The Green Bay Packers made quite the splash in 2019 free agency. In addition to signing Za’Darius and Preston Smith, they also signed safety Adrian Amos, who had spent his first four years with the Chicago Bears. The Packers have been consistently thin in the secondary for years, making this a key signing. Ironically, to replace Amos, the Bears signed free agent Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Most recently, Clinton-Dix was with the Washington Redskins after Green Bay traded him. The addition of Adrian Amos could finally mean that the Packers have a reliable secondary.
Meanwhile, the Bears see switching Amos for Clinton-Dix as a win. They claim they’ve always thought the former Packers safety was more talented than Amos. The Bears director of player personnel, Josh Lucas, said the following: “We’re not just saying this right now because he’s here and Amos in Green Bay. We have consistently graded Ha Ha as a better player than Amos for four years. We played against him twice a year. For that to happen, it really solidified the pro side of it.”
This quote proves confusing for Packers fans who have too many memories of watching Clinton-Dix miss tackles. Pete Dougherty of Packers News explains that the safety’s performance went downhill after his appearance in the 2016 Pro Bowl. He started to focus on making big, splash plays rather than simply doing his job. He became less and less reliable. Instead of building off his incredible 2016 season, Clinton-Dix lost his drive and work ethic. This led to the Packers trading him to the Redskins for a fourth-round draft pick.
Adrian Amos Brings Consistency to Green Bay Packers Secondary
Amos told the crew at Good Morning Football on the NFL Network that one of the biggest reasons he chose to sign with Green Bay was simply because they wanted him. They made a point of saying how they could see him fitting into their defensive scheme and that they had a plan for him.
Packers defensive backs coach, Jason Simmons, feels that Amos’ consistency is more valuable than intermittent big plays. While Amos only has three interceptions, in his four seasons with the Bears, he plays the safety position with consistency. “Splash plays? He makes really good plays as a safety,” Simmons said during the off-season workout program. “His consistency is really what attracted me to him.”
Sure, huge and potentially game-changing plays are incredible to see. However, what if the Packers secondary could finally start showing up on a regular basis? They wouldn’t need any splash plays if they put in the necessary work and treated each down like it mattered. Too many times, Green Bay’s defense gave off a complacent and careless attitude. Through his dedication to each down, Amos brings consistency to the secondary.
Simmons goes on to say, “To a secondary coach, splash plays are when he gets guys down. He gets guys down easily in the open field and in traffic. When you can get guys down and allow the defense to play another snap, those are splash plays, particularly when you get dynamic guys down. And he has the ability to do that.” Amos’ consistency and dedication will be a positive influence for the rest of the defense. Through his willingness to constantly give his all on every down, Amos brings consistency to Green Bay’s secondary.
If the Packers can take each and every down seriously, they have a much better chance of playing January football. Too often, Green Bay’s defense tends to play as if there will always be a next time. This translates into them thinking and acting like the current play does not matter. Amos’ presence on the team will hopefully spur them to change this mindset. His first opportunity will be in the season opener on Thursday Night Football at Soldier Field.
