Za’Darius Smith: An IDP Must-Have
Did you ever grow up playing fighting games like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, or Super Smash Bros? Imagine in that scenario you were looking to unlock the more powerful characters, and this wasn’t something you were just given right away. You had to go out of your way to unlock these more powerful characters, doing everything it took to accomplish that goal.
In a similar way, that was the Packers in the off-season trying to upgrade the pass rush with more power. They successfully did that with two huge statements in Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. Za’Darius, arriving from the Ravens, was coming off a then career year in 2018 with 8.5 sacks, 10 TFL, and 25 QB hits in 16 games (eight as a starter), so he was going to command significant free-agent money.
And indeed the Packers did whatever it took to get him, signing Smith to a four-year, $66 million contract in order to help give Green Bay’s pass rush more power. But Smith hasn’t just been an upgrade, he’s been one of the absolute best defenders in 2019, proving he wasn’t a one-trick pony for good.
Through 15 games, Smith has 13.5 sacks, 17 TFL, and a league-leading 35 QB hits. Via FantasyData, he has 141.75 points, the 89th-most of any player in 2019 as well as the 14th highest mark among all defenders. He’s been the absolute best free-agent signing of 2019, and his presence has helped earn the Packers their first division title and postseason appearance since 2016.
In week 15 against the Vikings, Smith had the game of a lifetime. The Packers clinched the NFC North with a 23-10 road victory over their longtime rivals, and Smith made 6 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 TFL, and 5 QB hits. In Green Bay’s biggest game of the season, Smith delivered the goods, taking over and becoming the best player on the field on Monday Night.
With that said, let’s go through Smith’s Monday Night film to determine why exactly new IDP players must add him immediately.
Smith’s first sack was his easiest one of the night. Here he’s going up against the left tackle Riley Reiff on a play that’s otherwise well-protected. But Smith uses a stiff counter move against Reiff, giving him immediate leverage and a free lane toward Kirk Cousins. Cousins is not one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the league, so the best he can do (also the worst he can do) is backpedal in an attempt to escape the pass rusher. But it’s no use, and the play results in a loss of 13 as Smith collects his first of many sacks on the night.
Smith’s second sack is significantly more impressive. This time he’s lined up in the A-gap and straight-up destroys any hopes this play has of being successful. He does by using a successful club counter move against the rookie center Garrett Bradbury, and it combined with his gliding footwork allows him to blow up this play. To Cousins’ credit, he almost escapes the pressure, but Smith puts the icing on the cake with a shoestring tackle and his second sack of the night.
Smith split his third sack with Preston Smith on this snap, late in the fourth quarter. This time he’s lined up against right tackle Brian O’Neill, and among the two Smiths, Za’Darius is the one that applies more pressure. A simple power rush overwhelms O’Neill, and Preston joins his teammate in wrapping down Cousins for a split sack. Preston has been a home run addition himself, with 12.0 sacks, 11 TFL, and 23 QB hits in his first season in Green Bay.
Finally, Smith takes Cousins down for the fourth time on this play, where he’s used by Mike Pettine on a stunt on the left side of the Vikings’ offensive line. He ends up facing Bradbury again, and the results are pretty similar the second time around. He pushes the rookie center away from his personal space and gets yet another free lane toward Cousins, taking him down for a grand total of 3.5 sacks for the game.
Za’Darius Smith’s usage of powerful, nasty footwork, and versatility as a pass rusher have made him, in my opinion, a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and a massive Pro Bowl snub. The Packers haven’t been one of the absolute best defenses this season, but his presence has indeed given them a pass-rushing boost they badly needed, playing at his peak on Monday Night against the Vikings.
The 11th or 12th round of an IDP draft would be a perfect time to draft Smith in 2020. He’s been nothing but a monster on tape and on the stat sheets, so there’s no excuse why he shouldn’t be acquired for your up and coming IDP rosters.
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