News: ST: Healthy Anthony Hitchens returns to starter’s role at linebacker, replacing Jaylon Smith

Alexander

Alexander

What's it going to be then, eh?
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Jake said:
Indeed. A guy playing football in a leg brace for the first time in 18 months, and only because of injury, is a bust after 6 games. :rolleyes:

Can't believe he wasn't Von Miller right out of the gate.
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I don't think the injury argument applies all that much.

Many of Smith's issues were mental. He made bad reads and played tentatively as well, like he was really uncertain of himself.

Yes, part of it may be a lack of trust in his body, but he was not exactly diagnosing everything in a sharp manner.

All in all, too many people expected that he would be some dominating force and the only thing holding him back was his health.

It should be obvious to anyone being honest when watching him that it simply wasn't.

I also am not convinced he is a MLB in this scheme. At least not where he is as a player and what he can do at the moment.
 
Ring6

Ring6

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Woods can take some snaps from either Heath or Jones or a little of both.
 

Sydla

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Alexander said:
I don't think the injury argument applies all that much.

Many of Smith's issues were mental. He made bad reads and played tentatively as well, like he was really uncertain of himself.

Yes, part of it may be a lack of trust in his body, but he was not exactly diagnosing everything in a sharp manner.

All in all, too many people expected that he would be some dominating force and the only thing holding him back was his health.

It should be obvious to anyone being honest when watching him that it simply wasn't.

I also am not convinced he is a MLB in this scheme. At least not where he is as a player and what he can do at the moment.
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He's a WILL. This could end being another case where the front office/coaching staff make a questionable personnel move (such as Jones at FS, he looks better as a CB, not a safety). Granted, with Smith, with Lee at WILL it made a bit of sense to try him at MIKE.

Everyone likes to make comparisons to Myles Jack. Jack was benched last year because he was pretty terrible. They tried him again at MIKE this offseason and he couldn't hack it so they moved him to SAM. The point being that anyone that expected Smith to just turn into Justin Houston/Ray Lewis right out of the shoot were fooling themselves.

Just like thinking Hitchens is somehow the glue that's going to turn this awful defense into a good one.
 
TheSkaven

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NewsBot said:
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said Thursday the Dallas Cowboys will finally field their expected starting linebacker corps Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. That means Sean Lee will be back … Click to Continue »

Continue reading...
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With Hitchens and Lee back, you’re about to see an entirely different defense.

The defense has been much maligned, but the young secondary is getting better every week and the defensive line is getting more pressure than we’ve seen in years.

The weak spot has been our linebacking core, which has just been AWFUL. They’re overrunning plays, missing tackles, poor coverage (particularly backs out of the backfield).

Not sure what’s with Jaylin but he’s clearly not the same player. Having both Hitchens and Lee will make an enormous difference.

Praying they both stay healthy!!
 
Maverick84

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#cleareyeview
#blessed
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CowboyStar88

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Jaylon needs less reps right now... he’s not there physically yet... However they can use him a bit better for the time being. Jaylon will improve and get better. I have a feeling he will be a different player next year
 
Idgit

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TheSkaven said:
With Hitchens and Lee back, you’re about to see an entirely different defense.

The defense has been much maligned, but the young secondary is getting better every week and the defensive line is getting more pressure than we’ve seen in years.

The weak spot has been our linebacking core, which has just been AWFUL. They’re overrunning plays, missing tackles, poor coverage (particularly backs out of the backfield).

Not sure what’s with Jaylin but he’s clearly not the same player. Having both Hitchens and Lee will make an enormous difference.

Praying they both stay healthy!!
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LB play has been kIlling us, but we've got bigger problems on defense than just Jaylon Smith. The run defense starts with the DL, and they haven't been close to good enough. SF has a good running game, so it'll be a decent challenge there.

On the flip side, Hitchens has become a pretty good player, and he's a definite upgrade for us at a key position. It's absolutely hilarious watching the same people who were so convinced he couldn't play a single snap in the NFL fall over each other backpedaling now. This is a position upgrade this terrible defense really needed.
 
Jarntt

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SportsGuru80 said:
Finally... Jaylon killed this defense in the middle SMH
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Smith just wasn't ready. Wouldn't even have been playing much if Hitchens didn't get hurt. I think this can be good for him. He'll still get some reps but he'll be eased into it more now
 
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