Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned the possibility of having multiple groupings involving the slot cornerback position and didn’t dismiss the idea of training Jordan Morgan as the swing tackle in case of an injury to Rasheed Walker or Zach Tom.
Asked if Keisean Nixon was locked in as the defense’s starter in the slot, LaFleur said “it’s all a competition” before bringing up the idea of other groupings based on personnel.
“We’ll let it play out,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “Throughout the course of the season, there’s going to be competition. We’re trying to get our best players out there. There’s nothing to say you can’t have multiple groupings as well. A lot of teams will do that. A lot of different bodies in there. Some teams will have a ‘Big Nickel’ where they get more of safety body type in there, vs. their regular nickel, however it shakes out.”
The obvious candidate to play in bigger nickel packages is rookie safety Javon Bullard, who has extensive experience playing in the slot and has the versatility required to play near the line of scrimmage. Bullard is competing to be the starter at safety, but it’s possible the Packers will experiment with playing Bullard in the slot and rookie Evan Williams next to Xavier McKinney at safety.
“The thing that you notice is just the level of physicality he plays with, he’s got great instincts, and his versatility, whether it’s safety or nickel, he’s a guy who can do either or,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur said Bullard “did a lot of great things” in his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.
Some teams use safeties as linebackers in “Big Nickel” packages, which could be another way to get Williams or rookie Kitan Oladapo on the field.
On offense, Morgan — the team’s first-round pick — returned to practice Tuesday. He’s been getting reps primarily at right guard, where the Packers believe he has the best case to start right away. But LaFleur didn’t dismiss the idea of giving Morgan more tackle reps to prepare him for a situation where the Packers might need him outside.
“Potentially,” LaFleur said. “We’ll see.”
At this point, Andre Dillard, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telfort and Travis Glover are getting the majority of the reps at offensive tackle behind the two starters.
Morgan, the 25th overall pick, started for three straight seasons at left tackle for Arizona. He could increase his value dramatically — even as a rookie — if he can both start at right guard and provide depth at offensive tackle. But it would be hard to blame the Packers if they kept Morgan’s focus on one position as he transitions to the NFL.