Video: I'm not getting the Jaylon Smith hype

[TheFinisher]

The only concern is the injury.

 

[robbieruff]

I've heard people hyping him up as the next Ray Lewis or Patrick Willis, but I just don't see it. I've also seen people call him a heat seeking missile. Again, I don't see it. You'll notice a theme here. He hates to get blocked and dances around blockers more than I like, which takes him out of plays. There isn't a lot that jumps off the screen here to me. When you watch Myles Jack, he jumps off the screen.



:43 you can see what I am talking about here. Gets demolished and blown out of the play.
1:00 tries to dance away from a block, loses balance, and lets the RB break off a big run.
1:50 destroyed on a block
2:05 lost in the trash
2:50 great open field hit on the QB
4:55 I wish I saw more of this. Engages, sheds, and makes the play
5:10 dances around a block and takes himself out of the play
5:20 blocked 1:1
5:36 another good example of what I want to see more of



:23 looks like he has contain and just holds it.
:36 blocked out of the play and loses position
:48 bad angle and poor attempt at an arm tackle
1:35 great instincts and makes the play
2:45 tries to dance around instead of sticking his nose in there.
2:49 again, dances himself out of the play
2:56 blocked out of the play
5:09 obliterated off the edge

I'll just quit here with the specific plays. I was really surprised how much he was used in coverage. I think comparing him to Ray Lewis or Patrick Willis aren't really good. He is an extremely versatile player who shows flashes of being physical, but he really seems like finesse type of linebacker. He can cover, can play inside or outside. He can spy the QB. I think his pass rushing skills are over hyped. Most of his pressure seems to come from blown blocks where he isn't even touched.

Another thing I noticed is that he doesn't play downhill as much as I expected. He has really good instincts, but doesn't seem to trust them. He seems to sit back and wait for the play to come to him. Is this scheme?

Are these just bad games or am I missing something?

I don't think you're missing anything...I too reviewed some of his highlight reels over the weekend and I think that is indeed a theme...as well as his unmistakable playmaking ability.

If I were to "knock" (likely too strong a word) him for anything it's that he doesn't appear to "explode" on dudes as other alltime great LBs have a knack of doing...such as the names you mention above and even say a Navarro Bowman. A lot of the tackles he makes appear to be "drag downs" and not "de-cleaters"...however, I think one can attribute this, to some degree, to his freakish athleticism. He's is more a speed and quick twitch player than he is a "violent" one. Indeed, I would put Lee in a similar category.

I will give you another example from the play where he got injured in the Fiesta Bowl. It you watch the play carefully, when he gets hit late by the OSU olinemen while trying to get to his fit, it is his incredible agility that allows him to even attempt keeping his footing and stay upright (most "normal" guys would've just gone sprawling to the ground). His attempt to keep upright after the shove/spear was is ultimately caused his cleat to stick in the turf and the rest is history (you know what I mean if you've watched the vid).

So I would agree with you that he is more freakishly great athlete than he is prototype punishing LBer in the Butkus, Singletary, Ray Lewis or modern days versions thereof. But to be honest, I think the traits he exhibits are even more valued in this version of the NFL than of previous eras (even the recent past)...I think a great goal for Jay Smith would be to become a Von Miller type (albeit in a different scheme clearly)...making all types plays with his quicks and recognition (and smarts) but not necessarily getting dudes carted off the field after contact...lol. Good post!

 

[ConceptCoop]

Are these just bad games or am I missing something?

You're missing something. I wasn't a fan of the pick, but as a player, when healthy, Smith was a monster. He's more Sean Lee than Ray Lewis, but that's not a knock on him. He's as fast as it gets sideline to sideline and is very instinctive. He wins when he beats the offense to their spots, not by standing up pulling guards.

It sounds like you expect Smith to be what makes him great AND what makes Ray Lewis great. That's not realistic. It sounds like Ragland was the LB for you.

