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2023 should be a good year for Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith. Not because he is entering another season as a defensive starter but because odd years have been especially fruitful for him throughout his career. Perhaps it was just an odd coincidence, but the numbers supported the theory until 2022.
It began in Washington, where Smith recorded 8.0 sacks as a rookie. The year was 2015. Then, in 2016, his sack total dropped to 4.5 despite seeing an increase in snaps. Smith rebounded with an eight-sack season in 2017, only to see his total drop to 4.0 in the following even year. That dip allowed Smith to hit free agency in 2019.
No one was more grateful than the Packers, who capitalized on the odd year and watched as Smith broke out with a career-high 12.0 sacks. But unfortunately, the hex, or whatever you want to call it, followed Smith to his new team, and he could only muster 4.0 sacks for Green Bay in 2020. Naturally, as the roller coaster goes, he more than doubled that number in the following odd year.
Determined to put a stop to the trend, Smith took a new approach entering the 2022 season. He changed his routine not only physically but mentally as well. And just like that….voilà — the “curse” was finally lifted.
“I think I had to not focus on the even-odd year thing,” Smith said following Tuesday’s OTA practice.
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“It felt like it was a curse, and I felt like last year I really had to hone in on my skills and not focus on it as much and just worry about my assignment and being the best I can each play. So, when I got the opportunity, I maximized it, and I went out there and made the plays and got the sacks that got me over that hump and broke the curse.”
During his curse-breaking campaign last season, Smith led the defense with 8.5 sacks. He also earned $1.25 million in performance incentives woven into a restructured contract. The Packers were more than happy to pay up.
Now they hope that even though the curse is over, Smith will be just as productive in 2023. Smith, meanwhile, will gladly take any good Juju he can get as the most veteran player on Green Bay’s defense.
“The odd year has been great for me. There’s been a lot of good numbers on the odd years, and I’m looking forward to the odd Year 9,” he said.