By all accounts, 2016 was the breakout year for Packers’ safety HaHa Clitnon-Dix. The former first round pick out of Alabama collected 80 tackles, 5 interceptions, and a half sack on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearance and second team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press. Clinton-Dix was also ranked the 77th best player by his peers on the NFL’s top 100 list.

In 2017, the story was much different. Clinton-Dix’s numbers weren’t that dissimilar, he finished with 1 less tackle, 2 less interceptions and no half sack, but the shine of the 2016 season was gone. There were no Pro Bowl or AP honors and the feeling around the league was that Clinton-Dix regressed significantly throughout the season. To hammer that point home, Clinton-Dix was my lowest graded player on defense in 2017: https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/grading-the-pack-regular-season-totals-454

Another rough day at the office for HaHa Clinton-Dix... pic.twitter.com/zupBw6uHS0 — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) December 22, 2017

So today’s question is… What Happened to Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix?

In order to really get a better understanding of the drop off I needed to really go back and study HaHa in 2016. While the differences, at times, were subtle, the results were not. I saw a very similar player in terms of athleticism, speed, change of direction, and physicality. I didn’t see a significant drop off in talent, or in athletic ability from 2016 to 2017.

What I had expected to see was a player who played closer to the line and was better positioned to make plays in 2016. While that was somewhat true, I charted out where Clinton-Dix lined up against Detroit in 2016 and where he lined up against them in 2017 and the results were almost identical. In fact he actually had more opportunities closer to the line of scrimmage in 2017 (at least against Detroit).

Some also thought that maybe Clinton-Dix, like the rest of the Packers, struggled because the team as a whole was struggling and because Aaron Rodgers was out. But here’s a tweet from me early in the season identifying the issues, and a pull from Aaron Nagler’s Facebook live session in early October that identified the same issues. These were ongoing well before Rodgers’ injury.

Not one of HaHa's finer plays. He's seemed more timid so far this year compared to last. Green Bay needs an aggressive 21 on defense. pic.twitter.com/1SgKmbJ5pp — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) September 20, 2017

Have had so many people ask me about Ha Ha's play this year, I just ripped this audio from yesterday's FB Live. pic.twitter.com/bkY0VEYnkx — Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) October 10, 2017

So the major difference wasn’t his talent and it wasn’t the situations he was put in. The major difference that I saw from 2016 to 2017 was twofold. First, I saw a vast difference in aggressiveness and assertiveness. In 2016, Clinton-Dix fired off the ball and didn’t think twice. This is where HaHa is at his absolute best. When he’s put in a position to react and go make plays, he has a great opportunity to be successful. When he has to think about what he’s supposed to be doing or when he's playing not to give up a big play, he’s much more passive and ultimately an inferior player. Here are some examples of the success HaHa can have when he’s playing aggressive:

Another example of HaHa being more aggressive. He read this the whole way. pic.twitter.com/5l27qaggmj — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) December 7, 2017

HaHa was more aggressive in this game and we got to see him make more plays like this. pic.twitter.com/7qPhKatjCL — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) December 7, 2017

A few more 2016 HaHa plays to hit you with. First he comes up aggressively to make a nice hit on T. Williams. He’s still about 15-16 yards deep (not his fault) but he’s aggressive coming up to make the play. Once again it’s a fairly quick read. pic.twitter.com/vDZleFZkJx — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 28, 2018

Here’s another quick read from HaHa. The pass is complete but Dix is right there to make the immediate stop. pic.twitter.com/9nuVP2cG55 — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 27, 2018

Here’s a td saving tackle on Dak. He does take a false step inside but has the athleticism to come up and make the tackle anyway. Once he made his decision he was decisive and aggressive. He had no fear. pic.twitter.com/kAWE5JT1mI — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 28, 2018

One more - a simple tackle and not super aggressive but he reads the run quickly and comes down to fill the hole and make the tackle. pic.twitter.com/z6I1yVrTcn — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 27, 2018

2016 Clinton-Dix - watch how quick he makes his break after the receiver cuts inside. I didn’t see that same level of confidence or those quick reactions in 2017. pic.twitter.com/ds04NK4TLb — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 27, 2018

And some examples of when he’s more passive:

Way too much of this from HaHa. The RB is running up the sideline and HaHa is barely jogging. Probably wouldn’t make the play but still. pic.twitter.com/ZdFeKHhSdd — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) October 21, 2017

The ensuing tackle attempt from Clinton-Dix - as well as the jog immediately following the stiff-arm - left a lot to be desired. #Packers #Lions pic.twitter.com/dyIvXCGdUp — Dusty All 22 (@All22Talk) January 3, 2018

This looks more like the 2017 version of HHCD—tentative and passive. Sure he’s probably trying to be the last line of defense but this is where GB needs him to play aggressive and get players to the ground. pic.twitter.com/hxBldl20EV — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 28, 2018

The second major difference was simply making the routine play. Many people may forget that Clinton-Dix had his struggles early in his career making the routine play and simply wrapping up tacklers in the open field. In 2016 what really set him apart and gave him the opportunity to make the Pro Bowl was his ability to make the simple plays that came to him within the course of the game.

