GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Tramon Williams isn’t here just to be a mentor. Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix isn’t here just to be a center fielder.
The two defensive backs who could be key to the Green Bay Packers' defensive turnaround made that clear this week.
Yes, Williams played for new Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine during their days together with the Browns and knows part of his job description will include helping others make the transition from Dom Capers’ defense. But even at age 35 and back for a second stint with the Packers, Williams said he has more to give.
“That’s one of the reasons why I’m here, but I don’t think they would have just signed me if I couldn’t play,” said Williams, whose most recent season with the Packers was 2014. “The first reason is because I can play still.”
For Clinton-Dix, the new defensive scheme should once again put him in a playmaking position after he spent much of last season playing so deep in order to prevent big plays that he rarely got chances to make any himself. And when he did get those opportunities, he did not take advantage often enough like he did during his Pro Bowl season of 2016.
“Last year we had to do what was best for the team,” Clinton-Dix said. “I wasn’t involved in a lot, but like I said, last year was last year. I didn’t meet the standards I set for myself personally. If you ask a guy from a different team, three picks and 80 tackles with not being involved in the scheme, I think they would think they had a great year. But with a guy like me with the high expectations I set for myself, I expect more and I expect more from myself this year. I have to work on a lot of things to get better at, and I’m excited about it.”
The Packers haven’t fielded a top-10 defense since their Super Bowl season of 2010. The defense imploded last season, in part due to a lack of communication and accountability that led to Capers’ firing as coordinator after nine seasons. Clinton-Dix strongly defended Capers after last season.
“I just think things needed to be pinpointed; I think they were definitely pointed out in the team meeting we had this morning by coach Mike,” Clinton-Dix said of Pettine. “We’re excited to move forward. Like Coach said, we kicked the rearview mirror off. We’re looking straight ahead from now on.”
To hear Williams tell it, things should be different this season. He should know. Pettine coached the Browns in 2015, the first of Williams’ two seasons in Cleveland before he played for the Cardinals last season.
“It’s very aggressive, man,” Williams said of Pettine’s defense. “You have to be smart. It’s simple, but it’s aggressive. There has to be a lot of smart guys on the field. Me being in that defense, I think I can guide some guys and teach some guys what they need to know in this defense. That’s why I think the move made sense.”
The Packers almost certainly will address defensive back with one of their early draft picks -- perhaps even in the first round if they can get Ohio State’s Denzel Ward, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick or Florida State’s Derwin James -- which means they will once again rely on young players to improve their defense. It’s possible Pettine could field a defense with a rookie at one cornerback and a second-year player (Kevin King, last year’s top draft pick) at the other.
But if Clinton-Dix’s assessment of the defense -- he called it “likable and learnable” -- is accurate, then that shouldn’t be a major issue. Clinton-Dix was referring to the “KILL” philosophy -- “keep it likable and learnable" -- that Rex Ryan described earlier this offseason in an interview about Pettine.
“I’m very excited about this system,” Clinton-Dix said. “Mike is a great coach. He has a lot of energy. He’s not taking any mess. I’m excited about where this defense can go this year.”