Nickel corners around the NFL should be scared.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ offense has the potential to be at the top of the NFL next season.
Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are the foundation for an incredible offense, no matter how you slice it. The only question is how they can keep things fresh and opposing defenses guessing.
When ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler visited the Bengals training camp, he talked with Higgins about how he will be getting moved around the formation more this season, which includes time in the slot, and how that might change his production:
“That’s what they are trying to get out of me, put me in different places and different spots on the field,” Higgins said. “Sometimes I’m in the slot, running routes I haven’t run.” Higgins believes he can take advantage of that as “a big guy in the slot, usually having a nickel on me, a smaller guy.”
Can the changes — and a full season — result in his first 100-catch campaign? “That’s the plan,” he said with a smile.
Cincinnati started doing this with Ja’Marr Chase a couple of seasons ago. It helped increase his opportunities to avoid double teams and get the ball in open space.
It appears they are hoping the same can be done for Higgins. It would certainly be a mismatch to have him go against a traditionally smaller defensive back inside. His height and ability to make catches away from his body would make those 50/50 balls even more in his favor.
You also see the slot running quicker routes and are often the hot option in the event of a blitz. That can increase the number of targets and, therefore, the number of catches a receiver has. So that 100 reception mark becomes more realistic.
Here is hoping the move ends up being a fruitful one for Higgins and the Bengals. It’d be nice to see him snatching passes over tiny defensive backs.