Playing safety can be mentally frustrating. It’s comparable to an infielder in baseball who might go 8 innings without seeing a ball come his way, then in the bottom of the 9th with the game on the line he gets a tough grounder that he has to handle with the game on the line. Clinton-Dix can go 15+ plays at a time where the ball doesn’t come near him. Then, in a big moment, he may have to make a tackle in the open field or breakup a pass in a key situation. In 2016 Clinton-Dix routinely made these plays and came up with the stops, pbu’s, or INT’s when they were available. In 2017, he routinely did not.

It’s worth noting that the drop off in play from Clinton-Dix wasn’t quite as severe as maybe some people think. The reason for that is because he simply wasn’t quite as good as people thought in 2016. Yes he was a solid NFL safety that helped Green Bay win games, but the tape doesn’t display a Pro Bowl or All-Pro caliber player. The interceptions and big plays he’s had in his career have mostly been gifts—either passes that were tipped or massively over/under thrown. It’s not to take away from the success he’s had but he simply doesn’t make enough of a positive impact on a consistent basis to be considered that type of player. Even in 2016 there were plays on tape where he wasn’t aggressive or missed routine tackles. Those plays have always been there to some extent. Of course who can forget the 2-point conversion in the NFC Championship game in Seattle where Clinton-Dix massively misjudged the ball? These types of plays have plagued him throughout his career and for a decent part of 2016 he was able to cut them down significantly.

When he’s not taking care of his business, his play tends to look like this:

Ha Ha's play to make. 3 yard gain becomes 20 yard gain. pic.twitter.com/Y0X7hpaj7Z — Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) September 25, 2017

No one will mistake Ha Ha for Earl Thomas any time soon... https://t.co/zBDiDncZv9 — Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) August 14, 2015

Loveeee the fill by @haha_cd6 but would love even more to see him make these tackles this year.. Head up! Eyes up! pic.twitter.com/Z8pGm65oKB — Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) August 24, 2015

So where does that leave Clinton-Dix in 2018? Mike Pettine needs to put Clinton-Dix in positions where he can quickly react and doesn’t have to spend as much time thinking about where everyone is positioned and what his job is on the play. He needs to be able to be assertive and aggressive and not worry about what might happen if he misses a tackle. A fast-thinking, fast-reacting, aggressive and assertive HaHa Clinton-Dix is the exact version that Green Bay needs.

If I were Mike Pettine, I would play Clinton-Dix in the box more and allow Josh Jones and/or Kentrell Brice to play as the last line of defense. Both Jones and Brice have the speed at the top to get sideline to sideline and both can absolutely wallop receivers when they have an opportunity to get a head of steam from the deep middle of the field. HaHa’s height can also be an issue for quarterbacks who are looking to throw over him when he’s in the short middle of the field. That’s another advantage that Green Bay can take advantage of. The more HaHa can be around the ball the better.

Some examples of HaHa in the box, making plays:

Clinton-Dix with perfect coverage on the wheel route & nabbing an INT. #Packers pic.twitter.com/ojq1QbXbtk — Dusty All 22 (@All22Talk) December 8, 2017

HHCD had more opportunities to play up towards the line in 2016 which gave him more opportunities to make plays like this. pic.twitter.com/9E7i0Ms9Bv — Andy Herman (@SconnieSports) February 28, 2018

The last step of course is in HaHa’s hands. He needs to get back to making the routine plays look simple. He needs to wrap up, stay focused, and play with the heart and passion that Green Bay and Mike McCarthy continue to say he has. Clinton-Dix doesn’t need to be a Pro Bowler to be a successful player or to help Green Bay be successful on defense. If he can go from being a liability in 2017 to the strong player he was back in 2016, it’ll be a huge step to making the defense right again.

My scouting notes from 2016’s tape:

Had faster reaction times in 2016, seemed to be reading his keys better and quickly flowing to the ball—this put him in a better position to make plays. Had more opportunities in the box, played better as a box safety than a deep safety. Didn’t have bigger plays but had fewer mistakes. Played with much more confidence. Much better tackling form, wrapped up with more regularity. Playing next to Morgan Burnett, Micah Hyde and Kentrell Brice seemed to free him up more. Saw the game with better clarity and trusted his initial read. Played with better instincts. Still wasn’t playing at a Pro Bowl level but was ridiculously more consistent. At his best when he’s aggressive, still saw plays where he was passive and this is when he struggled the most.

If you’d like to listen to the recent Friday Film Room sessions, including discussions on Daniels, Clark, Nelson, and Cobb, you can find all the recordings here: https://soundcloud.com/andy-herman-596646919