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  4. title => "How will D.J. Swearinger, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix rank among the league's best safety combos?"
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  6. article_body => "<p>Not so long ago \u2013 think 2016 \u2013 the Washington Redskins had arguably the worst starting safety tandem in the NFL. Then in 2017, they signed free agent D.J. Swearinger, who is currently trending toward a career-best season.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, the Redskins <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/ha-ha-clinton-dix-found-place-he-loves-joining-redskins-and-ready-play-immediately\">acquired&nbsp;Pro Bowler Ha Ha Clinton-Dix <\/a>from the Green Bay Packers. Now football thinkers in 2018 are pondering where the duo ranks among the league's best safety combos.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to be something they ain\u2019t ever seen before, man,\u201d an excited Swearinger said in the Redskins locker room Wednesday. \u201cI don\u2019t think they ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Swearinger wasn\u2019t ready to comprehend a text from his workout pal Clinton-Dix Tuesday. \u201cComing to you, bro,\u201d it read. Swearinger, the NFL leader with four interceptions, initially assumed the context referenced the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/one-thing-dj-swearinger-and-ha-ha-clinton-dix-have-common-love-sean-taylor\"> ongoing statistical rivalry between two friends <\/a>who worked out in Miami this offseason.<\/p>\n<p>Having not checked out news on Twitter, Swearinger remained in a state of ignorant bliss until a text from another arrived. Then reality settled in. \u201cOh, that\u2019s what he\u2019s talking about!\u201d Swearinger exclaimed.<\/p>\n<p>The trade itself said plenty about the organization\u2019s mindset heading into Sunday\u2019s Week 9 matchup at FedEx Field. Washington parted with a 2019 fourth-round selection for a player whose contract expires following this season. That means the Redskins have Clinton-Dix for at least nine regular season games. At 5-2 and with a 1 \u00bd game lead in the NFC East, the trend suggests more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Two other division teams made aggressive moves before Tuesday\u2019s trade deadline. Philadelphia acquired<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/eagles-acquisition-golden-tate-makes-their-pursuit-redskins-more-interesting\"> wide receiver Golden Tate&nbsp;<\/a>one week after Dallas shipped out a first-round selection for pass catcher Amari Cooper. The Redskins made their own splashy move.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"I can tell you one thing, I've been impressed by [the Redskins'] secondary and they're ability to ball hawk,\" Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. \"Between their safeties, their corners, their ability not just from interceptions but forcing fumbles. So, add another guy to the mix that has a real awareness for the football, I think that's a good addition. \"<\/p>\n<p>Even though Coach Jay Gruden downplayed the move as being all-in \u2013 \u201cI don\u2019t know what year we haven\u2019t been all in\u201d \u2013 the competitive aspect wasn\u2019t lost in Swearinger.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like they\u2019re really getting this defense right. They\u2019re banking on getting this defense right,\u201d the safety said. \u201cI got some extra help for sure in the back end. A veteran guy, a Pro Bowl guy. Takes a little weight off my shoulders. Takes some weight off the corner\u2019s shoulders just having another veteran guy. You can\u2019t really coach experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/taking-look-updated-redskins-defensive-depth-chart-after-ha-ha-clinton-dix-trade\"> move boosts Washington\u2019s starting lineup <\/a>right at a point where a change may have occurred regardless. Montae Nicholson, Swearinger\u2019s safety partner for much of the last two seasons, had a \u201csmall procedure on his hip\u201d this week, Gruden revealed. It\u2019s unclear if the second-year player would be ready to face the Falcons. The Redskins were already light with safety depth even before placing rookie safety Troy Apke on injured reserve this week.<\/p>\n<p>Clinton-Dix\u2019s presence as Washington\u2019s new centerfielder allows Swearinger to display his \u201cnatural ability\u201d at strong safety. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be scary having him back there flying around,\u201d Swearinger said.<\/p>\n<p>Better that kind of scary at safety than compared to the frightening 2016 version. Also, better to wonder how the starting tandem stacks up against the league\u2019s best than fear your squad might just have the worst. The Redskins have no such worries now.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>MORE REDSKINS NEWS:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Guessing game:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/5-2-through-7-games-trying-project-redskins-final-win-total\"> Projecting Redskins final win total<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Defensive Rookie of the Year: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/nfl-defensive-roy-award-rankings-it-time-consider-daron-payne-favorite-win\">Is Payne a favorite to win?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Disrespect:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/dj-swearinger-feels-very-disrespected-which-whats-fueling-his-incredible-2018-season\">Swearinger says disrespect is fueling his great season<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/redskin-talk\/episodes\/42ee3d4b-9b11-45c4-9759-83d3660a2047\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/strong><\/p>\n"
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Redskins

