If the Packers finally get over the hump and win the Super Bowl next year, the biggest reason won’t be a free agent defensive lineman signed in March or a rookie wide receiver drafted in April. The biggest reason will be a coach hired in February.
After taking their chances with one unproven (i.e., inexpensive) special teams coordinator after another for over 20 years, the Packers finally ponied up for the real deal when they added Rich Bisaccia to the staff just three weeks after a blocked punt knocked them out of the playoffs. It hasn’t taken long for the widely respected 62-year-old’s influence to be felt.
General manager Brian Gutekunst signed 31-year-old Pat O’Donnell to a two-year contract worth $4 million early in free agency. It can’t be a coincidence that the longtime Bear will be the first punter with more than two full years of experience to open a season for the Packers since Derrick Frost in 2008. Gutekunst’s first two punters (rookie JK Scott and Corey Bojorquez) had kicked in a combined 40 games before coming to Green Bay. O’Donnell has kicked in 123 games.
O’Donnell’s experience should serve the Packers well when the temps fall below 40 degrees, and the snow begins to fall. Both Scott and Bojorquez were far less effective in November and December than they were in September and October. That hasn’t been the case with O’Donnell, whose numbers have always remained consistent throughout the season. He’s also a very good holder. That should benefit veteran kicker Mason Crosby, who never felt comfortable with Bojorquez.
An even bigger example of Biasucci’s influence came last Friday when Gutekunst signed Keisean Nixon, who played for Biasucci in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old is listed as a cornerback, but barring a run of injuries, he won’t see a meaningful snap on defense in 2022. That’s good because his cover skills will make fans long for the days of Josh Jackson and Isaac Yiadom.
In the above video, despite giving speedy Chargers receiver Jalen Guyton a huge 11-yard cushion, Nixon (#22) still gets burned by three or four yards on the long pass. This set up the winning touchdown in overtime. He’s OK with balls in front of him, but because he plays too upright and is often late out of his pedal, he’s very susceptible to getting beat vertically.
Nixon was signed with the sole purpose of improving a special teams unit that was ranked dead last a year ago. The former South Carolina star has been one of the better gunners in the league since joining the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He is blessed with good size (5’11, 200), excellent speed (4.42), and most important when covering kicks and punts, a burning desire to do that particular job. The Packers haven’t had enough of those players in recent years.
In the top video, Nixon shows his determination as he fights through a trio of blockers to make the tackle at the 22-yard line. In the above video, Nixon uses his speed to race untouched down the field and again make the tackle at the 22.
Prior to Biasucci’s hiring, it’s difficult to remember the last time the Packers signed a veteran player – aside from the occasional returner – whose only purpose for being on the 53-man roster was to contribute on special teams. Nobody is expecting Nixon to develop into a starting corner or even a useful backup. He’ll survive the final cut in September if Gutekunst and the coaches are convinced of one thing and one thing only – he’s going to help make special teams a lot better.
Don’t expect Biasucci’s influence to end any time soon. Look for Gutekunst to add more players like Nixon between now and the start of the regular season, and you can be certain a new long snapper will be acquired in the upcoming weeks. Young Steven Wirtel held that job for the final nine games of 2021, but his lack of consistency won’t be tolerated again.
Looking back, it’s amazing how long it took the Packers to realize the importance of special teams. You’d think that lesson would’ve been learned after allowing a fake field goal and botching an onside kick ended the 2014 season in Seattle. It wasn’t. Gutekunst was around back then, and yet he allowed coach Matt LaFleur to hire the underqualified Shawn Mennenga in 2019 and the equally unqualified Maurice Drayton in 2021. And while there’s no guarantee things will be markedly better under Biasucci, the early returns are positive, and we’re still five months away from opening week.
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Gutey said yesterday that Nixon is an excellent nickel corner. Hopefully he’s just putting off bluster on that one, given what you wrote!
I’ll be curious if they go after a return specialist in the draft and whether they think that Amari Rodgers can be the answer there. With an offense that could very well struggle, at least early, it’ll be really important to have a solid-to-great special teams group. Also an elite defense.
Calling Nixon an excellent nickel corner is laughable, but as I said in the post, he’s OK with balls in front of him. So while he has no chance outside, he might be at least serviceable in the slot.