Will Nixon become the next Sam Shields/Tramon Williams?

[Patler]

Shields and Williams came from the ranks of the undrafted, and became solid/excellent corners. Will James Nixon, who was added to the regular roster yesterday, become the next rags-to-riches success?

From a training camp article:

Nixon has blazing speed. Coming out of Temple in 2012, Nixon was clocked as fast as 4.29 in the 40, which is incredibly fast. Defensive back coach Joe Whitt even said that Nixon is the only player on the roster who can match Shields’ top tier speed. Nixon is nearly the exact same size as Shields (6-0, 186 pounds), and appears to be a very similar type of player. Nixon shows a natural knack for breaking on the ball and can run pace-for-pace with any player he faces; however, Nixon can still get out of place on the field or lose a step in coverage going against shiftier veteran receivers.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I was a big Nixon fan in the preseason because of his blazing speed.

I am a little concerned about his ability to stay healthy, phlebitis seems to run in his family.

[run pMc]

Can he return punts/kicks?

They already have a bunch of CBs, so this has to be a move to keep him away from another team or to bolster ST.

(Cue the Jarrett Bush jokes and the Mojo Nixon bandwagon thread.)

[Cheesehead Craig]

They could simply be grooming him to get PT so when Tramonta leaves in the offseason we have a CB that has some idea of what's what.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Can he return punts/kicks?

They already have a bunch of CBs, so this has to be a move to keep him away from another team or to bolster ST.

(Cue the Jarrett Bush jokes and the Mojo Nixon bandwagon thread.)

From Packers.com bio...



The Green Bay Packers signed CB James Nixon to the practice squad on September 20, 2012.

Nixon, a 6-foot, 180-pound rookie out of California (Pa.), was with Arizona for most of the preseason after signing with the Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent on May 11, 2012. He appeared in 12 games with two starts in his only season at California after spending his first three seasons at Temple (2008-10), where he played both offense and defense and returned kickoffs. Nixon posted a 25.8-yard average on 41 kickoff returns and had 42 carries for 322 yards (7.7 avg.) and 13 receptions for 373 yards (28.7 avg.) for the Owls. He will wear No. 23 with the Packers.

[mission]

I was surprised we managed to stash him on the PS. He looked really good in his preseason opportunities. A lot better than that Means dude.

I'm definitely an early band-wagoner here!

[dahammer001]

Glad they added Nixon the regular roster, remember speed kills, you can never have enough of it

[hoosier]

Yes, Nixon looks good on paper. The fact that nobody picked him up suggests to me--a non bandwaggoner--that there must be something really wrong with him in the intangible department.

[Bretsky]

Shields and Williams came from the ranks of the undrafted, and became solid/excellent corners. Will James Nixon, who was added to the regular roster yesterday, become the next rags-to-riches success?

From a training camp article:

Wasn't the infamous Atlas Herrion enough ? How many more careers are you going to sabotage ?

[Joemailman]

Yes, Nixon looks good on paper. The fact that nobody picked him up suggests to me--a non bandwaggoner--that there must be something really wrong with him in the intangible department.

He played 3 years at Temple before transferring to California (PA) for one year. He said it was due to a coaching change. Don't know if there was more than that involved.

Packers had to activate him or lose him because Buffalo wanted to sign him off Packers practice squad.

[George Cumby]

Since Hayward is on the Roper and seems to be on the Skids, I think its Bodayshus that Mojo is coming on.

[mraynrand]

Yes, Nixon looks good on paper. The fact that nobody picked him up suggests to me--a non bandwaggoner--that there must be something really wrong with him in the intangible department.

There's something wrong with him, I just can't put my finger on it...

[MadScientist]

Yes, Nixon looks good on paper. The fact that nobody picked him up suggests to me--a non bandwaggoner--that there must be something really wrong with him in the intangible department.

There's something wrong with him, I just can't put my finger on it...

There's some tape that clearly shows what's wrong with him, but it seems to have gone missing.

[Noodle]

There's some tape that clearly shows what's wrong with him, but it seems to have gone missing.

There are three or four people on this board old enough to know what you're talking about.

I'm one, and I say, "well played, sir."

Straight line speed is of course nice, but db is all about liquid hips, playing good technique, and know where you and your help are supposed to be.

Despite the absence of tape, I'm not sold seeing as he hasn't caught on elsewhere despite the NFL's atavistic worship of speed.

[Patler]

There's some tape that clearly shows what's wrong with him, but it seems to have gone missing.

The tape has been found, but there is an inexplicable gap from when he came into the game to the final whistle.