GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers won’t get together until training camp as they wrapped up their mandatory minicamp Wednesday.
Preston Smith is a leader on the Packers defense. He’s understandably coy on how he’ll be used by new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Safe to say, he won’t be dropping into coverage (including against receivers) nearly as often.
“Finally, I’m out here rushing more and I get to get after the quarterback a whole lot more,” said Smith with a big smile. “I just love the system.”
Smith said whatever the outside expectations will be for the team, he’s a believer.
“We feel like we’re the underdogs,” said Smith. “We’ve got to go out there and hunt. You’ve got to earn the right to be hunted. There’s gonna be a lot of guys making a lot of plays this year and the Green Bay defense is going to be causing a lot of plays and helping the offense be in position. This team — with the young guys on offense and the talent that we have with Jordan Love and his receiving corps and our backfield and our offensive line — I think there’s going to be a lot of big things happening this year for the Green Bay Packers.
“I think it’s electrifying. If I’m gonna pick a word for it, I think this team is really electrifying. It’s a lot of players out here. I’m seeing a lot of young guys, and a lot of guys make plays that’s going to get everybody up out their seat.”
Smith is 31. That stands out on a young team. Just don’t tell him he’s old.
“I’m like fine wine,” said Smith. “I’m getting better with age, as we can see. Besides, ya’ll keep on reminding me I’m the only guy in my 30s. I don’t really think about it much, but now that I’m talking to ya’ll, I’m starting to feel old, you know? I wasn’t feeling old at first. I was thinking about it, but I wasn’t really thinking about it until ya’ll keep on reminding me about it. I really be thinking I’m 29 or 28 sometimes. I feel like I’m aging backwards, but when ya’ll keep reminding me I’m in my 30s, I really start to feel old. But I feel good.”
Smith said making it to a 10th season in the NFL was a goal. He said he thinks he has a lot left and wants to “keep chopping wood.”