If the Green Bay Packers were looking to get better at disrupting the quarterback on third down, they found the right guy in edge rusher Za’Darius Smith.
According to Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus, Smith led the NFL in sacks and quarterback hits on third down with 17 last season.
The Packers are expected to sign Smith once the new league year opens Wednesday.
Third down is often considered the most important down in football. It’s an opportunity for the offense to extend a drive, often via the pass, but also an opportunity for the defense to get off the field. Too often in recent years, the Packers haven’t had a good enough pass rush on third down to consistently win on third down.
Smith could change all that. Not only does he win consistently on third down, but he’s done the majority of his damage as an interior rusher in obvious passing situations. He terrorized guards last season. Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine prioritizes interior pressure and will likely use Smith in similar ways, potentially as his go-to rusher at several spots along the defensive line.
Baltimore’s visit to Kansas City last season provided two strong examples of Smith’s game-changing ability on third down. In the second half, Smith’s pressure from the inside forced a wild throw from Patrick Mahomes that was intercepted downfield. Later, in the fourth quarter, Smith immediately beat the Chiefs left guard with a swim move and combined with Terrell Suggs to sack Mahomes, forcing a punt.
There was actually a stretch of six straight games in the second half of last season that Smith provided at least one sack or turnover-causing play on third down.
The Packers are expected to pay Smith like an elite rusher. While he might not be the game’s best every-down rusher from the edge, he proved his worth – and then some – as an interior rusher on third down last season. If Pettine can keep Smith producing disruption on the money down for the Packers defense, he’ll be worth all that money.
