Jeff Sullivan on Jaylon Smith

[Idgit]

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...omo’s-got-numbers-don’t-matter-among-thoughts



The only three NFL teams with more than 50 starts by rookies this season are Cleveland (67), Chicago (62) and Dallas (51). The Browns and Bears are a combined 4-26. That’s mind-boggling. And these have been world-class starts for the Cowboys as well: Zeke and Dak in the mix for NFL MVP, Anthony Brown the highest-rated cornerback on the team the last two months and Maliek Collins leading all rookie defensive tackles with 5.0 sacks. Along with the Bears’ Leonard Floyd, Collins is also one of two rookies with at least five sacks, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

And Stephen Jones told me last week that the team expects second-round pick Jaylon Smith to be 100 percent for the start of training camp. He was fifth on the Cowboys’ original draft board before his knee injury in Notre Dame’s bowl game last year. Just incredible to think about this draft class and what they could be going forward, never mind just this season.


I'm having trouble linking the actual article. I'll do that as soon as I figure it out. GOT IT! I think.

Interesting, but this is one where I'd like to see the actual Stephen Jones quote. It sounds pretty positive relayed like this, but I can imagine a lot could depend on the actual wording of what was said.

 

[Cowboys22]

Is there confirmation that he is still wearing the brace? Didn't someone just run into him and said he looked good and walking fine? I haven't seen anything to suggest that he's less then 50/50. I think it was pie in the sky to think he'd be back this year, but they sound confident that he will be good for 2017

It was reported he was wearing the brace a few days ago by one of the beat reporters. Why should anyone be confident? The nerve should have fired by now but hasn't so there is nothing known that says it ever will. I hope like heck that nerve wakes up and he is good as new by OTAs but there is no reason other than blind hope to expect at this point that it will. He is three months late at this point. That means there is a good chance it never happens.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think they have come out and said Zeke was the number 1 player on their board. Could be just "we got our guy" speak, but it isn't that hard to believe.

I should have said "In no particular order."

 

[Broges74]

It was reported he was wearing the brace a few days ago by one of the beat reporters. Why should anyone be confident? The nerve should have fired by now but hasn't so there is nothing known that says it ever will. I hope like heck that nerve wakes up and he is good as new by OTAs but there is no reason other than blind hope to expect at this point that it will. He is three months late at this point. That means there is a good chance it never happens.

I thought I read that there are other surgical options for the nerve but those options are a last gasp at getting the nerve to fire. This looks to be headed in that direction though.

 

[CowboyStar88]

It was reported he was wearing the brace a few days ago by one of the beat reporters. Why should anyone be confident? The nerve should have fired by now but hasn't so there is nothing known that says it ever will. I hope like heck that nerve wakes up and he is good as new by OTAs but there is no reason other than blind hope to expect at this point that it will. He is three months late at this point. That means there is a good chance it never happens.

Sometimes you just gotta have a little faith. They are seeing the medical reports and I think that gives them confidence. To be honest I don't think they were 100% with the fans about where he was/is in the recovery. Obviously I have nothing to back that up with, but just a hunch on my part.

 

[This is Our Year]

If Jaylon Smith becomes what Jaylon Smith was supposed to become, this might be one of the best drafts of all time.

Agree 100% if Jaylon is what they think (if healthy) this will be a draft class that keeps us in constant contention for a decade.

 

[DandyDon52]

There was another leaked board this year:

Remember this is the scouts board before the coaches get their say, which is why Tapper was taken earlier than some other players they listed higher in the 4th and Marinelli was reported to have not had much interest in Bosa.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...as-cowboys-2016-draft-board-possibly-revealed

1st
1. Ezekiel Elliott
2. Jalen Ramsey
3. Laremy Tunsil
4. Joey Bosa
5. Jaylon Smith
6. Myles Jack
7. Carson Wentz
8. Leonard Floyd
9. Jared Goff
10. Sheldon Rankins
11. Shaq Lawson
12. Paxton Lynch
13. Vernon Hargreaves
14. Eli Apple
15. DeForest Buckner
16. Ronnie Stanley

do not see Dak !! maybe # 42 ??

 

[Paniolo22]

I doubt Jack was 6 if the Cowboys didn't take him with their second-round pick.

