Mackensie Alexander gets the nod at nickel for the Vikings

Mackensie Alexander is in his second year with the Minnesota Vikings and is getting the starter reps at nickel in the secondary. 

When former South Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, a restricted free agent this summer, didn’t receive a contract offer from the Vikings, Alexander became the heir apparent to Munnerlyn’s nickel position. Munnerly is now with the Carolina Panthers, and Alexander is essentially a part-time starter.

Last season, Alexander played less than 80 snaps on defense and was on the special teams, but he is being prepped for a vital role in the defense this season.

Back in December, he was put on injured reserve with a groin injury and had surgery during the offseason. Alexander also had groin surgery at

Clemson

which led him to be redshirted as a freshman.

Defensive Coordinator George Edwards knows that Alexander hasn’t played the nickel position much with the Vikings or at Clemson, but he thinks he will be fine.

“I think he’s got very good short-area quickness. He also has the long speed to cover some of the routes down the field…….He’s definitely got the skill set that we’re looking for to compete inside at the nickel.”

Edwards has seen improvement in the confident Alexander’s game and feels the next step for him is to just get out on the field and gain experience and trust from his teammates, specifically, in the secondary.

Experience is always key in the NFL but so is consistency and Edwards spoke about both in accordance with Alexander’s progression and future success at nickel.

"Experience is going to come with playing. We want to see a level of consistency day-in and day-out, play-in and play-out. That’s the big thing we’re preaching to him right now. We want to see that he understands all the concepts and the different things the offense will try to do to us which we have a good foundation working against our offense. So that’s the biggest thing we’re looking for is consistency to come out here every day and compete at the highest level."

The Vikings will need Alexander to be ready every game, because most offenses are predominantly spreading the field, and the nickel could be used on 70% of the defensive plays. Edwards notices the changes with offenses and their personnel.

“When I first came into the league it wasn’t nearly as many three wide receivers sets. But, now it seems like every week that the majority of your game is going to be in what we call “Kings” Personnel, three receivers, one tight end and one back.” Edwards said, “So, he’s becoming extremely important over the past five years.”

Alexander will get his first game action as a starter on Aug 10, when the Minnesota Vikings face the Buffalo Bills. Maybe, Clemson football fans will get to see him matchup against former Tigers receiver Sammy Watkins. Now that would be fun to watch.