It is never fun to move on from a player and then see them dominate on another team. That is what is happening to the Packers this season. Former Packer Za’Darius Smith was cut in the offseason and ended up signing with the Vikings. After spending a year injured, there was some question about what quality of play he could put on the field. Those questions have been answered. Za’Darius Smith is leading the league in pressures this season.
Former Packer Za’Darius Smith Is Leading The League In Pressures
Most pressures this season
55- Za'Darius Smith
54-
53-
52-
51-
50-
49-
48-
47-
46-
45- Nick Bosa
44- Matt Judon pic.twitter.com/BFt4M7e0BE— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 14, 2022
The Vikings were expected to be a tough team this year. I don’t think anyone expected them to be this good. At 8-1, they are on the fast track to one of the top seeds in the NFC. A big part of that is the play of Smith. Za’Darius Smith is leading the league in pressures this season by a wide margin. His league-high 55 dwarfs the next closest person, Nick Bosa who sits at 45. Any time a team can get consistent pressure on the quarterback, it usually means success.
I’d Be Happy For Him If He Wasn’t So Bitter About The Packers
This happens in the NFL all the time. The salary cap makes it tough for teams to keep everyone and sometimes good players get cut. The Packers’ cap situation is tough to manage. Smith became a casualty of the cap. It was nothing personal. It was strictly business. Smith took it personally and spent the offseason spouting about how mistreated he was by the Packers and how he picked the Vikings specifically so he could get back at the Packers. It stinks that we had to get rid of Smith but it didn’t make sense for the roster. Honestly good for him for having a successful season even if it is for the Vikings.
It does hurt a little bit to see Za’Darius Smith leading the league in pressures this season. The Packers’ pass rush has been decent but they could still use Smith’s talents. Hopefully, Rashan Gary can recover well from his ACL injury and Kingsley Enagbare can continue to improve.
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1 Comment
Matthew Brown, perhaps if Aaron Rodgers wasn’t so greedy and didn’t throw a temper tantrum about wanting to be the highest paid quarterback in the league then the packers would have more cap space to retain key players. That is the difference between being selfish and narrow minded compared to being team oriented and open minded of what it takes to build a great team and retain good players. Tom Brady is a primary example of being team oriented and putting his teammates before himself, which is what has helped contribute to multiple super bowls. There were numerous times that he’s adjusted his own contract to make room in the salary cap to sign new players or retain good players that are on the team. If Rodgers wasn’t so greedy, Davante Adams and Zadarius Smith would still be on the roster. The packers offense looks horrible without Adams. So you gotta ask yourself, is Rodgers really good or was he always just blessed with great receivers that made him look good (I.e., Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Randal Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, etc.) because right now he looks like a mediocre quarterback.