Both players ranking was Pre injury. The decision was believed to be short term vs long term, where they didn't feel Jack had a long term career and Smith most likely couldn't play right away.

 

[conner01]

Jerry is that you?? Looks like the picks of the 20 years of losing!!

I think a wr in the first is very possible
What hurt us was drafting position instead of talent. If the best talent at 32 is a wr then I expect a wr
What I don't want is drafting position

 

[marchetta]

I still have a hard time believing Jaylon is anything more than 50/50 and at best based on where he is and where he should be this far removed from surgery. I hope I'm wrong though...

Exactly! What idiot uses a 2nd rd pick on a top tier player that will take a year to get on the field? Those types of picks never pay off...

 

[Vintage]

Exactly! What idiot uses a 2nd rd pick on a top tier player that will take a year to get on the field? Those types of picks never pay off...

Sean Lee's injury wasn't considered possibly career ending.

Jaylon's carries that risk.

 

[Alexander]

Interesting, but this is one where I'd like to see the actual Stephen Jones quote. It sounds pretty positive relayed like this, but I can imagine a lot could depend on the actual wording of what was said.

It absolutely was an off hand comment. Of course they expect Jaylon Smith to be ready.

Get ready for a spring and summer of cryptic Tweets and a lot of fluff.

"Blessed". - Smith's Twitter account.

"Hey, I bet the nerve fired!" - random poster

 

[Broges74]

Exactly! What idiot uses a 2nd rd pick on a top tier player that will take a year to get on the field? Those types of picks never pay off...

Come on man... Lee had no nerve issue. Knee injuries without nerve damage have a very high percentage chance of recovery. ...

 

[plymkr]

If Smith and Tapper come back 100%, plus Gregory can stay away from the bong, could really alter our draft strategy. Maybe we end up going WR, TE, and DB with our top picks.

I hope we draft a TE with our 2nd rounder next year

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Sometimes you just gotta have a little faith. They are seeing the medical reports and I think that gives them confidence. To be honest I don't think they were 100% with the fans about wherefore he was/is in the recovery. Obviously I have nothing to back that up with, but just a hunch on my part.

If that's the case they totally bungled how they handled it. It would have been much better to undersell his recovery/rehab status than to act like he possibly come back at the end of this season and disappoint when he predictably doesn't.

 

[manster4ever]

I keep hearing that they weren't that high on Bosa....

Pun intended? Well done if so. He's had a big year in S.Diego and I'm surprised. I was not a Bosa fan.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

There was another leaked board this year:

Remember this is the scouts board before the coaches get their say, which is why Tapper was taken earlier than some other players they listed higher in the 4th and Marinelli was reported to have not had much interest in Bosa.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...as-cowboys-2016-draft-board-possibly-revealed

1st
1. Ezekiel Elliott
2. Jalen Ramsey
3. Laremy Tunsil
4. Joey Bosa
5. Jaylon Smith
6. Myles Jack
7. Carson Wentz
8. Leonard Floyd
9. Jared Goff
10. Sheldon Rankins
11. Shaq Lawson
12. Paxton Lynch
13. Vernon Hargreaves
14. Eli Apple
15. DeForest Buckner
16. Ronnie Stanley

Still pisses me off to see a healthy Jack at 6. His speed and coverage ability would be nice heading into playoffs against teams like GB, ATL, NYG.

 

[plymkr]

I'd add OT to that too. Tyron's back worries me,Frees getting up there in age and Green can't stay healthy

Tyron's injury worries me, Free's talent worries me and Green's talent worries me.

 

[T-RO]

It was reported he was wearing the brace a few days ago by one of the beat reporters. Why should anyone be confident? The nerve should have fired by now but hasn't so there is nothing known that says it ever will. I hope like heck that nerve wakes up and he is good as new by OTAs but there is no reason other than blind hope to expect at this point that it will. He is three months late at this point. That means there is a good chance it never happens.

This.

If anything I'm discouraged by the news--or more exactly the lack of it. The year is now over and he isn't at the point where we all hoped he'd be. I'll wait and get excited when we have something real rather than some one making optimistic predictions.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Still pisses me off to see a healthy Jack at 6. His speed and coverage ability would be nice heading into playoffs against teams like GB, ATL, NYG.

Jack has 24 tackles. Zeros on everything else. Is his coverage ability that good teams don't throw on him?