Jaylon Linebacking Hijinks

[ItzKelz]

I know right.

“Hey Jaylon, don’t do that.” — New Coach

Problem fixed!

New Coach....Jaylon do you know why Kris had you playing 10 yards behind the LOS? Jaylon....I don't think Kris knew why.

 

[MyFairLady]

I watched him intently last year and I can say with all honesty that he is absolute garbage on the field. Off the fiend he is a "big star" and I hear quite the businessman. Thus the contract extension. Anyone who wonders why we have done nothing for 25 years look no further.

 

[cowboyed]

We'll see how McCarthy and his defensive coaching staff has assessed Jaylon's middle linebacking performance effectiveness and productivity over the past several years by how they position him on defense in 2020. Meanwhile to put things informationally in perspective:

From Rotowire:

Smith wrapped up 2019 with a team-high 142 tackles (83 solo) including 2.5 sacks, while adding his first career interception on nine passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Given the career-threatening nerve damage to his knee he suffered in college and the fact that he sat out an entire year rehabbing the injury after being drafted in 2016, it's somewhat remarkable that Smith has played in 48 straight games over the last three seasons, much less emerged as one of fantasy football's best IDP assets. The 24-year-old tied for sixth in the NFL in total tackles and he even showed improvement in pass coverage, allowing an 84.3 QB rating on 51 passes tossed his way in 2019. Smith should once again anchor the middle of the Dallas defense in 2020.

 

[glimmerman]

This is stuff that we know.....we didnt get figured out until the Rams game in the playoffs. We didn't adjust in the Rams game and last season our coaches refused to adjust despite most teams using that same Rams blueprint. We know this.

Ok so he has always played that position. I thought maybe he took over that position after LVE injury..

 

[John813]

Scheme or not, he struggled to shed blocks and looked completely checked out when and offensive player got two hands on him. He is talented, so hopefully, Nolan and McCurley can set him up so they can hide his block shedding issue/ less of a country club mindset with a new coach here so most players are focused on football first.

Curious to why Ben Bloom didn't like Smith last year. He went from a possible future DC here to getting sent home last year after arguing with Kris.

 

[Pola_pe_a]

Terrible hand usage. He needs to violently attack the blocker to keep them off his frame, he’s catching and wrestling instead. His hand placement is also really bad, way too wide. Compare him to the Wendler video, Weddle never lets the blocker get into his body so he can control and shed. He does that by keeping his hands inside and attacking the block instead of catching.
Another thing I see is a slot of hopping and dancing, it’s almost like he doesn’t trust what he sees, no violence in his actions

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Here's some cut-ups of Jaylon against the Bears and Bills last season. Couple of things:

1. Jaylon doesn't play with any base; he is lifted and moved out of lanes at will because he doesn't sink his hips and hops into blocks;
2. Jaylon does not stack and shed (look at the first gif below) at all; there is no resistance from him maintaining his gap which allows for open running lanes;
3. His play balance is all out of whack; plays way too high and hops rather shift his weight fluidly.

Here (above), Jaylon gets moved 10-yards down the field backwards.

Jaylon here (above) just gets bowled over playing too upright.

Piling up those "tackle" totals.

Stack and shed is completely non-existent; guesses at which lane the RB will take and runs himself out the play.

This is 195 lbs Eric Weddle against 255 lbs Tyler Eifert showing how you stack and shed.

Yep, that injury was too much to overcome.
Jerry bought himself some heaven points beyond that his LB play is sub-par.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

New Coach....Jaylon do you know why Kris had you playing 10 yards behind the LOS? Jaylon....I don't think Kris knew why.

Feel free to provide any proof of him playing “safety....10 yards behind the LOS”

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

 

[Tangle_Foot]

Poor technique, poor effort, but what really burns me up because everybody misses a tackle at one time or another, everybody gets blocked at one time or another, but there's no hustle even to get back into the play. Makes you wonder what goes on in those linebacker meetings.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Here’s Jaylon our Field General.

Never taking a false step...

Always knowing his assignment and where he needs to be lined up...

Playing with anticipation and playing chess while the opponent plays checkers...

 

[buybuydandavis]

Here's some cut-ups of Jaylon against the Bears and Bills last season. Couple of things:

1. Jaylon doesn't play with any base; he is lifted and moved out of lanes at will because he doesn't sink his hips and hops into blocks;
2. Jaylon does not stack and shed (look at the first gif below) at all; there is no resistance from him maintaining his gap which allows for open running lanes;
3. His play balance is all out of whack; plays way too high and hops rather shift his weight fluidly.

Here (above), Jaylon gets moved 10-yards down the field backwards.

Jaylon here (above) just gets bowled over playing too upright.

Piling up those "tackle" totals.

Stack and shed is completely non-existent; guesses at which lane the RB will take and runs himself out the play.

This is 195 lbs Eric Weddle against 255 lbs Tyler Eifert showing how you stack and shed.

Jaylon looked a little off at the beginning of last year, and 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.

 

[WillieBeamen]

He SUCKS


Him and Chido are the worst starters on this team, let alone defense

 

[buybuydandavis]

This is my new favorite of Jaylon and is absolutely inexplicable.

1. He sees Cordelle Patterson leaking out into the flat and even flows with him in that direction.

2. Tribisky throws it to Patterson

THE BALL IS ALREADY IN THE AIR

3. Jaylon hesitates and feigns the opposite direction of the pass, smh.

Jaylon finally did run out there toward Patterson, but couldn't break down and just ran himself out of the play wide. In no time, he's out of the screen again, never to reappear.

Jaylon ain't right.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Jaylon finally did run out there toward Patterson, but couldn't break down and just ran himself out of the play wide. In no time, he's out of the screen again, never to reappear.

Jaylon ain't right.

Change of direction skills on par with an oil tanker.

 

[G2]

Happy feet

 

[MaineBoy]

Yep, that injury was too much to overcome.
Jerry bought himself some heaven points beyond that his LB play is sub-par.

I think you hit the nail on the head; he plays more to protect his legs than he does to make the play. Whenever there is contact he uses his upper body to leverage his legs out of harms way...And out of the play. That’s why his tackles are mostly In the open field or downfield with less traffic and no body on him.

 

[Pola_pe_a]

He should’ve used a rip and run? No he needs to take on the blocker and control him then shed and tackle. The back is reading the block if he rips one side the back cuts the other way.

I have not seen him stop the blockers momentum in any of these videos. He catches and gets on his heels instead of playing downhill.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

He should’ve used a rip and run? No he needs to take on the blocker and control him then shed and tackle. The back is reading the block if he rips one side the back cuts the other way.

I have not seen him stop the blockers momentum in any of these videos. He catches and gets on his heels instead of playing downhill.

Yeah, I don’t agree with Owning’s take there but the larger point is Jaylon doesn’t take on blocks and gives up ground far too easily.

 

[baltcowboy]

Jaylon made the probowl.....this is either true or it is not. Your agenda leads you to saying bitterly "Ah, the old when all else fails, coaching". Jaylon played at a high level despite the coaches putting scheme over game planning for the opponent. We as Cowboys fans all know this to be true....but your agenda won't allow you to admit it.

What is up with the Jaylon hate. By all accounts he should not even be playing football with the injury he had. Jaylon has not missed a game as a pro. He was devastating in 2018 with LVE. He is a great guy who does a lot for his community and he stays out of trouble. He is a true success story. I don’t get his detractors not just this board but the local Cowboys media. He was clearly our best linebacker last year by any metric.