Why Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Will Be the Packers' Most Improved Starter in 2015

Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers is always looking for his players to make a big jump from their first year to their second year.

McCarthy talked about that dynamic at his press conference this past Wednesday after an OTA workout:

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I think Year 1 to Year 2 is the most important year. For a lot of different reasons. You think about when these young men come out of college, and then all the training and evaluation process getting ready for the draft. If they go to the combine or if they don't go to the combine. The workouts in March.

Ultimately they are drafted. Bang. Then they are into a minicamp and then are thrown into a May/June [workout] environment. It's really condensed, but they have a lot of learning. Then they catch their breath a little bit, and then, boom, they are into training camp and the longest football season of their life.

From their senior year through their first year is an overload of physical, mental and emotional responsibility that they have never experienced. So with that, they're able to step away from it. They are able to come back in Year 2, starting with the offseason program, and learn everything from A, B, C.

Younger players, it never stops. Particularly Year 1 to Year 2, because in Year 1, they are just trying to keep their head above water and trying to learn what they need to do. In Year 2, they not only need to understand what they do, but also what the guy across from him is trying to do. And how that all fits together in the big picture. That's how players improve.

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One rookie starter from last year who fits that mold is safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. That is not to say No. 21 didn't have a fine rookie season. He did. Clinton-Dix was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2014.

The 6'1", 208-pound Clinton-Dix improved throughout the 2014 season. In the early part of the season, Clinton-Dix struggled a bit, trying to learn the nuances of defensive coordinator Dom Capers' defense.

A lot of eyes were on the former Alabama Crimson Tide star, partly because he was last year's first-round selection for the Packers (No. 21 overall), but also because the safety position overall struggled throughout the 2013 season in terms of lack of production.

Through five games at the beginning of the 2014 season, Clinton-Dix had 18 tackles and one interception.

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In the next 11 games, even without another interception, Clinton-Dix looked more comfortable in coverage.

In addition to that, No. 21 had 74 total tackles, or almost seven a game. At the beginning of the year, Clinton-Dix missed too many tackles, which was a big problem for the secondary in the prior season.

As the season wore on, though, Clinton-Dix became more of a sure tackler.

In the postseason, Clinton-Dix had 11 total tackles and two interceptions, both of which came in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.

The fact that he played next to veteran Morgan Burnett aided the progress Clinton-Dix made throughout the season.

Burnett knows all about being a rookie starter at safety in the NFL. Burnett started for the Packers in 2010 at safety in his first year before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the fourth week of that season.

Like Clinton-Dix did in his rookie season, Burnett played next to a veteran in his first year as well. The veteran was Nick Collins, who was one of the best safeties in the NFL.

In 2011, Burnett had a breakout second season in Green Bay, as he had 107 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

That performance occurred in a season in which Collins suffered a career-ending neck injury in Week 2.

But the knowledge that Burnett learned from Collins helped make him a better player from Year 1 to Year 2. So did the film work and the workouts.

The same will hold true for Clinton-Dix in 2015. Again, No. 21 had a nice year in his rookie season. He ended up with 92 overall tackles, one sack, six passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.

But I expect Clinton-Dix to take an even bigger jump in his second year, similar to what he did in the latter part of his rookie season.

Having Burnett next to him will help. But so will Clinton-Dix's immense talent as well as his ability to learn.

Here's the bottom line: Expect a big year from No. 21 in the Packers secondary. Instead of seeing "All-Rookie" next to his name, you might see "All-Pro."