Za'Darius Smith Articles - Page 4

The Detroit Lions, traditionally, have not exactly been known for fielding the finest rosters in their long existence, and they haven’t exactly been heralded for their shrewd front offices, either (see: Matt Millen). In fact, the Lions — one of football’s longest-running franchises — are not active traders, at all, no matter who’s in charge. […]

In 2019, the Green Bay Packers went 13-3 and won the NFC North before falling in the conference championship game to the San Francisco 49ers. According to Football Outsiders, they were the second-worst 13-win team in NFL history, but they enter 2020 with expectations of another deep run led by an impressive group of young […]

Just this past season, despite being an underdog to win, Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Could there be another dark horse candidate to take home the hardware in 2020? Before the 2019 season began, Gilmore had +8000 odds to win the NFL’s Defensive Player […]

Za’Darius Smith was a breakout star for the Green Packers in 2019. In his first season in Green Bay, the 6-foot-4, 272-pound edge rusher recorded 55 tackles, 37 quarterback hits, and a team-high 13.5 sacks while also being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his five-year career. After playing his first […]

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has shown some signs of a decline over the last couple of seasons. He is still a terrific signal-caller, but the days of Rodgers consistently being able to dominate games and almost single-handedly lead his team to victory seem to be behind him. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t […]

Last season, the Green Bay Packers went 6-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. This season, under new head coach Matt LaFleur, Green Bay would go 13-3 and once again reign supreme in the NFC North. While the season didn’t end how most fans would have wanted it to, the Packers as […]

The Green Bay Packers knew what was in store for them when they prepared for the San Francisco 49ers ahead of their NFC Championship clash at Levi’s Stadium. Or, at least, they should have known. Despite the fact the Niners trounced the Packers 37-8 in Week 12 of the regular season, Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith […]

The Pro Bowl is on the backburner. The sports world could not care less if the NFC topples the AFC or vice-versa. The Pro Bowl comes in a very distant second. Kobe Bryant’s death is the most important thing. On Sunday, the basketball legend and his daughter Gianna Marie passed away in a helicopter crash […]

The Green Bay Packers may have been eliminated from the playoffs with their NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but at least they will be sending some players to the Pro Bowl. The Packers will have three more representatives in addition to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and offensive lineman David Bakhtiari […]

The Green Bay Packers fell short of advancing to the Super Bowl once again, but Aaron Rodgers believes there is optimism for the team moving forward. Following Green Bay’s lopsided defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, Rodgers expressed his confidence that the Packers will make the right moves in the offseason. “It’s a lot different […]

Za’Darius Smith grew up in Alabama. He played his college football at the University of Kentucky and found himself on the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. However, now that the pass-rusher is with the Green Bay Packers, he seems to be all too connected to his faux Wisconsin roots. Smith, who signed with the Packers […]

The Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers will square off against each other for the second time this season. But this time, the winner of the matchup will represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIV. Heading into Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, the Packers are 7.5-point underdogs as the road team. Undoubtedly, bettors are taking […]

The NFL Divisional Round featured a defensive masterpiece, a shocking upset and a historic comeback. Playoff records were broken and new franchise marks were set. To best recap a wild playoff weekend, let’s look at the 15 most dominant players from the NFL Divisional Round. 1. Patrick Mahomes The reigning MVP engineered an offensive outburst […]

The Green Bay Packers made a big splash this offseason when they signed linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency. Both ended up proving to be fantastic signings. Preston Smith finished the year with 12 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. What’s crazy is that he wasn’t even the star of the […]

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith opened up a lot of eyes with his performance against the Minnesota Vikings. One of those who came away most impressive was defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Smith was in the Vikings’ backfield all night on “Monday Night Football,” racking up 3.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and five […]

Green Bay Packers pass rusher and linebacker  Za’Daruius Smith is a force that teams and fans are beginning to figure out. After a dominant effort on “Monday Night Football” against the Minnesota Vikings, Smith should now be considered one of the best pass rushers in the league. Smith leads the NFL with 81 quarterback disruptions […]

Christmas came early for Green Bay Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith who said all he wanted for Christmas was an NFC North clinching cap and t-shirt. Za’Darius Smith told Preston Smith before the game all he wanted for Christmas was a hat and T-shirt. See the emotional postgame interview with the NFC North champs shortly on […]

The Green Bay Packers are 8-3 in their first year under Matt LaFleur and are amid the tight playoff race in the NFC. Provided that, it’s never too early to look ahead and the Packers should look into Notre Dame pass rusher Khalid Kareem in the 2020 NFL Draft. At this moment, Green Bay holds […]

Players and illegal substances tend to be difficult topics for fans. Not seeing key players due to suspensions is a thought many fans don’t like to be thinking at all. Za’Darius Smith, unfortunately, has given Green Bay Packers fans things to worry about as he was caught in a car with marijuana in his possession. […]

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith has been cited for possession of marijuana or synthetic marijuana and speeding, according to documents filed in Wisconsin Circuit Court in Racine via ESPN. The incident took place on Sept. 29 and a hearing date is scheduled Thursday. His appearance is not mandatory and they are not criminal […]

