Green Bay Packers to start Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in Week 1?
By Cory Buck
The Green Bay Packers looked to be a player or two short of being a Super Bowl contender last season. As usual, Aaron Rodgers and the offense brought the fireworks, but the defense sorely let the team down and despite a spirited effort against the San Francisco 49ers, the Packers lost their only playoff game last season after winning a threadbare NFC North.
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Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was drafted to be one of those missing pieces filled into the puzzle, and we could see him leading the Green Bay secondary a lot sooner than we think. As reported by Fox Sports, the Packers believe that Clinton-Dix could be a Week 1 starter against the Seahawks.
"“Unless Clinton-Dix has a very poor showing over the next three months, he should be starting next to Morgan Burnett when the Packers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in the NFL season opener.”"
The Packers allowed the 24th most passing yards in the league last year to go with their 25th ranked rushing defense. The defense was a mess in general, but safety was one of their greatest needs. In Clinton-Dix, the Packers picked arguably the best one in the draft. Others were taken earlier than Clinton-Dix, but few have the versatility of the Alabama safety.
“I think he’s a real all-purpose kind of safety,” Packers GM Ted Thompson said of Clinton-Dix in the Fox article. “He’s shown an ability to cover down in the slot, he’s good in support; physical player. Also can play well in the back end.”
That sounds like exactly the kind of player this defense needs. They have some nice pieces in all areas of the field, but they need more talent around which to scheme. If Ha Ha Clinton-Dix can quickly pick up the schemes that Dom Capers employs, he could be an impact player even in his rookie year. If that’s the case, look for the Packers to challenge in what should be a tougher NFC North in 2014.