Green Bay Packers Top 10 offseason storylines

Jan 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers strong safety Morgan Burnett (42) and free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) react after a play call was overturned in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

9.  The development of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Rookie S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix looks like an incredible find by Ted Thompson and the Packers.  Just like Adams, Clinton-Dix had a huge showing in the playoffs, with 2 INT against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

In the regular season, the Alabama product appeared in all 16 games, starting 10, and recorded 74 tackles, 1 INT and a sack.  If Clinton-Dix can grow through the offseason and come back even stronger in 2015, the Packers will have a long-term cornerstone on their defense, and finally be able to give Morgan Burnett the partner that he needs deep in the secondary.

His ability to creep into the box and help in run support proved to be extremely valuable on a defense that has struggled terribly with tackling over the past few seasons.  This should help the Packers to keep a cap on any long runs and limit opposing runner’s ability to reach the outside edge.

My fear entering the season was that Clinton-Dix would need to learn from mistakes, and that those mistakes would be rare, but glaring.  He wrapped his head around the playbook very quickly, though, avoiding any big plays from blown coverages.  The better he gets, the more creative Dom Capers can become, and Clinton-Dix has the potential to be an absolute game-changer for the Packers.

Next: Is Rodgers-to-Rodgers the answer?