 

[texbumthelife]

One other thing to point out........... if you listen to the coaches and some in the press, it's not a given that they just wanted Smith for MIKE. One of the news guys say Marinelli talked about Smith's ability on the edge, etc.

My guess is that they might try him at MIKE but the eventual place for him if he gets healthy is being a terror on the edge. Lee likely would go back to Mike.

This has been my point too. Lee, Hitch and Wilson can all fill in at Mike when Smith is on the edge.

 

[texbumthelife]

You don't think Jack can rush a QB with a gaping hole during an all-out blitz? Because that's where most of Smith's pressures/sacks came from.

Actually he shows an almost elite ability to bend around the corner and beat OT's. It's all over his tape. Once again this is cherry picking.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Jack and JS never make my board if I'm responsible. Maybe in the 5th round or something.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Actually he shows an almost elite ability to bend around the corner and beat OT's. It's all over his tape. Once again this is cherry picking.

He has the skillset for middle and edge blitz. He knows how to attack shoulders and redirect.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Check out @TomPelissero's Tweet:

 

[Nexx]

terrible at shedding blocks. what a scrub

https://vine.co/v/eeun6zjxEnT

 

[texbumthelife]

He has the skillset for middle and edge blitz. He knows how to attack shoulders and redirect.

He can play four positions. It's really not up for debate, it's fact. You can argue whether some guys may be better at particular positions, but there isn't another guy in the draft with his versatility, while also having freakish athletic ability (when healthy). If Gregory doesn't pan out, I would not be shocked if Smith becomes the Nickel and Dime weakside DE for this defense. Even if Gregory pans out, I'll be shocked if Jaylon doesn't get some snaps there still.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He can play four positions. It's really not up for debate, it's fact. You can argue whether some guys may be better at particular positions, but there isn't another guy in the draft with his versatility, while also having freakish athletic ability (when healthy). If Gregory doesn't pan out, I would not be shocked if Smith becomes the Nickel and Dime weakside DE for this defense. Even if Gregory pans out, I'll be shocked if Jaylon doesn't get some snaps there still.

He reminds me of Shazier coming out.

 

[BAT]

He has the skillset for middle and edge blitz. He knows how to attack shoulders and redirect.

This is actually his best strength IMO. He is at his best and most dynamic attacking the LOS. Comparing the production between the two is an exercise in futility, they are very different types of LBs. I would have loved to have both on the team honestly, their skill sets complement one another beautifully.

 

[texbumthelife]

He reminds me of Shazier coming out.

I think he's a considerably better prospect than Shazier. You do not want to see Shazier having to cover very often.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Patrick Willis. lol
Patrick Willis is perhaps the best LBer the NFL has seen in the past decade. This guy is no Patrick Willis. His build isn't even anything like Willis'.

Nor Ray Lewis

 

[jnday]

Jack and JS never make my board if I'm responsible. Maybe in the 5th round or something.

I agree the history on these injured players hasn't worked out well for the team. On another note, there was no question on this board about Smith's ability and him being the best LB in college football until he was drafted by the Cowboys. I don't know if some posters really doubt his ability as much as they question his long term health.

 

[Sydla]

I wonder how much of the criticism of a guy like Smith is due to the fact he went to ND, which tends to be one of the more polarizing college programs.

 

[RJ_MacReady]

That's a QB absolutely steam rolling Jack.

DAANNNNGG, BO! I watched that clip like 10 times, forgot what this thread was about and immediately started searching up Logan Thomas on google. That was a beastly run.

 

[Alexander]

Jaylon Smith was hands down a superior prospect to Myles Jack before New Year's Day and quite possibly the top defensive prospect in this draft.

Yet, you have people who are "not getting the hype".

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

So just got to be the first to be right just in case the player doesn't work out

He made an identical thread last year for Jones.

 

[AsthmaField]

Smith is a straight up beast. As athletic and quick twitch a 6-4 guy as I've ever seen.

The guy has rare athleticism and if you watched any ND games, it literally jumped off the screen at you. It was clear that he was head and shoulders above the other 21 players on the field.