Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Flashes Potential, Inconsistency in NFL Debut

In 2013, the Green Bay Packers' safeties had a total of zero interceptions. While interceptions aren't the only measurement of success for defensive backs, that statistic was entrenched in the heads of Packers fans calling for a high draft pick. They were simply hoping for better play from the back end of the secondary in 2014. Morgan Burnett and M.D. Jennings, who started a combined 29 games last year, had a combined minus-11.1 overall grade by Pro Football Focus (subscription.)

By the time Green Bay was on the clock in May, rumors of Micah Hyde converting to safety had already been buzzing for months. Hyde, a second-year player from Iowa, split time with the Hawkeyes between the safety and cornerback positions in college. In 2013, he had an extensive look at the slot cornerback role with the usual nickel cornerback, Casey Hayward, battling injuries. After shaking off the rookie learning curve, Hyde became a fan favorite, earning a 1.3 pass coverage grade and a 2.5 run defense grade by Pro Football Focus (subscription.)

When Green Bay selected Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round, questions arose. Would he be a Day 1 starter for the Packers? Both Hayward and Hyde flashed potential in the slot, but unless the team was in a dime situation, it would seem unreasonable to play two of their best players in their current roles. Hayward was projected as healthy and ready to bounce back to his 2012 form. Likely due to Hayward's impact in the slot, Hyde was moved to safety in the spring.

The shift in the defensive backfield opened up a training camp battle between Hyde and the rookie draft pick for the role vacated by Jennings, who had not been tendered by the Packers over the offseason. The Chicago Bears later signed Jennings to a one-year contract, only to cut him later in the summer.

Jerron McMillian, who started two games in place of Burnett—the then injured solidified starter—signed a futures deal with the Kansas City Chiefs after being cut by the Packers during the season. He also didn't make a team's 53-man roster and is currently a free agent. A fourth safety, Chris Banjo, notched a start in 2013, but didn't make it through the Packers' roster construction process. He also is a free agent.

The starting position was completely up for grabs. By the time camp was over, though, the more veteran Hyde got the nod with the starting team. This didn't cement Clinton-Dix's rookie role to special teams, but a non-starting job in a rotating defense. While not on the first-team base defense, Clinton-Dix notched 40 snaps against the Seattle Seahawks in the home opener. That was more than some official starters.

A majority of his reps came as a high safety next to Burnett, as Green Bay still preferred Hyde to drop into the slot in the dime formation. As the game went on, Green Bay played a majority of their defense in said formation, even if Seattle didn't come out with four receivers. Hyde would then drop into the box as a flex linebacker, typically covering a tight end. For someone who was graded well against the run in 2013, this shouldn't have been a surprise.

Clinton-Dix's debut in green and gold was received with mixed reception. According to Pro Football Focus, he had a negative overall grade, but a positive grade in coverage (subscription.)

Questions about ability in run fits aren't new. Here's what Bleacher Report's Matt Miller had to say about him in the pre-draft process.

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I do believe Clinton-Dix can improve as a run defender. Remember, this is all about angles and technique at the point of attack. But there is no doubt he can build off the solid tackling base he will bring to the next level from Nick Saban’s program.

"

The two plays which best explain Ha Ha Clinton-Dix's opening game go as follows:

Play 1: 1st-and-10 with eight minutes left in the first quarter.

The Packers were in their dime formation, which usually calls for two extra cornerbacks. As explained before, Green Bay seemed to prefer Hyde in the slot and Clinton-Dix up high than to bring on a fourth cornerback, who would have likely been fourth-year player Davon House. Dom Capers' defense lines up with Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Hyde and Hayward near the line of scrimmage, leaving Burnett and Clinton-Dix in a two-high look.

The play isn't so much about the result, a sack for no gain attributed to Clinton-Dix, but how Clinton-Dix's closing speed looks like on the NFL level. With Russell Wilson looking toward the sideline, he zooms in from the center of the field to make sure the former Wisconsin Badger didn't gain a single yard.

According to Mock Draftable, the average free safety at the NFL scouting combine runs a 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds. Clinton-Dix ran a 4.59, and that wasn't enough for some to consider it a good speed score.

Packers General Manager Ted Thompson snuffed out questions about Clinton-Dix's speed in a post-selection press conference. His only response for the criticism was stating that "It’s not our time" (h/t Packers News). When the numbers were still unofficial, it was believed that he ran a 4.50 flat score, which is well above average for a free safety.

There is no doubt, after that play, that he can run with the rest of the league.

Play 2: 1st-and-10 with 12:07 left in the second quarter.

Clinton-Dix has had no luck on zone-read pop passes. Against Auburn last season, his Alabama team allowed a touchdown on nearly the exact same play that Seattle ran in for a score. Starting with a quarterback option to keep or hand the ball off the running back, Wilson pulls it for himself. From there, he can either run or pass the ball over a biting cornerback's head.

The cornerback bit. From there, it was up to the rookie safety to make a play. He squared himself up to tackle the receiver, but couldn't get the job done. After shimmying, Clinton-Dix dropped his head and went for the ankles. Instead of tackling how it's shown in the textbooks, and Seahawk videos, he let his responsibility run past him for a score.

While he's a rookie, and rookies tend to make these mistakes fresh out of the gate, the Packers can't afford to allow big plays like this one to happen and expect to win games. He didn't have any issues with squaring his man up, but needed to tackle through a ball-carrier above the knees, not through his feet.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Clinton-Dix both showed promise and flaws. He also nearly intercepted a pass in coverage but let the ball hit the turf. The Alabama product has raw potential, but at this point, should be limited to his current position of the third safety in a dime defense. In a year or two, he might be a Pro Bowler, but right now, he needs to earn his stripes.

When he can finish plays at the next level, the Packers may even find that one of their starting safeties are dispensable. Clinton-Dix has the talent to displace them, but until he's technically sound, especially in tackling, Green Bay can't trust that there are going to be fewer big plays with him in the starting lineup than out.