The Denver Broncos' joint practice sessions with the Green Bay Packers on Friday provided another test for rookie quarterback Bo Nix. In what's becoming a recurring theme, the Broncos starting-quarterback-in-waiting sailed through the challenge with a calm serenity, which is coming to typify his focused personality.
It's already well-documented that Nix is wowing his own teammates, but he also impressed the league's highest-paid cornerback, Jaire Alexander, as practice wore on under a Mile-High sun.
"I like Bo Nix," Alexander said, via Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. "I think he's a young talent and I think he's gonna be a pretty good quarterback in this league... As practicewent along, his decision-making became crisper. It became better. He carries himself like a veteran."
On the doorstep of his first professional start, Nix looks like a rookie in name only, according to Alexander. Perhaps his level of comfortability should be chalked up to the NCAA-record 61 college starts spanning the SEC and PAC-12.
While that experience undoubtedly plays its part, Nix has a method of keeping himself relaxed and mentally in tune with what he needsto do so that pressure can be managed.
"I learned early in college that the more pressure you put on yourself, the tougher it is to go out there and play free," Nix admitted. "Over the past couple of seasons, I feel like I've played more and more free. That's contributed to the good days. There's enough pressure on you already, so you might as well just go out there and have fun playing the game of football. Not many people get this opportunity, and I'm just blessed to be here and be part of such a great team and great organization. I still always wake up and be like, 'You know what? I get to go practice for an NFL team today.' So can't imagine what it is like playing on Sundays yet, but we're almost there."
In all fairness, Packers superstar quarterback Jordan Love looked far less composed than Nix did during the joint practices. Much like Week 7 last year, the Broncos' aggressive defense caused him problems all day long.
Following practice, Love was magnanimous enough to tip his cap to Nix, admitting that he's a big fan of the Broncos' rookie and what he can do over the long haul.
"I'm a big supporter of Bo Nix," Love remarked, via Tomasson. "We'll see what pans out in that QB situation... I wish him all the best if he gets an opportunity to start, play in some games this year. He's in it for the long journey, keep stepping up and get better every day."
As the days and practice sessions slide by, Nix is undeniably cementing his position as the probable starter for Broncos head coach Sean Payton moving forward. That being said, and as Nix's Packers counterpart can attestto, the NFL's challenges only increase in ferocity.
Therefore, Nix is well aware that thebest way to navigate the notoriously steep NFL learning curve is by fullycommitting to improving daily.
"It's steep, but I think whenever you learn a new offense or whenever you get into a new level [or a] new scheme, it's always going to be different," Nix said about embracing the process. "There is always going to be learning curves and there is always going to be a lot of change. You just have to adapt to the change and welcome the change as much as possible. Just kind of make things normal, make a new routine andget in there and study real hard and make sure you know what you're doing. Even today in practice, you have to think through plays. Even though you go through it the night before, you might get a different look, or you may get something that you haven'ttalked about and you have to kind of rely on your reaction. It's definitely steep, but so far, I feel comfortable and I'm excited to move forward and learn even more."
The Broncos ascending rookie might be calm as the hype starts to snowball, but the fans might start losing their minds real soon.
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