Packers All-Decade Team: Aaron Rodgers leads the way

Safeties

Green Bay has a good recent history at safety. LeRoy Butler helped revolutionize the position and Nick Collins looked like he was well on his way to being a Hall-of-Fame type player when the decade began. The safety position faced as much, if not more turnover than any other position during the past 10 years in Green Bay.

Nick Collins (2010-2011)

When the Packers lost Nick Collins to a neck injury two weeks into 2011, they knew they were going to have a hard time replacing what he brought to the defense. What no one could have known was it would take them years to make that happen. It wasn’t until the Packers drafted Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 2014 they finally got the unit back to a respectable level. That’s one reason why Collins makes the team.

The other is because of the pure talent Collins was. He was fast, explosive and every bit a ballhawk. All of which is highlighted on one play is Super Bowl 45. Backed up deep in their own territory, Ben Roethlisberger dropped back to pass and had his arm hit by Howard Green. As the pass fluttered downfield, Collins mad a beeline for the ball from the other end of the field, made the pick and then weaved his way in for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

After Collins injured his neck in 2011, we were left to only imagine the type of player he would have become. Based off his improvement year after year, you’d have to think he’d have either just wrapped up or be wrapping up a stellar career.

Morgan Burnett (2010-2017)

Morgan Burnett came to the Packers in the third round of the 2010 draft and instantly became a starter. He tore his ACL four games into his rookie year but not before collecting an interception. Injuries would be a problem for Burnett throughout his career as he only played in a 16-game season only twice and none since 2012. Burnett was a steady presence in the backend the Packers needed once they lost Nick Collins.

Burnett was a versatile safety who was just as efficient in the box as he was out deep. Burnett’s skills were best utilized though near the line of scrimmage. He was also a capable defender in man coverage against tight ends and was even used to cover the slot when injuries started to pile up in 2013 and 2016. Burnett finished his Packers career with nine interceptions and 717 tackles, scoring one touchdown on a fumble recovery.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2014-2018)

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix’s career started out with much promise. A first-round draft pick in 2014, Clinton-Dix became the starting safety after four weeks of his rookie season. His first three years were filled with solid play, culminating in a Pro Bowl following a good 2016 season. That year, Clinton-Dix had five interceptions and a forced fumble with 79 tackles.

Despite his last year-and-a-half in a Packers uniform, Clinton-Dix’s first three years warranted him making the team. During the later part of his run with the Packers, Ha Ha gambled too much and took bad angles looking for the big play while his first few years were filled with sound play and good tackling.

During his time with the Packers, Clinton-Dix had 14 interceptions, three forced fumbles and 383 tackles. Now with the Bears, Ha Ha has turned it around and is showing signs of having learned his lesson.

Bonus Player

Super Sub Micah Hyde (2013-2016)

Micah Hyde was a jack-of-all-trades player for the Packers during his four seasons. He started as a cornerback, moved to safety and was also a good returner.

Hyde could fill in wherever he was needed the secondary when injuries occurred and did so without missing a beat. Had the Packers kept Hyde at one position, they may have found their answer to safety was on the roster all along. After leaving the Packers, Hyde landed with the Bills and was allowed to focus on free safety, making the Pro Bowl and helping the Bills earn their first postseason berth in over a decade.

During his tenor, Hyde gave the Packers solid play that never waned and all-out hustle from start to finish. Hyde’s numbers as a super-sub were starter worthy with eight interceptions and three punt return touchdowns.