Tag: nickel cornerback

Who will the Bucs play at nickel cornerback?

The Buccaneers face a three-way battle for the starting nickel cornerback position.

Nickel cornerback has become a de facto starting position in the modern NFL. It is also one of the few positions on the Buccaneers’ roster that is up for grabs heading into the 2024 season. While last year’s starter, undrafted rookie Christian Izien, is returning, he faces much more competition this year thanks to several additions Tampa Bay made this offseason.

Izien was one of the bigger surprises among the Bucs’ considerable rookie class last season. He was entrusted with the starting nickel role from Week 1 and played more snaps (780) than any Bucs defensive rookie in 2024, including first-round pick Calijah Kancey.

While Izien was not perfect in coverage, he was a more than adequate starter both in coverage and run support. He caught two interceptions and recorded 65 total tackles, including three tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles, during the season. Izien also played in every game last season.

It might not have surprised anyone if the Bucs opted to roll into 2024 with Izien slotted in as the undisputed nickel corner. That is not what Tampa Bay appears to be doing.

Tampa Bay added two players this offseason who are in line to compete for the nickel spot. First, they signed former Houston Texans CB Tavierre Thomas. Then the Bucs took Georgia safety Tykee Smith in the third round of this year’s draft.

Thomas was Houston’s slot corner the past three seasons. At 5’10” and 202 pounds, he is a little bigger and longer than Izien, though that should not suggest Thomas is more durable. Thomas has landed on injured reserve in each of the last two seasons.

When healthy, Thomas is a solid defender. From 2021 to 2022, Thomas allowed just 4.1 pass yards per target and a 59.7% reception rate. These figures ticked up to 8.5 yards per target and an 82.1% catch rate in 2023, though injuries might have contributed to his diminished production.

Thomas’ main advantage over Izien is his experience, having six seasons in the NFL under his belt. What is most likely to play against him is his recent injury troubles, which could cede the nickel position by default. Thomas is also signed to a one-year veteran-minimum contract, which effectively makes this season a tryout rather than a long-term commitment.

Tykee Smith enjoys a bit more security as a 2024 third-round pick. A solid defender dating back to his two years with West Virginia, Smith broke out in 2024, nabbing four interceptions and recording two sacks. His main weakness is tackling as he missed 14.8% of his tackles as a Bulldog.

The nickel competition has all the makings of a tight battle. Smith and Thomas are nearly the same size and are both a little bigger than Izien, but Izien is the better athlete among the trio. Izien also has the edge when it comes to familiarity with Todd Bowles’ defense.

As a rookie, Smith has the biggest hill to climb to win the starting job but should factor in as a rotational player. The battle should come down to Izien and Thomas. If Izien can take a step in his development, he should be able to retain his starting position. Thomas still has a window to slide into the role, but his ability to remain on the field will be paramount.

30 Most Important Bears of 2023: No. 17 Kyler Gordon

Kyler Gordon is set to play nickel cornerback after bouncing around as a rookie. He’s up next in our Most Important Bears of 2023.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2023 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. There are a number of players, coaches and front office members that are crucial to the team’s success this season.

Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2023 season. We’ll recap their 2022 season, look ahead to 2023 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

At No. 17 is cornerback Kyler Gordon, who overcame early struggles to finish his rookie season on a high note.

Who could play nickel corner for the Bucs in 2023?

The Bucs have a few options to fill its biggest defensive need heading into the season.

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The Bucs made a lot of moves to address their various roster issues this offseason, but one glaring hole remains: slot corner. Despite possessing a better-than-advertised corner duo in Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean, Tampa does not have a clear notion of who will play the nickel position in the secondary.

Neither Davis or Dean have much experience at nickel. According to Pro Football Focus, plays in the slot account for less than 10% of their overall snaps on defense over their NFL careers. This is unlikely to change given their skill sets as long press corners.

Last year, the Bucs experimented with playing Antoine Winfield Jr. at nickel, giving him 445 snaps in the slot per PFF, most on the team. He was capable in the slot, but his play did not quite match the excellence he provided at free safety the previous two seasons.

While Todd Bowles has indicated he would prefer to keep Winfield Jr. at just one position, there has yet to be any indication what position that is. Winfield Jr. is Tampa’s only real option to start at free safety so the odds are better that Bowles keeps him there instead.

Tampa has few reliable options otherwise. Dee Delaney has the most experience in the slot, but still primarily played outside corner. Same goes for second-year CB Zyon McCollum, who struggled in coverage overall last season.

The dark horse on the roster is rookie Josh Hayes. The 2023 sixth-round pick primarily played the nickel for Kansas State last year. Naturally, playing a rookie at such a key position is a risky proposition, particularly when he allowed a 109.9 passer rating from the slot last year per PFF.

The Bucs’ last option is to add a veteran free agent defensive back likely before training camp. The simplest solution would be to bring back Logan Ryan, who has experience playing in the slot and free safety, giving Bowles maximum flexibility with how to address both positions and use Antoine Winfield Jr.

