Jaylon Smith is a major key in turning around this defense

MyFairLady

MyFairLady

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,425
Reaction score
6,580
Why is it that all of the bad linebackers I have watched over the years always need a better defensive line to "keep them clean" and all of the good linebackers I have watched just make plays.
 
BBGTYCOON

BBGTYCOON

Well-Known Member
Messages
706
Reaction score
493
InTheZone said:
I like Smth, but whatever position he plays if he's going to be the Greg Ellis of 3-4 outside linebackers I don't think we need to be keeping him on the team any longer. If he still plays light on his feet and can't actually maneuver around a block he might not make it past preseason under MM.
Click to expand...
:clap:
 

buybuydandavis

Well-Known Member
Messages
23,763
Reaction score
20,837
CouchCoach said:
If he is the major key, the D is in trouble. He's as healthy as he's going to get and if you've watched him closely you can see him read but he can't react quickly enough.

I think they should try Vander Esch at MLB, if his neck is completely healed and he gives them the advantage of a 6'4" rangy player in the middle of the field. Smith could be used in the blitz package more because his forward movement seems to be a lot easier than his lateral.

The major key to this D is going to be that DL. They've got to bring it to keep the stress off that secondary.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't pin my hopes for success on Jaylon. He looked physically off at the beginning of last year, and got worse as the year went on.
Watch Jaylon get completely stonewalled by the first heavy bag of the Gridiron Gauntlet Pro Bowl 2020 - You actually have to push 3 bags and he couldn't push 1. Goto 43 seconds and play on slow mo.

Jaylon ain't right.
 

ondaedg

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,891
Reaction score
3,034
buybuydandavis said:
I wouldn't pin my hopes for success on Jaylon. He looked physically off at the beginning of last year, and got worse as the year went on.
Watch Jaylon get completely stonewalled by the first heavy bag of the Gridiron Gauntlet Pro Bowl 2020 - You actually have to push 3 bags and he couldn't push 1. Goto 43 seconds and play on slow mo.

Jaylon ain't right.
Click to expand...


His left leg didn't look right. Was that the leg he injured?
 

Sydla

Well-Known Member
Messages
59,898
Reaction score
91,460
Cowboyny said:
Many believe he was playing hurt. I think his agent stated he was playing with one arm. His injury is something to watch, although had issues in college and was able to return to full health for a tremendous senior season.
Click to expand...

Maybe but he did things that had nothing to do with a bad shoulder............. he was also overrunning plays, guessing on other plays, hitting the wrong hole, etc.

It was kind of bizarre that after a good year of LB play our LBs largely went to crap the next season.
 

Sydla

Well-Known Member
Messages
59,898
Reaction score
91,460
xwalker said:
Two in their prime LBs don't just magically go from good to bad from 1 year to the next.
  • The Rams exposed Marinelli's scheme and other offenses copied the Rams in 2019. Marinelli refused to change his DL.
  • No LB is great when moving sideways and an unimpeded OLineman is standing in the path between them and the RB.
  • Traditionally stack-and-shed referred to OLinemen coming downfield to clear LBs out of the way and the LB playing off the block after the RB committed to one side of the blocker.
  • With zone run blocking, offenses have forced LBs to constantly move sideways. DL have to impede the blockers from constantly getting a free shot at the LBs.
  • Marinelli's DL assignments allowed offenses to consistently have 2 OL out blocking LBs.
  • The OL didn't have to clear the LBs out of the way for the RB, they just had to keep the LBs from getting outside or keep them outside and the RB would cut back inside. Almost like pass blocking.
  • It didn't help that Quinn was a limited run defender at RDE. Far below both Crawford and Gregory in 2018 with regards to run defense.
  • It didn't help that 1tech DT Woods was often injured in 2019 and in the Rams playoff game.
  • It didn't help that normally well above average run defender DLaw had surgery late in the off-season and was guaranteed to be limited for all of 2019.
MLB vs WLB
  • The Cowboys defense was in Nickel over 70% of the snaps.
  • There is not a big difference in the 2 LB positions in the 4-2-5 Nickel defense that Marinelli ran.
  • There was a huge different in the 2 LBs in the 4-2-5 that Belichick used in the Super Bowl vs the Rams.
    • The MLB was truly a Middle LB. The OLB was truly on the outside.
Fan comments:
  • Jaylon can't play MLB. Should only play WLB.
  • Jaylon has physical issues that caused him to suck in 2019 (He magically regressed from 2018 to 2019).
  • Jaylon can't take on blocks.
  • Jaylon avoided contact.
  • Jaylon just loafed around.
Generic Fan Comments.
  • All of those types of fan comments are generic.
  • Most fans that comment about MLB/WLB don't know anything about the assignments other than they envision that the MLB takes on blocks and the WLB doesn't.
  • It is extremely unlikely that Jaylon's nerve damage issue regressed from 2018 to 2019. That's just not how it works with regards to the history of that type of injury.
  • Anybody that has paid attention knows that the one thing Marinelli won't tolerate is players loafing around.
  • Marinelli has started players like Nick Golden Cock Hayden over players that had better physical ability because Golden Cock never graded out with a "loaf".
Reality
  • The only fan comments that really apply is that Jaylon does over-celebrate and he likely did free lance to some extent in 2019.
  • Freelancing or guessing was the only chance the LBs had in many situations in 2019.
  • The scheme often put them in a no-win situation if they just strictly played their assignments.
  • Offensive coaches like the Rams coaches in the playoff game knew the Cowboys defensive assignments.
  • The Rams scheme depended on the Cowboys playing to their assignments (The Rams lost too much OL talent in 2019 to be effective).
  • Most fans/media that make these comments can't even describe the 3rd down or passing downs defense that the Cowboys often used in 2019.
  • People like to express their opinions and modern society has enabled everyone to express themselves with no minimum level of knowledge required.
Click to expand...

