Chicago Bears: Why Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is better than Adrian Amos
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 208lbs
Age: 26
Experience: 5 years
College: Alabama
Ha Ha Clinton Dix played for Alabama from 2011 through 2013. He played limited snaps his freshman year but started his sophomore and junior years before declaring for the 2014 NFL Draft. During his two year span starting, Clinton-Dix combined for 53 solo tackles and seven interceptions.
Alabama won the National Championship in 2011 and 2012 while Clinton-Dix was on the team. After declaring for the NFL draft, Clinton-Dix was projected to be drafted in the late first or early second round. Clinton-Dix was a high-profile safety and the Packers drafted him 21st overall.
In contrast, Adrian Amos played for Penn State. There is nothing wrong with the Penn State program, but the comparison to Alabama would be almost laughable. Clinton-Dix experienced what it took to win a championship, something Adrian Amos never came close to going through.
Amos played four years for Penn State, but like Clinton-Dix he did not play often his freshman season. Amos combined for 92 solo tackles over his three years as a regular starter. Breaking this down on a per-game basis, Amos saw approximately 2.5 tackles per game. Clinton-Dix recorded about 2.2 tackles per game. Not enough to claim a winner here.
However, if we look at the interceptions total, both finished with seven. The difference being that Amos needed four years to get his and Clinton-Dix only needed two seasons. A glaring comparison that extends beyond college and into the pros.
Listen, I truly enjoyed having Adrian Amos on the Chicago Bears. For the right price, he would have been welcomed back here with open arms. He is not a bad safety. He was projected to go in the third or fourth round going into the Draft. He was taken by Chicago in the fourth round and carved out a nice niche as a reliable, non-sexy safety who does not make any big mistakes. That said, give me the upside of Clinton-Dix.
Must Read. Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky player profile. light
NFL: Packers, Redskins, and Bears
Clinton-Dix hit the league hard after being drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He started 10 games for the Packers his rookie season and combined for 105 tackles. 74 of those tackles were solos. He also added an interception, six pass deflections, a sack and fumble recovery that year.
In his second season, Clinton-Dix shines even brighter. He snags two interceptions and makes 83 solo tackles. He sacked the quarterback three times and forced a fumble. His third season things clicked even more and he made his first Pro Bowl.
During his Pro Bowl season, Clinton-Dix snagged five interceptions, deflected seven passes and forced a fumble. He also finished with 61 solo tackles. The Packers did not seem to like his work in 2018 though. Just two years after his Pro Bowl season and already three interceptions on the season, the Packers traded Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins after seven games.
Clinton-Dix struggled at the start of his tenure in Washington but started to turn things around as the season progressed. He did not record another interception that year but added 56 solo tackles. The Redskins were impressed enough with his play to try and bring him back even after signing Landon Collins in the offseason.
Now Clinton-Dix will play behind the best front seven of his career. The combination of him and Eddie Jackson might be the best safety tandem in the NFL. This is another prove-it situation for the veteran.