News: Jaylon Smith: "I'm back"

[JonJon]

Jaylon Smith Recalls The Turning Point In 1st Season When He Said, “I’m Back”
Thursday, January 04, 2018 2:20 PM CST

By Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

@robphillips3



FRISCO, Texas – Jaylon Smith knows the exact moment he felt like himself again on the football field.

“Week 9,” he said, “was really that turning point where I really felt like I’m back to the old Jaylon Smith that you guys are used to seeing.

“I started freshman year of high school and it took about six games. Then I started my freshman year at Notre Dame and it took about seven games. No surprise that at the highest level it took about nine. I’m back.”

Not just back on the field. Back making plays.

Back to a point where, at the end of his first NFL season at linebacker, Smith says “I feel elite again.”

“Just going through the experience and understanding how to play certain situations, understanding how teams attack you,” Lee said. “A lot of times you go out there and you say, I wish I would have played this play differently. It’s just a learning curve, and he’s handled it really well. For him to play as well as he has as early as he has, it’s a testament to his work.”

Smith said he isn’t having any further tests on how much the nerve in his left leg is re-firing.

“All that stuff is out of the picture. It’s just a matter of timing,” he said. “But I can tell you and my play can tell you from the past weeks that I’m back.”

[Read full article including video]

 

[aikemirv]

He should have a very good year next year. I would not say he played like Lee near the end, but I did not notice him in a negative way like we saw in the first half of the year. I don't think he was playing to Hitchens level either.

I am all for Roquan Smith if we could get him at our pick because as much as I love Sean Lee, you cannot count on him for 16 games.

 

[xwalker]

“All that stuff is out of the picture. It’s just a matter of timing,” he said. “But I can tell you and my play can tell you from the past weeks that I’m back.”

Not really the answer someone would give if the Doctor had said the nerve was 100%.

 

[Longboysfan]

He should have a very good year next year. I would not say he played like Lee near the end, but I did not notice him in a negative way like we saw in the first half of the year. I don't think he was playing to Hitchens level either.

I am all for Roquan Smith if we could get him at our pick because as much as I love Sean Lee, you cannot count on him for 16 games.

Yes. Correct. Smith played a lot better the last part of the year.

Yes. Draft a LB in the Sean Lee mold. With one of your top two choices.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

So excited for this kid. I think we all felt some sort of disappointment this year, but if the nerve is infact fully regenerated he’s got too much talent/work ethic to not make it work at a high level

 

[ghst187]

Well first off we will be the judge of that and I certainly didn't see "elite" yet. Definitely saw improvement but when he started off he was easily the worst starting LB in the NFL so there was no where to go but up. By the end of the season he was capable and no longer a liability but lots of room to go to get to where he wants to be. Hope like heck we do see "elite" play from him next year and he seems like a guy you really want to see succeed but I still consider LB a big offseason priority even if we keep Hitch.

 

[Real1st]

Im eager to see him next year. This will be his first offseason program were he doesn't have to rehab his knee or his dropfoot. He could be a beast this year. He had the work habits to do it.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It's a feel good story. Everybody likes him and wants this to work but the reality is that he needs to be able to stack and shed OLs. He needs to be able to fight off blocks and make plays. He needs to be able to cover and I really never saw him do any of that, at a level that would suggest he is a starting NFL LB last year. I hope he does but to this point, I have not seen it on the field. JMO

 

[Stash]

I liked what I saw down the stretch. At least he wasn't a dog chasing cars by season's end. I'm optimistic that he'll be a quality starter for 2018.

 

[LocimusPrime]

From where?

 

[MileyDancer]

From where?

Not the pro-bowl.

 

[Sydla]

I’d bring in a vet MLB like a Zach brown just in case.

You can’t build a defense around him as MLB next year IMO. He has stuff left to prove.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Smith said he isn’t having any further tests on how much the nerve in his left leg is re-firing.

“All that stuff is out of the picture. It’s just a matter of timing,” he said. “But I can tell you and my play can tell you from the past weeks that I’m back.”

I get why he would, but the obfuscating by Smith is getting old and telling of his likely current condition.

 

[Staubacher]

Talk to the foot.

 

[IheartRomo]

Well first off we will be the judge of that and I certainly didn't see "elite" yet. Definitely saw improvement but when he started off he was easily the worst starting LB in the NFL so there was no where to go but up. By the end of the season he was capable and no longer a liability but lots of room to go to get to where he wants to be. Hope like heck we do see "elite" play from him next year and he seems like a guy you really want to see succeed but I still consider LB a big offseason priority even if we keep Hitch.

This is a spot on assessment. His improvement, while very encouraging, only brought him from worst LB by a lot in the entire league to not noticeably bad with a splash of solid plays here and there. He has a very, very long way to go to even become a league average starting LB, but I think we should all be at least encouraged that the improvement was there even in limited snaps towards the end of the season.

 

[diefree666]

Well first off we will be the judge of that and I certainly didn't see "elite" yet. Definitely saw improvement but when he started off he was easily the worst starting LB in the NFL so there was no where to go but up. By the end of the season he was capable and no longer a liability but lots of room to go to get to where he wants to be. Hope like heck we do see "elite" play from him next year and he seems like a guy you really want to see succeed but I still consider LB a big offseason priority even if we keep Hitch.

anyone claiming he was the worst starting LB in the NFL is not someone I am EVER going to take seriously.

 

[diefree666]

This is a spot on assessment. His improvement, while very encouraging, only brought him from worst LB by a lot in the entire league to not noticeably bad with a splash of solid plays here and there. He has a very, very long way to go to even become a league average starting LB, but I think we should all be at least encouraged that the improvement was there even in limited snaps towards the end of the season.

worst LB in the league. And then you wonder why no one thinks you know much about football.

 

[IheartRomo]

worst LB in the league. And then you wonder why no one thinks you know much about football.

???? Not sure I understand what you're saying.

Are you asserting that during the first half of the season he was anything but tragic? If so, I would encourage you to go back and watch the games.

I very clearly said I'm encouraged by his improvement in limited snaps the second half of the season. Not sure what you're arguing but please feel free to explain.

 

[lostar2009]

Give the kid a shot. But I'll draft a quy or bring in a FA behind him.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Is it a coincidence that the less he played. The better he looked.