I like your description of the Packer defense porupack! I think solid to very solid at every position is better than superstars at a couple of spots and weak links at other spots. Given the reinforcements at DL and ILB, the Packers just patched all their weak links and should be solid at every position (barring injury) this year. I am excited about this year's defense!

We’ll rated by PFF Gary was number 1 and Smith number 13th in pressures, sacks..etc…, so I’d say they are fearsome. They are the only duo in the NFL rated so highly. PFF is only one source, but it does show they are to be feared.

Huh? Gary has become an absolute gamewrecker. The kind of player opposing offenses build gameplans around stopping him. He's the first guy an opposing qb accounts for when theyre lining up to run a play. If anything, he's being undersold around here. He's THAT good. He's definitely not getting anywhere near the credit he deserves nationally.

'But unlike Rodgers I think Smith IS a leader. '

I have to admit when I first saw the title of this article, I thought of Rodgers.

You lead by example and that is what P Smith does. I like Rodgers but he does not lead as well as he should. We as fans see it, the FO sees it (and pretty much ignores it) and the players see it as well.

I don't see how you determine Rodgers ISN'T a leader based on some kind of weird comparison. Smith had a down year and took a pay cut to try to improve with the same squad he'd been with, likely in hopes of getting that money back via production. Meanwhile Rodgers went out and won the league MVP two years in a row. That's not when you take a pay cut. That's when you've earned the biggest contract given out. There is no doubt in my mind that the entire offense (and probably the defense as well) see Rodgers as a leader. He does things the right way. He is prepared, he works very hard, has very high standards for himself and his teammates. He's grown and changed and learned over the years about how to take care of his body for the long haul. He's tough and has played injured many, many times in his career. He has a good rapport with the offensive line and with his skill position guys. What in the heck are you basing a lack of leadership on? Because he didn't show up for voluntary offensive installs? After 17 years in the league, and several years in this offense?

Rodgers has owned his mistakes many many times over the years. I don't see Rodgers making excuses. You can be really angry that the whole offense (not to mention ST) didn't play well in the playoff loss, but this ridiculous nonsense about Rodgers not being a leader doesn't seem to have any basis in fact.

NP, I was thinking virtually the same thing about ZSmith's comments.
a. I'm guessing AR is going to be just as happy to have an out of control player that he can scheme around with runs and short passes.
B. not only second(rate)-cousins, but every other quarterback & Off.Coord. combination with less than five years of experience will be concerned when our new defense takes the field!
GPG!

The every other year thing for Smith is a bit of a misnomer. His sacks have fluctuated in an every other year cycle but his pressures have stayed pretty steady except for 2020. I think he read the tea leaves wrong in '20 and thought the season would be cancelled. He looked heavier and played like he was out of shape, especially early in the season. It was ugly at time, getting blocked 15 yards down field by TEs a couple of times and basically giving up vs the run on a few more. His sacks may be down this year but as long as the pressures stay fairly consistent he'll earn his money.

I think P loves football, too. It's more than just a paycheck for him.

Yes, Z. Smith was a great teammate. Too bad his situation did not work out better for the Pack.

People overlook the change in the locker room that was needed with the end of the McCarthy regime. The whole thing felt stale and toxic.

Bringing in LaFleur and his staff was obviously important, but both Smiths and Amos helped change that locker room dynamic and provide energy and leadership on that side of the ball. I think you're right in that the accounts I've read state that Z was the more vocal and influential guy. Those players helped changed a stale culture, and I thank Z for the role he played in that change.

True Patrick GB. I used to not buy into this statement but now I do; " the best ability, is availability"...or something like that?

Nice call on this. The offseason articles are always lacking, but taking potshots at a fan-favorite who produced in big ways on the field is a step in the wrong direction. Z outplayed P the entire time he was here, except for when he was injured. You cannot, you simply cannot blame injuries on the injured player. It is imminently unfair, unless they really do not take care of their body. That's not the case here. A player got hurt at an extremely violent sport. Mysterious or not, Z would have been out there if he could have played. Unless you know something we don't know and he sat for the year b/c he didn't get the raise he wanted. I don't think that's the case. He just got injured early in the season and we never got to enjoy the 3 headed monster of Smith/Gary/Smith.

MP1 may be a little harsh, but not inaccurate at all. Cory clearly sees and writes through his Green/Gold glasses, which is fun if we don't take it too seriously. GPG!

Right on marpag1. When both Smiths were on the field when both were healthy, Z. Smith was by far the more disruptive. Z. Smith was cut due to the salary cap and he was an injury risk going forward. Both Smiths were lead by example players. Z. Smith was more vocal. I feel no remorse that Z. is playing for the Vikings, a great FA signing by the Vikes. Once a player is cut, it is out of that team's hands as to where he goes to.

I have to disagree with Cory (again). Preston Smith is IMO an above average Edge rusher. He is by no means "Dynamic" and takes a third-row seat in the Van behind R. Gary in the "Duo" voting. Preston is a Pro who does love football, taking a pay cut to stay with the team to prolong his career in Green Bay. I admire this. As for your closing statement, "The Packers don't want Stat fillers, they want leaders".

Leaders lead by example on & off the NFL field. Rodgers does an inferior job of that. He could not even show up for his Brother's wedding in May (off season)! Maybe he was working on his golf game? He did not give the Packers any hometown respect when he signed his last contract. He demanded the most he could get & still wanted more (make Front Office decisions). He has a lack of team loyalty by staying away from training camp. Rodgers is not a leader in my book, he is a stat filler. At least Preston Smith wants to be in Green Bay. He is part of the TEAM that makes the Pack great as a group. Sign me up for all the Preston Smiths the Pack can find.

I have read an article recently that basically stated other teams (75%) really did not want to trade for Rodgers, they disliked him as a person. It must be hard to be a Packer when your supposed leader is not a leader. I wonder why Davante Adams, MVS, St. Brown, Lucas Patrick, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, & QB coach (would have been the Offensive coordinator) Luke Getsy, all left? Money Yes, comfortable fit??????

You'll notice the Vikings gave him three years, but virtually no guaranteed money. They didn't handcuff themselves. It's essentially a series of one-year contracts and if he can't stay healthy, it's not painful to cut him.