USA Today Sports
A former Green Bay Packer is encouraging fans of the team to relax and allow the team to do its thing.
During this week’s episode of On the Line on 980 WCUB, 10-year NFL veteran Evan Smith pointed out the similarities of this year’s team and the ACL tear suffered by Micah Parsons and the 2010-2011 team, which won the Super Bowl.
The team entered halftime of that matchup with the Steelers having lost Hall of Fame Safety Charles Woodson, Rookie All-Star Corner Sam Shields, and the franchise’s all-time reception and receiving yards record holder, Donald Driver, and still came out with a win.
That’s not even counting the injuries they suffered before the game.
“(We) lost Jermichael (Finley) that year. I think Nick Barnett tore his ACL,” the former Packer Center recalled. “The squad we walked into the Super Bowl with was a very confident group, but it was a confident group because the guys that were still on there were leading by example.”
Smith admitted that the loss of Parsons is a big blow to the defense, but pointed to another example of how the next man up can make a big impact.
“I’ll reference the guy because he’s one of my favorites, Frank Zombo,” Smith said. “He was an outside linebacker, an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, fourth on the depth chart. He wasn’t supposed to be a starter.”
But, with five minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, the Steelers driving into Packer territory down 4, Zombo made the most of his moment, as called by Wayne Larrivee on the Packers Radio Network.
Smith notes that while one man can be a game changer, it is now time for the rest of the defense, specifically Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and the rest of the front line, to step up in Parsons’ absence.
The Packers will be in Chicago this Saturday to take on the Bears for the second time in two weeks.
The game will be aired on 1240 WOMT, with coverage beginning at 5:03 p.m.
The Packers do control their own destiny, as a win over the Bears will bump them right back up to the #2 seed in the NFC, and the top spot in the NFC North.
Additionally, if the Detroit Lions lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Packers win, the Packers would guarantee their spot in the postseason.
You can hear more about why Evan is confident in the Packers by listening to the show at SeehaferPodcasts.com.