The Rams debacle was as much scheme as it was talent/play issues. The reports in the aftermath of that game highlighted both. Scheme wise, the Rams claimed after the game they had good ideas of when we were stunting, etc. based on alignment, personnel and hand placement. Further, McVay used a lot of formation and motion to get Smith and LVE moving and they were often out of place when the ball was snapped. It was reported (and you saw during the game) Richard getting on LVE because he was getting suckered in by the Rams motions/formations.

I am hoping with a regime change, issues like that aren't a problem going forward.
 
Dre11

Dre11

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,686
Reaction score
11,450
xwalker said:
It would not have mattered if the Cowboys had prime years Ray Lewis, Luke Kuechly and Khalil Mack at LB in 2019. The scheme/coaching made it impossible for the LBs.

A LB moving sideways with an un-impeded OLineman out in his path on all running plays is not going to have much success.

It would have eventually worked out because Ray Lewis would have killed the coaches...literally...
Click to expand...


Man you're smarter than this, stop telling these people that, The run defense sucked because they played with terrible gap discipline and integrity. the cowboys played a gap defense where each defender had a gap. Instead too many times if 1 guy would lose his gap be it a false step, a good block by the OL, or a mistake, someone would over compensate to help and the lose their gap and create a running lane, or cut back lane. if you watch the all 22s ,it s plain to see. Check the big run by Barkley. Tyrone Crawford gets double teamed and knocked inside causing him to lose his gap (c-gap) and create a lane. thats just 1 , but it happened a lot during the season.
 
Dre11

Dre11

Well-Known Member
Messages
14,686
Reaction score
11,450
CalPolyTechnique said:
The Cowboys ran the same scheme in 2018 that they did 2019. So the argument from incredulity “it cant be the players because they were good the year prior (2018)” is self-defeating. You can’t speak to how great LVE and Jaylon were in 2018 and then turn around and blame the same scheme in 2019.

LVE had a neck issue last year that limited his ability to play linebacker. His agent said he was effectively playing with one arm. He went from a missed tackle rate of just 6.7% in 2018 to 15.3% in 2019.

What was Jaylon’s excuse?

I hate to break the news to people but there is no defensive scheme in football that allows your linebackers to run completely free and clean 100% of the time. Your linebackers will have to take on blocks at times to disrupt running lanes and allow their teammates to cleanup.

So while Nolan’s defense may help the linebackers (we’ll see) it’s not the panacea for Jaylon’s shortcomings. He will have to take on blocks; he will have to make tackles on ball carriers coming at him in space; he will have coverage duties at times.
Click to expand...
:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::hammer:
all you have to do is watch he film, it dont lie. if folks claim to understand gap defenses and what they're looking at. its clear where they made mistakes all year
 
Cowboyny

Cowboyny

Well-Known Member
Messages
15,772
Reaction score
18,987
Sydla said:
Maybe but he did things that had nothing to do with a bad shoulder............. he was also overrunning plays, guessing on other plays, hitting the wrong hole, etc.

It was kind of bizarre that after a good year of LB play our LBs largely went to crap the next season.
Click to expand...

No doubt the LB group took a step back. Bloom was in over his head coaching the linebackers, you would think the new staff should be a major upgrade in that department. Both Lve and Jaylon have the talent, they need to play better this year.
 
CalPolyTechnique

CalPolyTechnique

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,295
Reaction score
44,015
MyFairLady said:
Why is it that all of the bad linebackers I have watched over the years always need a better defensive line to "keep them clean" and all of the good linebackers I have watched just make plays.
Click to expand...

x100

I’ve give about 20% credence to the idea that our scheme was the problem, but the reality is linebackers will always have to take on blocks, fill lanes, et cetera.
 
charron

charron

Well-Known Member
Messages
13,377
Reaction score
13,739
CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
Every starter or player with significant snaps is a major key. They all need to step up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top