Redskins

Not so long ago – think 2016 – the Washington Redskins had arguably the worst starting safety tandem in the NFL. Then in 2017, they signed free agent D.J. Swearinger, who is currently trending toward a career-best season.

On Tuesday, the Redskins acquired Pro Bowler Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from the Green Bay Packers. Now football thinkers in 2018 are pondering where the duo ranks among the league's best safety combos. 

“It’s going to be something they ain’t ever seen before, man,” an excited Swearinger said in the Redskins locker room Wednesday. “I don’t think they ready for it.”

Swearinger wasn’t ready to comprehend a text from his workout pal Clinton-Dix Tuesday. “Coming to you, bro,” it read. Swearinger, the NFL leader with four interceptions, initially assumed the context referenced the ongoing statistical rivalry between two friends who worked out in Miami this offseason.

Having not checked out news on Twitter, Swearinger remained in a state of ignorant bliss until a text from another arrived. Then reality settled in. “Oh, that’s what he’s talking about!” Swearinger exclaimed.

The trade itself said plenty about the organization’s mindset heading into Sunday’s Week 9 matchup at FedEx Field. Washington parted with a 2019 fourth-round selection for a player whose contract expires following this season. That means the Redskins have Clinton-Dix for at least nine regular season games. At 5-2 and with a 1 ½ game lead in the NFC East, the trend suggests more. 

 

Two other division teams made aggressive moves before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Philadelphia acquired wide receiver Golden Tate one week after Dallas shipped out a first-round selection for pass catcher Amari Cooper. The Redskins made their own splashy move. 

"I can tell you one thing, I've been impressed by [the Redskins'] secondary and they're ability to ball hawk," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. "Between their safeties, their corners, their ability not just from interceptions but forcing fumbles. So, add another guy to the mix that has a real awareness for the football, I think that's a good addition. "

Even though Coach Jay Gruden downplayed the move as being all-in – “I don’t know what year we haven’t been all in” – the competitive aspect wasn’t lost in Swearinger.

“I feel like they’re really getting this defense right. They’re banking on getting this defense right,” the safety said. “I got some extra help for sure in the back end. A veteran guy, a Pro Bowl guy. Takes a little weight off my shoulders. Takes some weight off the corner’s shoulders just having another veteran guy. You can’t really coach experience.”

The move boosts Washington’s starting lineup right at a point where a change may have occurred regardless. Montae Nicholson, Swearinger’s safety partner for much of the last two seasons, had a “small procedure on his hip” this week, Gruden revealed. It’s unclear if the second-year player would be ready to face the Falcons. The Redskins were already light with safety depth even before placing rookie safety Troy Apke on injured reserve this week.

Clinton-Dix’s presence as Washington’s new centerfielder allows Swearinger to display his “natural ability” at strong safety. “It’s going to be scary having him back there flying around,” Swearinger said.

Better that kind of scary at safety than compared to the frightening 2016 version. Also, better to wonder how the starting tandem stacks up against the league’s best than fear your squad might just have the worst. The Redskins have no such worries now.

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