"The big thing going in our favor - me and (cornerbacks coach) Joe (Whitt Jr.) - is they're going to have to listen because we're going to have to teach it to them," Perry said. "We'll grab their attention with that alone."

Fortunately for safety Anthony Smith, he's been there and done that.

Smith's playing background in a 3-4 system - and a familiarity of playing for Perry - worked to his advantage as he landed a two-year contract valued at nearly $1.5 million as the Packers' first acquisition in free agency. The signing was finalized March 9.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Smith had been on the outs with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who rarely used him on defense in 2008 after he started 10 games as an injury replacement in '07. They didn't bother extending a qualifying offer to Smith, a restricted free agent who was a third-round draft pick in 2006, and thus made him available to sign with any team.

Picking up a safety wasn't a need for the Packers, who have Nick Collins and Atari Bigby entrenched as starters, but Smith brings value with his 3-4 knowledge and having the starting experience.

While Collins is coming off a highly productive season that ended with his first trip to the Pro Bowl, Bigby was ineffective for most of 2008 because of ankle injury that required late-season surgery. So, Bigby isn't a sure thing to come back and be as effective as he was in 2007.

Smith also is further seen as an insurance policy after next season because Collins is entering the final year of his contract and Bigby, who has yet to sign as a restricted free agent, also could be an unrestricted free agent a year from now.

Smith brings a physical prowess to the safety position and has been a playmaker. He had four interceptions with the Steelers after picking off 14 passes as a three-year starter in college at Syracuse.

Knocks against Smith, however, are his foot speed and how he moves in space.

His signing with Green Bay reunites him with Perry, who was Smith's position coach his rookie season with the Steelers.

The pickup of Smith came after the Packers brought in safety Mike Adams, an unrestricted free agent, for a visit. Adams re-signed with the Cleveland Browns before the Packers settled on Smith.

The only other free agent the Packers were known to have taken at least a mild interest in was former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett. Green Bay was ready to bring Burnett in for a visit, but negotiations between Burnett and the San Diego Chargers picked up and he signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with them March 10.