Pro Football Doc: Jaylon has ways to go

[MrPeanutbutter]

That last part of rehabbing an injury is playing. Glad they're putting him in but limiting his reps

 

[stiletto]

In all honesty, I thought he looked gimpy. Definitely not as fluid as he was. A ways to go but it is almost a miracle he is where he is considering the devastation of that injury. If he helps us at all this year it will be a bonus. It may get better as the year goes on but I doubt he'll ever be the guy he was at Notre Dame. It's asking a lot. I don't think it was a wasted pick though. He is the type of person/player that is worth the stab at it.

 

[windjc]

If you've ever had an injury you know the last part of recovery is getting your unconscious mind to not try and protect it.

Thats what we are seeing here with Jaylon. All he needs is reps.

 

[jobberone]

On the play where he overran the RB in the backfield you can't say for certain that is on his inability to cut. Everyone who's ever played has overrun the ball. And it's foot drop not drop foot.

 

[rd26]

I'm no doctor, but here's what I saw. I saw a young player try a little too hard to make an impact play. As hard as he was coming down hill, Gayle Sayers couldn't have redirected fast enough to make those tackles. Fast players over-run plays more often than slow players, and Mr. Smith is fast.

Run / pass reads were quick, drops into coverage looked good, and particularly moving down hill, his explosion looked great.

He still needs to learn the pro game, probably still needs to trust the knee more, and still has some healing to do.

With all that said, he has more ability to make big plays today than Hitchens or Wilson will ever have. What's even more exciting is that he's probably only about 70% of where he will be fairly soon.

Im pumped to see more personally.

 

[Bleu Star]

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...fd-jaylon-smith-debut-cowboys-0819-story.html

Jaylon Smith's first game shows progress, ways to go
ProFootballDocContact ReporterSports Medical Analyst

Jaylon Smith is to be congratulated. No matter what happens, the Dallas Cowboyslinebacker has overcome incredible odds to play in a NFL game.

The odds are stacked against a player when he essentially dislocates his knee and injures the peroneal nerve. Most players (such as Marcus Lattimore) who dislocate a knee never return to play football, even when the nerve is spared.

Smith is second on the Cowboys’ depth chart, behind Sean Lee, and got the chance to start in Saturday night’s preseason game. He played three series with the first team as Lee was resting a hamstring injury.

This is just preseason, so let’s not get too excited or too critical. Smith hasn’t played in a game in almost 600 days. This was his first NFL action. His accomplishments should be celebrated. He performed admirably and garnered one nice tackle.

The shame is without this injury, he probably would be the generational linebacker that some were projecting. Even with his suiting up to play, the prognosis regarding Smith has not changed from what was expressed here earlier this year.

If you watch the plays he was involved in Saturday closely, there appear to be clear indications of what he cannot yet do.

The one tackle he made in three series Saturday was a powerful play where he closed in linear fashion to the right flat. That will be his strength. Start-stop acceleration and direction change will be the challenge.

Note that he does not play special teams like most back up linebackers. It would be extremely hard to run full speed and adjust his angle of attack.

His comeback is remarkable. We should all be rooting for him and look at Saturday as a good start and glass half-full, even with visible deficiencies.

Copyright © 2017, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

 

[bayeslife]

I think that smiths straight line speed will be great as a pass rushing linebacker in our nickel defense. I just think that will be his best role for us this year and when his foot totally heals he can be a three down linebacker in the future.

Plus, he's still basically a rookie and will probably need a full year in Rod's defense anyway.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Something does look slightly off about him when he moves.

Like he's not as fluid as he should be.

I just don't know if it will effect how he plays

How will it not effect how he plays? It effected him tonight.

 

[Zman5]

Anyone back from even a lesser knee injury isn't going to be sure about their knee in their first game back. They aren't going to do any hard plant and cut type of moves, because mentally, they are still not sure if the knee will hold up. He just need more game time.

 

[RomoFor6]

TBH he looked bad today. Overran a few run plays and instincts weren't there. I understand it's incredible that he's even playing, but hopefully he comes to regain that reading of the game he has in ND

 

[gimmesix]

Couple of things.

First, he's not Lee's backup. He's Hitchens' backup for now at MLB. Hitchens moved over to WLB with Lee not playing and Jaylon played MLB, where the team has been working him.

Second, he's not on special teams because the Cowboys are trying to be smart with him and not overwork him considering the seriousness of the injury he's recovering from.

 

[Risen Star]

He looked like damaged goods.

 

[Sydla]

Dr. Chao is moving the goal posts now?

Color me stunned.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Wondering how his injury would translate at DE vs LB.

 

[SportsGuru80]

You can tell he isn't 100 percent... That quick twitch isn't quite there yet when changing direction.

 

[The Natural]

On the play where he overran the RB in the backfield you can't say for certain that is on his inability to cut. Everyone who's ever played has overrun the ball. And it's foot drop not drop foot.

I haven't seen the replay but real time that was my belief as well that he simply overran the play

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Chao has no credibility on this subject.

 

[CCBoy]

Nerd alert!

He's a linebacker and this applies:

 

[ConstantReboot]

Jaylon Smith is just fine. I didn't notice a limp and I noticed that he was very explosive and fast. At times he overran plays. But thats because he's rusty and hasn't played for a while. But its evident that he still has that elite burst of speed and quickness. Once he gets more playing time he'll be his old self.

 

[Bullflop]

There's a difference between overrunning plays and being unable to change directions. Jaylon will be fine once he shakes off the rust for not having played in a live game for a long time. He's improved steadily since his rehab began and will continue to do so in the future. It's early yet. Kudos to Jaylon for having stuck with his recovery, despite all the odds against him. I can't wait to see how he does by year's end and in 2018.