According to Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, the Green Bay Packers have “a real issue on defense.” That issue: “in their front seven, they don’t have that dictator no more,” as Lewis said on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL.” Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith — who spurned Lewis’ Baltimore for the bright lights of Green Bay […]

The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles have a Week 4 matchup on Thursday Night Football. It appears the Packers will have linebacker Za’Darius Smith available after he was limited during the week with a calf injury: #Packers pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith, a key part of that impressive unit with three sacks thus far, is expected to […]

The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most impressive defensive units in the NFL just one season after ranking 18th in total defense. Through the first three games, Green Bay has improved to 13th in total defense while ranking third in defensive DVOA, according to Football Outsiders. However, Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith has […]

The Green Bay Packers spent a boatload of money this offseason to improve their pass rush. Just three weeks into the season, their spending has paid dividends. Green Bay leads the NFL in defensive pressure percentage. According to Next Gen Stats, the Packers have gotten pressure on 39 percent of their snaps this season, after […]

Za’Darius Smith has turned into a star for the Green Bay Packers after being given a big-time contract in free agency during the offseason. Not only is he an excellent pass rusher, he is apparently one of the league’s top dancers when he comes up with those sacks. That was the case against the Denver […]

The Green Bay Packers’ rebuilt defense far exceed expectations in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Green Bay held its longtime division rivals to just three points in a season-opening victory at Soldier Field, frustrating Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky while keeping coach Matt Nagy’s innovative rushing attack in check. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine discussed several […]

Za’Darius Smith and the Green Bay Packers were able to come away with a huge Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. It wasn’t a pretty game, but the Packers’ defense was able to hold the Bears to just three points in a 10-3 victory. That kind of performance was a breath of fresh air […]

The Green Bay Packers are set to kick off a new era of football on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears. Matt LaFleur is bringing a completely new offense to the field in the latest installment of one of the biggest rivalries in the wide world of sports. Both of these teams are viewed as […]

Former Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith is now officially a member of the Green Bay Packers. Not only that, but the veteran defender has been nothing short of incredibly impressive throughout his brief stint in Green Bay. Smith, who notably inked a $66 million free agent contract with the Packers most recently took over […]

Uncharacteristically, the Green Bay Packers were big spenders in free agency this offseason. They shelled out a bunch of money to sign guys like Za’Darius Smith. So far in training camp, Za’Darius Smith has been well worth the money. First-year head coach, Matt LaFleur said that Za’Darius is “everything we thought he was going to […]

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari typically has no trouble with pass-rushers. He is widely regarded as one of the league’s best offensive linemen, in both the run game and the pass. But the revamped Packer defense is giving him some trouble, particularly new signee Za’Darius Smith. Bakhtiari was beaten twice in individual drills […]

The Green Bay Packers have aspirations of defensive dominance in 2019. That’s all too apparent considering their bevy of additions, including Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, Za’Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, and Darnell Savage Jr. Smith, in particular, has been dominating in training camp. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, Smith won all three of […]

Former Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Za’Darius Smith is now a member of the Green Bay Packers. Not only is Smith currently gearing up to disrupt opposing offenses for Green Bay, but he is already wreaking havoc against his Packers teammates, chiefly Pro Bowl offensive tackle David Bakhtiari. With Smith repeatedly beating Bakhtiari, at least one […]

Za’Darius Smith was one of the prize free agency additions for the Green Bay Packers this offseason. After choosing to leave the Baltimore Ravens, the star pass rusher ended up agreeing to a four-year, $66 million deal with the Packers. It’s a move that should bolster a major weakness from last season. Green Bay has […]

The Green Bay Packers went gung-ho this offseason in terms of signing free agents. Green Bay managed to sign Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Za’Darius Smith to bolster their defense. The defense was definitely an issue in 2018, with the Packers being ranked 18th in total defense. Although, the Packers did rank eighth in sacks […]

Earlier this month, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Za’Darius Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Green Bay Packers. With a $20 million signing bonus and $34.5 million paid out during the first two years, Smith decided to put that money to good use on March 22, buying his mother Sharon a home in their native […]

The New York Jets spent tons of money this offseason by signing Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Mosley to lucrative deals. According to multiple reports, the Jets also wanted to lure Za’Darius Smith in free agency. According to Peter Bukowski, Smith himself went on Ian Rapoport’s podcast and said that the Jets and the Green Bay […]

The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most aggressive teams in the NFL in free agency. A couple of years ago, that statement would’ve been shocking. But it’s true, as the Packers have been one of the biggest spenders out there. They’ve signed big name players like Za’Darius Smith, Billy Turner, Preston Smith, […]

Well, this is one easy way to get your fans excited about a new signing. The Green Bay Packers wasted little time in introducing their fans to Za’Darius Smith with a hype video on Twitter. Coming 🔜 to the green & gold.@TheRealZSmith #GoPackGo https://t.co/2VtdtBwxDQ — Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 14, 2019 Adding Za’Darius Smith […]