Other options include former Saints CB P.J. Williams, former Browns S John Johnson and former Chargers CB Bryce Callahan. With little cap space left, the Bucs cannot afford to give any free agent a big payday, but that holds true for most teams at this point of the offseason. Many current free agents will have to settle for a veteran minimum deal, which would be about all the Bucs will be able to afford anyway.

Seahawks have interest in free agent safety Damarious Randall

The Seattle Seahawks are looking for more depth in the secondary, and for competition for Ugo Amadi at the nickel cornerback position.

The legal tampering period of the NFL’s free agency has begun, and the Seattle Seahawks are reportedly interested in free agent defensive back Damarious Randall, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.

Randall, 27, spent the last two seasons as the starting free safety for the Browns, recording 146 combined tackles, 15 passes defended and four interceptions in 26 starts.

However, prior to that Randall was a versatile defensive back who spent time at both the outside corner and nickel corner spots while with the Packers, who originally drafted him in the first round of the 2015 draft.

The Seahawks would likely move Randall around in training camp, viewing him as a potential backup safety (he’s unlikely to unseat Quandre Diggs or Bradley McDougald) and potential competition for Tre Flowers and Ugo Amadi at right corner and nickel, respectively.

Randall has already drawn interest from multiple teams, so there’s no guarantee he ends up in the Emerald City, but he’d be a nice, versatile depth option for coach Pete Carroll to experiment with in training camp.

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Seahawks’ nickel cornerback job is Ugo Amadi’s to lose

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the nickel corner job is Ugo Amadi’s to lose, but they still plan to bring competition to camp.

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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Pete Carroll wishes Seahawks played Ugo Amadi at nickel sooner

Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi has taken to the nickel spot quickly, making Pete Carroll regret not playing him sooner.

All training camp, Seattle Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi battled to be the team’s starting nickelback.

It was a battle he did not win, as the team opted to run their base 4-3 defense at a league-leading rate instead, and when they did go nickel, they opted for veteran Jamar Taylor. However, Taylor struggled mightily all season long, before finally getting released after Week 10.

That should have marked the beginning of the Amadi era, but because of matchup concerns the Seahawks started Akeem King in that role for the next few weeks.

Finally, after not seeing a single defensive snap between Week 3 and Week 14, it was Amadi’s time to shine against the Panthers in Week 15 – and he quickly reminded everyone why he should have started in the first place.

Amadi has already shown tremendous growth in just four short weeks with regular playing time, and his recent performance has coach Pete Carroll wishing he had turned to him sooner.

“He’s doing a good job,” Carroll said on Wednesday. “I’m really glad we made the commitment a few weeks back to get him in there to allow him to grow. I wish we would’ve done it a little bit earlier. We would’ve seen him develop faster because he’s really kind of blossoming. He understands the position well. He understands the disguises of it. There’s a lot of intricacies in the nickel spot. He’s a really bright kid and he’s handling it really well. He’s in a good place to make plays.”

Amadi was drafted in the fourth round out of Oregon thanks to his versatility as a cornerback, safety, special teams contributor and even potentially as a return man.

However, it was always expected he would settle in at the nickel spot, replacing dynamic playmaker Justin Coleman.

While it look a little longer into his rookie year than expected, Amadi is finally finding himself at a crucial time for this Seahawks squad, as they look to advance past the divisional round for the first time since 2014.

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Is it time for Seahawks rookie Ugo Amadi to get more opportunities?

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed rookie defensive back Ugo Amadi will get more opportunity on defense this season.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll likes to have his rookies develop on the special teams early in their first season before he gradually works them in on either offense or defense as they get more accustomed to the speed of the NFL game.

DK Metcalf emerged right away as an impact piece on Seattle’s offense, and safety Marquise Blair was starting at free safety for a few weeks, but most of the rest of the rookie class has settled into roles on special teams – with an eye on making that jump in the coming weeks.

Next on the list appears to be defensive back Ugo Amadi, a 2019 fourth round pick who has excelled on the special teams this season after impressing throughout training camp and the preseason.

“He’s doing really well,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday. “He has been a playmaker on special teams throughout. His opportunities will continue to come about because he has been so consistent in everything he is doing. He hasn’t done anything that isn’t good. His effort is great. His playmaking, his decision making, the savvy, the situations that he’s been in; he’s just been really good. So, I’m anxious for him to contribute more. He’s one of those guys that have been with us long enough, it’s time for him to get some more opportunities so we’re looking for that.”

Carroll also confirmed that Amadi is working primarily at the nickel cornerback position, although he’s still an option at safety as well.

Veteran Jamar Taylor has been the team’s starting nickel all season, but he’s had a rough year and that was never more apparent than last Monday against the 49ers, when he was burned repeatedly early in the game.

“He’s been up and down, and he had a couple plays last week that got away,” Carroll said. “He’s in a competitive situation, and he’s got to keep doing well to hold his spot just like everybody else.”

It sounds like Amadi is right on Taylor’s tail for playing time at the nickel spot, and Sunday’s game against the Eagles could be a chance for Amadi to take the job going forward.

“Coming off the break we have a chance to revisit some of that stuff,” Carroll continued. “If it fits with different positions, and guys, and individuals, we’re looking to take advantage of that.”

The 8-2 Seahawks will take on Philadelphia on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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