Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Free Safety, Alabama: First round
The Alabama Crimson Tide produced yet another good free safety in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. It is well-known that Alabama annually has one of the best defenses in all of college football. Clinton-Dix was a big reason why the Crimson Tide had so much success on defense.
Throughout his career at Alabama, Clinton-Dix has always seen playing time. In his freshman year, he was a backup free safety that saw a lot of playing time as a rotational player in the secondary. In 2013, the junior had 51 tackles and four interceptions. He is undersized, but there is no denying the fact that he is a playmaker who can develop into something special in the NFL.
How Clinton-Dix Fits With The Cowboys
The Cowboys have pretty good cover-corners in Brandon Carr, Orlando Scandrick, and Morris Claiborne. But having a guy in the back end of the secondary is vital. Clinton-Dix could patrol the Cowboys' third level of the defense for years to come.
Potential Impact As A Rookie
In 2013, the Cowboys had to deal with the duo of J.J. Wilcox and Jeff Heath at the free safety position. Not only would Clinton-Dix become an immediate upgrade, he would also become Dallas' best ballhawk. I said earlier how Clinton-Dix has the body to turn into an intimidating presence in the secondary. It should also be known that he has played a lot of downs, regardless of him being only a junior.
What Clinton-Dix Does Well
He lacks the body right now to be a physical free safety in the NFL, but he definitely can be the role of a center fielder for an NFL club. In mock drafts across the web, Clinton-Dix has been chosen by numerous teams. This is because he has the versatility to play in multiple defensive schemes. If Clinton-Dix is around the right group of players, he can excel immediately.
What Clinton-Dix Struggles With
While he can cover with the best of them, the Florida native takes bad angles towards the ball when running after ball-carries. This needs to improve if he is to become a complete safety at the next level. He also has trouble breaking down for tackles. Some team will recognize this, and they will need to find out how to improve this part of his game. I don't want to say he's raw, but Clinton-Dix has some areas where he needs improvement.