Lead the League in Sacks

When thinking of players who led the NFL in QB pressures last season, who comes to mind? Khalil Mack? Chandler Jones? Shaquil Barrett? All of those answers are wrong. However, if you guessed Za’Darius Smith you would be correct.

While Smith certainly makes a habit of pressuring the QB, he isn’t the only Packer who gets in the quarterbacks face. Preston Smith (10) and Kenny Clark (23) join Za’Darius in the top 25 in QB Pressure Rating.

While QB pressure doesn’t directly result in sacks, they could be just as effective. Often QB pressure leads to poorly thrown balls, poor reads, and force QB’s to feel hurried. These factors all result in turnovers. However, the “Lawfirm of Smith, Smith & Clark” is only the tip of the Iceberg for Green Bay. The Packers used a first-round pick on the very talented prospect Rashan Gary in the 2019 NFL Draft.

When a team can bring pressure from all angles there really is no answer for the offense. If Clark is double teamed, Smith and Smith just have to beat the tackle off the edge. If either of the edge rushers are double teamed, then it leaves Clark and the other edge in a one-on-one.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Green Bay throws in a package with Smith, Smith, Gary, and Clark on the field at once this year. With four players who are skilled at getting to the QB, one of Green Bay’s goals should be to lead the NFL in sacks. The possibilities become even more intriguing if Everson Griffen were to be signed.