Green Bay Packers: 4 Matchups to Watch in Week 12
By Kenny Jilek
Za’Darius Smith vs. Jason Spriggs
Could I write about the real star vs. star edge battle between David Bakhtiari and Khalil Mack on the other side of the ball? Sure, but I’ve written about David in Bak-to-Bak weeks. Plus, it’s good to have some fun once in a while.
Hopefully, this will be the most fun matchup to watch Sunday. This is mainly because Jason Spriggs isn’t usually capable of blocking NFL talent. Four years ago, the Packers took him in the second round, and then he proceeded to start just nine games in the next three years, acting as only a fill-in. Sometimes it seems like guys leave and then blossom in other places. I can ease your mind and tell you that simply isn’t the case with Spriggs, judging by his abysmal 40.8 Pro Football Focus grade. Those grades certainly aren’t everything, but when it’s that low, it’s pretty clear he’s not doing a great job.
For Z, after a season where he was seemingly always in the backfield and pressuring the quarterback, he’s been there less, but his sack production has remained solid. His last couple of weeks have bolstered his stats, though, and his 32 total pressures rank him eighth among outside linebackers, and his eight sacks are tied for fifth in the entire league regardless of position.
This should be a game like the second meeting with Minnesota last year when Smith was seemingly living in the Vikings’ backfield. He’ll get plenty of chances to do just that against the weaker Spriggs, and he should be able to bully him for multiple sacks.