Shortly after Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns in a season-opening win over Ohio, turning into the primary Orange QB with these statistics since 2016, head coach Fran Brown joked he owed McCord’s previous head coach, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, a bottle of champagne.
The quip, made by one buddy to a different, went viral. However that is not the one factor Brown mentioned about his offense within the days after the 38-22 win. He additionally spent a whole lot of time heaping reward on the person who referred to as the performs for Syracuse, offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon.
“Coach Nixon is a frontrunner,” Brown instructed reporters this week. “He is been a frontrunner for a very long time. I’ve labored with him locations the place he is led an excellent offense. … He does an excellent job. He is an ideal chief. Good husband. Good father. He is a cultured dude.”
The 49-year-old Nixon is a long-time NFL veteran. He is coached Reggie Bush, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley, amongst others. Nixon can also be a confirmed play-caller. He served as Baylor’s co-offensive coordinator from 2017 to 2019 because the Bears jumped from 1-11 in 12 months 1 to 11-3 and a Large 12 championship recreation look in 12 months 3; Nixon, Brown and Orange defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson have been on the identical Baylor employees in 2017.
Nixon’s coached a little bit of every part in his profession. He is primarily labored with operating backs but additionally hung out with tight ends, large receivers and particular groups.
The play-calling ranks are usually dominated by former quarterback coaches. Nixon’s labored together with his share of nice ones — Andy Reid, Mike Sherman, Chip Kelly and Day — however views his numerous positional background as a bonus. Operating backs and tight ends, notably, contact each factor of an offense. It is knowledgeable the way in which Nixon thinks about his pro-spread system.
“I believe it makes all of the distinction,” Nixon mentioned this week in an interview with CBS Sports activities. “I have been round a whole lot of good guys who’ve educated quarterbacks, and it is influenced me. I’ve realized a whole lot of passing recreation. Having the ability to coach operating backs and tight ends you must know every part in an offensive system since you ask (them) to do every part so far as the blocking scheme, operating routes, go ideas and protections.
“We run a little bit little bit of every part. It is a system constructed on with the ability to benefit from what the protection offers you from week to week. … I believe now we have sufficient in our arsenal once we can adapt to regardless of the protection we’re taking part in and be capable to exit and assault them.”
That is one thing Nixon’s friends have credited him on all through his profession. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, Nixon’s highschool teammate, had Nixon on his Carolina Panthers teaching employees in 2021.
“He’ll play to the man’s strengths,” Rhule mentioned. “He is disciplined. He is not emotional. That is one of many issues I like greatest about Jeff, he is even keeled. Does not get too excessive or too low.”
Nixon might have stayed with the New York Giants following the 2023 season. The NFL is a vacation spot for a lot of school coaches because the calls for on school coaches are significantly elevated as a result of recruiting calendar and the switch portal. However Nixon mentioned he had whole belief in Brown and Robinson on account of their time collectively at Baylor. It was a simple alternative when Brown referred to as Nixon’s quantity.
Plus, it supplied a possibility for Nixon to teach his son.
Will Nixon helped Washington attain the nationwide championship recreation final season as this system’s backup operating again. He, like many Huskies, opted to enter the switch portal following Kalen DeBoer’s departure for Alabama.
Selecting his subsequent college proved simple.
“It is actually thrilling,” Jeff Nixon mentioned. “He actually needed to play for me. It has been a pleasure. He is finished a pleasant job and provides a veteran presence to our operating again room. It is simply good to have him.”
Nixon can also be very blissful to have one other participant he is recognized for a very long time on the roster: McCord.
When Nixon labored for the Eagles from 2007 to 2010, Will performed for a youth soccer crew in New Jersey. His teammate at the moment? McCord. Nixon stored in contact with the McCord household for years following his Philadelphia tenure. He even recruited McCord a bit at Baylor. When McCord finally signed with Ohio State and Nixon headed again to the NFL, Nixon spoke to the McCord household a couple of occasions a yr simply to verify in and supply recommendation when requested for it.
Nixon could not have requested for a greater 12 months 1 triggerman as Syracuse beat out Nebraska for McCord’s companies.
“It was simply excellent timing, excellent scenario.” Nixon mentioned. “He instantly got here to thoughts as somebody who was the No. 1 man we need to get into this system. Thus far, he is finished an ideal job. He is a frontrunner. You may’t say sufficient good issues about him.”
Nixon, with some assist from McCord, has jumpstarted the Orange offense going right into a matchup with No. 23 Georgia Tech (12 p.m. ET, ACC Community) on Saturday. Syracuse averaged 5.28 yards per play — 98th nationally — final season. That was as much as 6.86 yards per play in a Week 1 win over Ohio with, as Brown mentioned postgame, loads of room for enchancment.
Returning offensive gamers, like star operating again LeQuint Allen, have raved about Nixon’s influence on the offense.
“I will not lie, Allen mentioned within the spring. “I’ve realized rather a lot fast from Coach Nixon. He is elevated me each as an individual and a participant.”
It is a part of a buy-in that Nixon’s skilled all through his profession, largely due to his relationship together with his gamers.
“He is an actual real man,” Carolina Panthers operating again Chubba Hubbard mentioned in 2021. “With soccer you may have nice coaches, sensible, however it’s arduous to have a coach who actually cares for you genuinely. I actually assume he is that.”