VIDEO: Za'Darius Smith Highlights Prove Packers Fans Need to Appreciate Him More
By Jerry Trotta
Though the Green Bay Packers defense came back down to Earth after their scorching-hot start in the first month of the 2019 season, one player has remained a consistent force of destruction for defensive coordinator Mike Pettine: Za'Darius Smith. The 2015 fourth-round pick has exceeded expectations this season, but his highlights prove that Packers fans need to appreciate him much more than they already do. Simply put, Smith is UNSTOPPABLE.
Za'Darius Smith is putting on a pass rushing CLINIC each week (@TheRealZSmith)
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) November 12, 2019
Smith is winning inside & outside... And executing deliberate pass rush plans. Detailed hand usage in combination w/ his explosive movements
?Cross Chop
?Double Hand Swipe
?Stab Chop
?Club Swim pic.twitter.com/ne6gAQGPH1
Folks, that right there is a master of his art going to work. It's simply unfair that you can mix that much speed, elusiveness, power, and know-how into a body that stands 6-4 and weighs 272 pounds.
Through 10 games, Smith has logged 34 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hits. Just against the Panthers alone this past Sunday, the Kentucky product tallied a whopping 14 pressures on Carolina signal-caller Kyle Allen.
Packers tally 14 pressures from OLB Za'Darius Smith vs. Panthers https://t.co/pNrtcRTTsu
— The Packers Wire (@ThePackersWire) November 13, 2019
Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones grab the majority of headlines and adoration from Packers fans, but Smith deserves equivalent recognition for what he's meant to the defense.