One of the big mysteries heading into the 2019 season for the Seattle Seahawks was at the nickel cornerback position.
After Justin Coleman departed for greener pastures in Detroit, the team was left with a handful of options in training camp, including veterans Jamar Taylor and Akeem King, and rookie Ugo Amadi.
Taylor and King each got their chances, but it took until Week 14 against the Panthers for Amadi to finally take over the role full-time. Even then, the Seahawks committed to running their base 4-3 defense at an alarmingly high rate last season, making the nickel position more obsolete than it has been in years in Seattle’s scheme.
Carroll eventually admitted he wishes they had played Amadi at nickel sooner, a testament to his abilities at the position – and the struggles by Taylor and King.
Carroll doesn’t sound ready to make that same mistake again in 2020, telling reporters at the NFL combine that the nickel position is “Ugo’s to lose right now.”
Carroll did go on to say the team will bring in competition during training camp, but with Taylor, King and Kalan Reed all set to hit free agency it could be an entirely new crop of contenders for the job.
Amadi is a hard-hitter and all-around playmaker, although the numbers don’t paint a pretty picture of him in pass coverage, with his 11 times targeted resulting in nine receptions for 83 yards and an opposing passer rating of 98.3.
Still, he has the build and necessary traits to exceed as a nickel in Carroll’s defense, a role that might increase in 2020 following the not-so-great experiment of having linebackers operate in more coverage from last season.
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