Pettine yes but a lot goes to Mike Smith this year. Not only the sacks, but the guys are playing heads up OLB, setting the edge effectively and dropping.

Great job Petine and/or Mike Smith. It seems like with multiple players able to rush the QB, they are dropping both Preston and Fackrell I to coverage a bunch more with Martinez a bit deeper in the middle. I’m not sure if it is related or not but the incidence of receivers wide open across the middle has decreased a lot this year. The last few years I bet the slant vs. our D was the easiest play in all sports.

I think Bulaga, Fackrell and Martinez will leave in FA and this will net us 2 3rds and a 4th in the 2021 draft. I think we cut Graham and Taylor. There will be enough cap room to sign maybe not a top tier FA, but a higher end one. I'm personally hoping for a WR AND a HWS monster in the first 2 days of the draf. The team needs more weapons.

I was really excited for Z, P and Amos coming into the year. Turner... I was a little surprised at how well they paid him, but there was no doubt he was an upgrade at RG.

After playing the Bears I thought that their backup ILB Nick Kwiatowski would be a good fa pick up. He played well.and shouldn't be as expensive as Blake. Then we draft another ILB and a WR in the early rounds next year. I also wonder if Veldeer was signed as insurance for Bulaga not returning. He could be a good replacement. Really not that many holes to fill on our roster.

Does the other news of Rodgers restructure of his bonus and freeing up 11mill to the salary cap change the ability and/or the level of who they can sign in 2020?

The difference is Maggie wrote the article AFTER the Zadarius signing. A commentor named Stockholder wanted Gute to sign Zadarius over Dee Ford, Clowney, etc. Then went on to say if we were really lucky Gute could sign both Smiths. Good call Stock.

Sorry murf777 your flat out wrong on this one. Murphy tried to keep Gute from being selected for the GM position in Green Bay. It took the executive committee signing Gute. They overruled Murphy. Let's not forget that. Someday, why Murphy worked so hard not to hire a GM will come out. When it does, it will not reflect well on the tenure of Mark Murphy, president of the Green Bay Packers.

I would have to guess that you're giving Murphy the "credit" for the past 7 years as well? Dumping guys like Hayward, Hyde, Woodson, and Jordy Nelson just to name a few. Murphy did this, it starts at the top, right?
He's the guy that decided to surpass good free agents or make trades that could have helped win another SB or two with Rodgers still in his prime, right?
OK then, I agree!

Lphill.....Along with Woodson, Clay was one of my favorite all time Packer and hated to see him go. As Greene said during the SB game “it is time” might be the right answer for letting him go. My reasons are because I think with the two Smiths we have a much stronger front 7 then if we kept Matthews and Perry. I would say the pressures are equal or better but the setting of the edge is much stronger now. With the 4 FA signings it would’ve been tough on the cap to keep MAtthews. I miss him and love his time with the Packers.

What would it take to make P Smith "great"? I think he's had a hell of a year in 2019.

Great work again, Maggie. I love Z's leadership both on and off the field. This may not be a popular take, but I'll put it out there. If you watch the video of his traffic stop in Racine County, you can see Z's surprise when the officer finds the vape and weed cartridge. It's clear he didn't know either Gary of Keke had it in the backseat, but he takes the rap for those younger players ("that's on me, Sir"). He even admits to having smoked earlier, which while probably not the smartest admission, conveyed honesty and respect to the police officer. Veteran leader and solid teammate.

Zs's combination of swagger and menace reminds me of Wayne Simmons. While White and Dotson et al were dominant, it was Simmons who brought that mean-spirited tone to the D. That's contagious. Go Pack!

Thanks Murf.
Sorry for the post, was meant as a reply.

All I know if Gute doesn't deserve and IS NAMED Executive of the Year there is something terribly wrong with that. Not only has Z. Smith and P. Smith FIXED the OLB position and pass rush, BOTH players hold the edge in the run game extremely well. We already knew Preston Smith was a good run defender when he got here but Za'Darius Smith has been just as good if not better against the run.

This year the Packers have FAR exceeded any expectations I had for them. If they win the SB I'll obviously be in heaven. But if they don't I have next year to look forward too when IMO this team will REALLY jell. This Defense is going to be GREAT for the next few years and better than this years "Good". Za'Darius Smith is a huge reason for this as are all the FA signings.

Thank You GUTE!!

As some have stated, the locker room presence that Z has brought to the Packers is the icing on the cake. When you command respect both on and off the field that shows the true measure of the man. Taking the hit in the traffic stop is exactly the “big brother” protection that shows he puts other people first. He is now my favorite Packer player currently playing!(nobody takes Bart and Ray from my top)

These four certainly beat the signing of the highly touted "Joe Johnson" of years past.

Dude isa beast. When they signed both, I watched all the footage I could. I said at that time I thought we got 2 great players, and I personally leaned towards Z-dog as the guy I thought would have an amazing upside for us. Preston has in fact exceeded my expectations a bit as well. It's interesting, once Preston hit 10 sacks, I think the attention was shifted to him, only to have the Z-dog start dominating. The end all scenario, is that these guys terrifically benefit from the other. What a great place to be. Super stoked for the Packers, great acquisitions.

Hard to believe 5 Free Agent signings could have helped out the Packers so much.

The Smiths, Turner, Amos and Clinton-Dix.

The Bears signing HaHa REALLY helped the Packers.

This team desperately needed a new group of core players. Z. Smith is at the forefront of that new core. Our new core group includes Z and Preston Smith, Amos, Savage, Alexander, King, Martinez and Kenny Clark on defense. Twill is one of the few left from the old core on defense.

On offense we now have Aaron Jones, J. Williams, Linsley, Jenkins and Turner combined with the older core players of Rodgers, Adams, Bak and Bulaga. We only need a TE and 2 more WRs to fill out the receiving corp on this team. A backup QB who can actually play would be nice as well.

Gute has done an excellent job of rebuilding the core of this team in just 2 seasons as GM. Including our new punter and LS. Also, while maybe not core players Fackrell, Lowry and now Lazard are emerging as key role players. We have needed better players for years and now we are finally getting them. Go Pack Go! Go Get the #1 seed. Thanks, Since '61

Exciting times in Green Bay. The stodginess of the prior regime has been dusted off and youth with athleticism have become the new tenants. Great, great acquisition of Zadarius Smith. Leadership and intangibles of the team gathering activities he has hosted are growing a new camaraderie. P. Smith as his bookend makes me smile.
Way to go Gutey.