Quickly after Syracuse NFL quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns in a season-opening catch over Ohio, changing into the first Orange QB with those statistics since 2016, head coach Fran Brown joked he owed McCord’s previous skool head coach, Ohio Order’s Ryan Day, a bottle of champagne.
The quip, made by one buddy to at least one other, went viral. But that’s no longer most seemingly the greatest thing Brown acknowledged about his offense in the times after the 38-22 catch. He also spent a total lot of time heaping praise on the man who known as the performs for Syracuse, offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon.
“Coach Nixon is a leader,” Brown informed reporters this week. “He’s been a leader for a long time. I’ve worked with him places where he’s led a good offense. … He does a good job. He’s a great leader. Good husband. Good father. He’s a classy dude.”
The 49-year-previous skool Nixon is a lengthy-time NFL historic. He’s coached Reggie Bush, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley, among others. Nixon shall be a confirmed play-caller. He served as Baylor’s co-offensive coordinator from 2017 to 2019 as the Bears jumped from 1-11 in Year 1 to 11-3 and a Enormous 12 championship sport look in Year 3; Nixon, Brown and Orange defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson were on the same Baylor crew in 2017.
Nixon’s coached a puny bit of every little thing in his profession. He’s mainly labored with working backs however also spent time with tight ends, large receivers and special groups.
The play-calling ranks are on the total dominated by current quarterback coaches. Nixon’s labored with his a part of titanic ones — Andy Reid, Mike Sherman, Chip Kelly and Day — however views his diverse positional background as an succor. Running backs and tight ends, particularly, touch every ingredient of an offense. Or no longer it’s informed the methodology Nixon thinks about his pro-spread intention.
“I think it makes all the difference,” Nixon acknowledged this week in an interview with CBS Sports actions. “I have been around a total lot of factual guys who’ve trained quarterbacks, and it be influenced me. I’ve learned a total lot of passing sport. Being ready to teach working backs and tight ends you would favor to hold every little thing in an offensive intention consequently of you ask (them) to enact every little thing as a long way as the blocking off map, working routes, pass ideas and protections.
“We run a little bit of everything. It’s a system built on being able to take advantage of what the defense gives you from week to week. … I think we have enough in our arsenal when we can adapt to whatever the defense we’re playing and be able to go out and attack them.”
That is one thing Nixon’s web site visitors possess credited him on at some level of his profession. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, Nixon’s highschool teammate, had Nixon on his Carolina Panthers coaching crew in 2021.
“He’s going to play to the guy’s strengths,” Rhule acknowledged. “He’s disciplined. He’s not emotional. That’s one of the things I like best about Jeff, he’s even keeled. Doesn’t get too high or too low.”
Nixon might well possess stayed with the Fresh York Giants following the 2023 season. The NFL is a trail jam for many college coaches as the demands on college coaches are vastly increased attributable to the recruiting calendar and the switch portal. But Nixon acknowledged he had total belief in Brown and Robinson attributable to their time together at Baylor. It changed into a straightforward selection when Brown known as Nixon’s amount.
Plus, it equipped a possibility for Nixon to teach his son.
Will Nixon helped Washington reach the nationwide championship sport closing season as this contrivance’s backup working support. He, take care of many Huskies, opted to enter the switch portal following Kalen DeBoer’s departure for Alabama.
Selecting his subsequent faculty proved easy.
“It’s really exciting,” Jeff Nixon acknowledged. “He really wanted to play for me. It’s been a joy. He’s done a nice job and adds a veteran presence to our running back room. It’s just nice to have him.”
Nixon shall be very chuffed to possess one other player he is identified for a certainly very lengthy time on the roster: McCord.
When Nixon labored for the Eagles from 2007 to 2010, Will played for a childhood soccer crew in Fresh Jersey. His teammate at that time? McCord. Nixon saved in touch with the McCord family for years following his Philadelphia tenure. He even recruited McCord a puny bit at Baylor. When McCord at closing signed with Ohio Order and Nixon headed support to the NFL, Nixon spoke to the McCord family just a few cases a year simply to ascertain in and provide recommendation when requested for it.
Nixon might well no longer possess requested for a smarter Year 1 triggerman as Syracuse beat out Nebraska for McCord’s companies and products.
“It was just perfect timing, perfect situation.” Nixon acknowledged. “He immediately came to mind as someone who was the No. 1 guy we want to get into the program. So far, he’s done a great job. He’s a leader. You can’t say enough good things about him.”
Nixon, with some relief from McCord, has jumpstarted the Orange offense going correct into a matchup with No. 23 Georgia Tech (12 p.m. ET, ACC Network) on Saturday. Syracuse averaged 5.28 yards per play — 98th nationally — closing season. That changed into up to 6.86 yards per play in a Week 1 catch over Ohio with, as Brown acknowledged postgame, numerous room for enchancment.
Returning offensive avid gamers, take care of star working support LeQuint Allen, possess raved about Nixon’s affect on the offense.
“I won’t lie, Allen said in the spring. “I’ve learned plenty rapid from Coach Nixon. He’s elevated me each and every as a individual and a player.”
It’s part of a buy-in that Nixon’s experienced throughout his career, largely because of his relationship with his players.
“He’s an valid right man,” Carolina Panthers running back Chubba Hubbard said in 2021. “With soccer you can possess titanic coaches, orderly, however it be laborious to possess a coach who certainly cares for you basically. I certainly procure he is that.”
Source: SBC Sports
