Damien Wilson

[DeaconMoss]

#ClearEyeView might not be so clear. And Smith, not Wilson has the potential to make a huge difference.

 

[Vintage]

Was this a joke or are you being serious?

To be fair, we have no idea what version of Jaylon is going to take the field. If he's some resemblance of Notre Dame Jaylon Smith, obviously, that starts over Hitchens.

If he is a shell of himself, Hitchens likely starts.

Good news is, training camp and preseason we will get reports and get to watch to see what version takes the field.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Was this a joke or are you being serious?

I'll up this post week 1.

 

[stilltheguru88]

You really don't think Jaylon will start?

No. Dallas will give Hitchens plenty of playing time in his contract year. Smith will be brought along slowly unless he comes out of the gate how he was hyped to be.

 

[Stash]

I'll up this post week 1.

Yes, please do.

 

[Stash]

No. Dallas will give Hitchens plenty of playing time in his contract year. Smith will be brought along slowly unless he comes out of the gate how he was hyped to be.

Hitchens doesn't set any sort of a bar for Jaylon Smith. If not for "Purple Drank", Hitchens wouldn't have even seen the field. If Smith can't outright beat him out easily, the guy simply isn't healthy enough to be on a football field.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Hitchens doesn't set any sort of a bar for Jaylon Smith. If not for "Purple Drank", Hitchens wouldn't have even seen the field. If Smith can't outright beat him out easily, the guy simply isn't healthy enough to be on a football field.

Or he's just a little behind like you'd expect of any rookie who hasn't played in 20 months.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Hitchens doesn't set any sort of a bar for Jaylon Smith. If not for "Purple Drank", Hitchens wouldn't have even seen the field. If Smith can't outright beat him out easily, the guy simply isn't healthy enough to be on a football field.

Who said it had to do with health? Does he know all of the checks and audibles? Ehhhh. If he starts it better be because he's better physically and mentally than Hitchens. Bad example to set

 

[Stash]

Or he's just a little behind like you'd expect of any rookie who hasn't played in 20 months.

Even "a little behind" Jaylon Smith is light years better than "Ro screwed up again, guess we have to play" Anthony Hitchens.

 

[Sydla]

Jaylon smith isn't starting over Hitchens lol. He'd have to have a magical preseason to do that.

If he's healthy, he'll start over Hitchens. Maybe not game one so the staff can bring Smith along slowly, but a few weeks into the year? Yeah.

 

[Stash]

Who said it had to do with health? Does he know all of the checks and audibles? Ehhhh. If he starts it better be because he's better physically and mentally than Hitchens. Bad example to set

He's been in meetings and practices for a year already and will be going through all of the OTS stuff. And he's working with Sean Lee every day. Do you really expect him to have issues with the mental stuff?

 

[Stash]

If he's healthy, he'll start over Hitchens. Maybe not game one so the staff can bring Smith along slowly, but a few weeks into the year? Yeah.

I don't see what would be different from week one to week five to week seventeen at this point. If he's healthy enough to play, he'll play over Hitchens.

 

[Sydla]

Who said it had to do with health? Does he know all of the checks and audibles? Ehhhh. If he starts it better be because he's better physically and mentally than Hitchens. Bad example to set

LOL. I suspect if he starts it will be because he's simply a better LB than Hitchens. Which isn't really that hard of a stretch.

 

[Sydla]

I don't see what would be different from week one to week five to week seventeen at this point. If he's healthy enough to play, he'll play over Hitchens.

I think it simply could be that Smith hasn't played in a real game in almost 2 years. I suspect they won't play him a lot in preseason so I could see the Cowboys starting Hitchens and just letting Smith acclimate himself back to physical, contact football over a couple of games.

But the flipside to that is that he could be just so dominant in camp that they feel comfortable throwing him out there Week One.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Even "a little behind" Jaylon Smith is light years better than "Ro screwed up again, guess we have to play" Anthony Hitchens.

Hitchens is ok for what he is - palatable in small doses. Makes him the ideal backup.

 

[Stash]

Hitchens is ok for what he is - palatable in small doses. Makes him the ideal backup.

Absolutely. He's a fine player, one I'm happy to have. But he's a starter by necessity, not design. But he's a versatile player you can get by with. As you said, ideal backup.

 

[Stash]

I think it simply could be that Smith hasn't played in a real game in almost 2 years. I suspect they won't play him a lot in preseason so I could see the Cowboys starting Hitchens and just letting Smith acclimate himself back to physical, contact football over a couple of games.

But the flipside to that is that he could be just so dominant in camp that they feel comfortable throwing him out there Week One.

I don't think they'll baby him through this because I don't think it makes a difference in his recovery or lack thereof. But we'll have to see what they do in mini camps and training camp.

 

[stilltheguru88]

He's been in meetings and practices for a year already and will be going through all of the OTS stuff. And he's working with Sean Lee every day. Do you really expect him to have issues with the mental stuff?

I think some of you are confused. He has to beat out Hitchens. Meaning he has to actually match the athleticism with production. Hitchens is solid and won't get benched for a guy who only performs solid in the preseason. Jaylon isn't starting unless he is clearly the better player. Just my opinion. And I personally don't think he will show that by week 1.

 

[Sydla]

I don't think they'll baby him through this because I don't think it makes a difference in his recovery or lack thereof. But we'll have to see what they do in mini camps and training camp.

I tend to think they are going to be cautious with him in camp and possibly early in the season. Psychologically it might make sense to ease him in and let him get confidence in his knee back. It's not uncommon for a player to be thrown back into the mix after a serious injury and struggle a bit getting acclimated and confidence back in being able to play like he once did.

I had a relative play D1 basketball and he tore his knee up. He said it took him a good month of game action for him to finally trust himself, his knee and basically stop thinking about it and just play.

 

[stilltheguru88]

I tend to think they are going to be cautious with him in camp and possibly early in the season. Psychologically it might make sense to ease him in and let him get confidence in his knee back. It's not uncommon for a player to be thrown back into the mix after a serious injury and struggle a bit getting acclimated and confidence back in being able to play like he once did.

I had a relative play D1 basketball and he tore his knee up. He said it took him a good month of game action for him to finally trust himself, his knee and basically stop thinking about it and just play.

And during that time, if Hitchens wants to get paid next year I suspect we'll see a Jason Hatcher, Terrell McClain type of scenario. I'm a big believer in the contract year (shrugs). He isn't giving Jaylon his spot, he'll have to earn it every play