The Denver Broncos have a new starting quarterback. Bo Nix has been named the team’s starter for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, according to various reports. As such, the spotlight is shining brightly on Russell Wilson’s successor.
However, Rome was not built in a day, and Nix is not done building.
Here are three key points of success for the new Broncos quarterback.
Listen to Sean Payton
In some head coach-quarterback duos, the quarterback should be encouraged to venture outside of the conventional playbook. However, with Sean Payton in tow as one of the bigger masterminds in the sport, Nix should ignore his own instincts at least early in the year and listen exclusively to what Payton has to say.
Payton, of course, coached Drew Brees for close to two decades. He also has been at the forefront of multiple runs as the top team in the NFC South. He also has won a Super Bowl. As such, he has the qualifications to warrant Nix’s faith.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint
The NFL season is the longest it ever has been. While college football can be over in the blink of an eye, the NFL season lingers for roughly half the year, not including OTAs. Nix needs to know that the year will tax him beyond his limits at times. However, if he burns himself out in the first eight weeks trying to do it all, he is setting the team up for yet another late-season slump.
As such, it will be massively important for Nix to prioritize keeping his energy for the mid-late part of the year as the stakes get raised to new heights with every game.
Bo Nix should resist the urge to celebrate
Above all, Nix cannot look at his new status as an NFL quarterback like he made it. He hasn’t arrived. Rather, he is just getting started. If he takes his foot off the gas as a rookie, it can be impossible to get it back on the pedal. Ergo, he shouldn’t celebrate his new job or any of his first accomplishments at least until after the season. It’s “go time” for Nix with no time left over to soak in anything.
If Bo Nix wants to take some time after the season to reflect on the season, that is understandable and quite commonplace for NFL players. However, doing so on a Wednesday during the lead-up to a game is ill-advised.
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