No edge rusher in the NFL has pressured the quarterback at a higher rate this season than Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith.
According to Pro Football Focus, Smith’s 18.2 percent pressure rate leads all edge rushers in the NFL in 2019 and ranks as the fourth-best mark among full-time edge rushers since 2015.
While sacks and quarterback hits are useful volume statistics for evaluating the overall impact of edge rushers, pressure rate provides a more effective way of knowing an edge rusher’s down-to-down consistency. And no edge rusher has pressured the quarterback at a higher rate this season than Smith, who might be the Packers’ best free-agent acquisition since Charles Woodson.
Smith has set new career-highs in sacks (10), quarterback hits (29) and total pressures (73). He’s ninth in the NFL in sacks, tied for first in quarterback hits and second in total pressures.
Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has unleashed Smith’s full potential, using him as both a traditional 3-4 outside linebacker and a versatile rusher capable of attacking the quarterback from any position along the defensive line.
His ridiculous pressure rate is just another stat proving what has become obvious: Za’Darius Smith should be a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro this season.
