite comfortable with. Before joining the Packers in 2022, in the defensive playing time that Nixon did see with Las Vegas, the bulk of those opportunities came lined up on the boundary.
“I feel a lot more comfortable because before I got to Green Bay, I wasn’t really a nickel,” said Nixon. “I’ve only played outside corner and then I got here, I was kinda — I wouldn’t say forced — it was really my only way to get on the field, so I had to learn it and then last year, it was like growth and then this year, I’m playing a lot more outside and I feel way more comfortable like that, but just the nickel role, I just feel like I finally understand it and I’m comfortable, so I make more plays doing it. I’m really comfortable doing it.”
When asked to get after the quarterback from the slot, Nixon has been extremely effective, generating four pressures, including two sacks, on only five pass rush opportunities, according to PFF. This also includes forcing a fumble on a strip-sack against Minnesota.
In coverage, he’s allowed 19 completions on 30 targets, holding opponents to under 10.0 yards per catch, along with forcing three pass breakups. In addition to that, Nixon’s 10 total tackles in the run game are tied for the 16th most out of 98 eligible cornerbacks.
Like I said, he’s doing it all for this defense, along with handling kick return duties and recently seeing some punt return opportunities as well.
“I think it’s a testament to how versatile Keisean is,” said Jaire Alexander. “He’s an elite kick returner, punt returner, and now he can play nickel, he can play corner when we need him to, I mean, he’s one of the most athletic guys I’ve seen in the DB room. Like, you’re talking about a guy who can just wake up in the morning a dunk a ball with two hands. Like, I don’t see how he does that. But that’s Keisean.”
Nixon’s presence in the secondary, whether lined up in the slot or out wide, brings an added physicality to the back-end of this Packers’ defense. Hafley also mentions that in watching Nixon’s film, where he’s really seen him making major strides is in his man-coverage abilities, which is an important aspect of playing both the nickel and boundary successfully.
Whether on one play Nixon has coverage responsibilities and then the next he has to crack-replace to provide run support, the Packers trust Nixon in both roles, which has led to more opportunities on Sundays.
“I think there’s a confidence with him right now,” said Hafley. “I would say right now, I think Keisean needs to get more credit than he’s probably getting for all that we’ve asked him to do and all the different things he’s actually been able to have success with. I’m really proud of him. I think he can continue to take steps.”
That versatility component that Nixon brings between not only playing both cornerback spots but being able to hold his own in both coverage and against the run gives Hafley added flexibility as he puts together game-plans to really mix and match how he constructs his secondary and what he asks each of those defenders to do based on the matchup at hand.
This element makes game-planning for the Green Bay defense more difficult and allows them more opportunities to disguise their play-call.
In part, it’s circumstance, but the Packers coaches have put a lot on Nixon’s plate in the early going this season because they know he can handle it. As Matt LaFleur mentioned on Monday, the success Nixon has had begins with his preparation each week–“he prepares the right way.”
That, coupled with Nixon’s ultra-competitive nature and willingness to take coaching–even if not in the moment–has helped him blossom from a special teams-only player to a versatile and more than capable defender that we see on Sundays.
“The versatility I think has been huge,” Matt LaFleur said of Nixon. “The ability to go in and play nickel and then, oh, nope, we’re down some bodies, you’ve got to go play corner. I think again, just, I love his approach to the game. He is a great competitor and I think it shows every, not only every Sunday, but every day at practice.
“He goes out there with the right mentality. I love the fact that you can coach him hard and he’s receptive to it. He might not always be in the moment, but he always responds and that’s one thing that I really admire about him is just, you can keep it real with him and he will respond.”