Sturm on Jaylon Smith

[Zordon]

Apparently he did some film study on Jaylon and determined that he didn't really improve late in the season and that the Cowboys really need some LBs. Rafael Vela who used to run the cowboyszone.com website and was one of the best writers in Cowboys land apparently hated the pick so much that he retired lol. This offseason has been 85% discussion about the offense, but this is the worst unit on the team and the defense still is the thing holding this franchise back. 100 Dez threads a day, but this is the real problem.

 

[Zordon]

 

[CATCH17]

Completely agree which is why I’ve said Linebacker is far and away the biggest need.

 

[jazzcat22]

LB is our biggest need in spite of what people think about Jaylon.
We need a replacement for Lee for his next injury as well. We lost Hitchens.

So now we need LB's because a few reporters want to pick on Jaylon, still.

I did not like the pick at the time, and still not sure about him, until he shows that improvement, like any 2nd year player needs to.

Bottom line we need LB's no matter what.

 

[Sydla]

Glad we didn’t bring in a starting caliber LB in free agency.

And now you know why they are talking about moving Smith to SAM.

 

[Bleu Star]

Zzz

 

[Sydla]

The Myles Jack angle will rear its head again but note Jack is playing SAM and Nickle backer as well. He wasn’t the solution at MLB either.

 

[HungryLion]

They really really need to sign Navarro Bowman. And then also draft a Lb relatively high.

Hopefully they do the right thing.

And that’s coming from somebody who believes in Jaylon overall.

 

[Kaiser]

Zzz

Clickbait got clickity click.

The Cowboys need more than one LB and will draft at least two. Plus bring in a Justin Durant type late in the offseason to compete for a roster spot.

But Jaylon Smith will be a much better player next year with better health and more experience.

 

[CATCH17]

We’ve almost pigeon holed ourselves into having to take 1 at pick 19.


Vander Esch will most likely be our pick.

 

[bodi]

.



But Jaylon Smith will be a much better player next year with better health.

ok I will take your word for it DOC KAISER

 

[AmericanCowboy]

Last year on this site if you said anything even romeotey critical of Jaylon Smith you were branded a hater.

Most overrated player on the team by a mile- and that is saying something with Byron Jones still on the roster.

 

[bodi]

I hated the pick then an still do

 

[Killerinstinct]

2nd worst draft pick of the last few years.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I know everybody is probably tired of hearing this but honestly, this is why we need to bring in a quality 1Tech IMO. I mean, we do need more LB depth. Losing Hitchens was a big deal IMO. Drafting Jaylon and betting he would be an impact player was a huge risk. Lee is not getting younger and Wilson, a pick I loved BTW, is not getting it done. He should already be at the point of solidifying his role as a starter on this Defense and instead, he is screwing around with suspension etc. A better DL interior who could actually protect our LBs would be huge for this team. I know this may not fit the "more LBs" idea here, and believe me I do agree with the idea that we do need more talent at LB, but I just can't express how important it is to have quality DTs who can cover up your LBs, especially when you play undersized at the position. In todays game, you almost have to go undersized because you have to have LBs who can cover. That puts you at a disadvantage against the run. If you have to always send undersized LBs against Bigger OLs, then we are never going to have enough quality depth.

JMO

 

[BlindFaith]

Clickbait got clickity click.

The Cowboys need more than one LB and will draft at least two. Plus bring in a Justin Durant type late in the offseason to compete for a roster spot.

But Jaylon Smith will be a much better player next year with better health and more experience.

Smith was a consensus top 5 pick before he got hurt. So from a pure "can he play football at an elite level" perspective, either Sturm and all the talent evaluators were wrong at the time, or it's a combination of his injury, it being his first year playing along with having not played for a year.

He will be better due to experience and having played last year.

The only question at this point is the injury. Unless all evaluations of him prior to the injury were way wrong.

Regarding the injury itself. All accounts are that he's much healthier now than when he started, or even finished, last year.

Will he ever be 100% and if not, how much does that affect his game is the question.

LB I still think is a top priority in the draft. With the uncertainty of both Smith and Lee we need someone who can at least start a few games this year and be a long term replacement for Lee.

 

[Kaiser]

ok I will take your word for it DOC KAISER

Thats the word of the team doctors, not me. Every case of nerve regeneration is different and every PT regime is on its own schedule.

 

[Kaiser]

Regarding the injury itself. All accounts are that he's much healthier now than when he started, or even finished, last year.

Will he ever be 100% and if not, how much does that affect his game is the question.

Exactly, his recovery hasn't gone as fast as expected but every indication is that he will continue to improve. And he had elite talent in college, if he gets back to 90% of that he is still an above average starter. 100% recovery and he will be a Pro Bowler.

 

[Tangle_Foot]

Zzz

Don't you mean DEZzz

 

[BlindFaith]

I know everybody is probably tired of hearing this but honestly, this is why we need to bring in a quality 1Tech IMO. I mean, we do need more LB depth. Losing Hitchens was a big deal IMO. Drafting Jaylon and betting he would be an impact player was a huge risk. Lee is not getting younger and Wilson, a pick I loved BTW, is not getting it done. He should already be at the point of solidifying his role as a starter on this Defense and instead, he is screwing around with suspension etc. A better DL interior who could actually protect our LBs would be huge for this team. I know this may not fit the "more LBs" idea here, and believe me I do agree with the idea that we do need more talent at LB, but I just can't express how important it is to have quality DTs who can cover up your LBs, especially when you play undersized at the position. In todays game, you almost have to go undersized because you have to have LBs who can cover. That puts you at a disadvantage against the run. If you have to always send undersized LBs against Bigger OLs, then we are never going to have enough quality depth.

JMO

Unless that DT is also going to be tackling the running back and dropping into coverage, we absolutely need a stud LB added.

There is a reason that LB leads the team in tackles. And is also key in coverage.

Sure, a big 1T that doesn't get blown out of his gap and can occupy a blocker surely helps. But LBs have their own gaps and rush lanes they are responsible for. And average LBs allow the play to come to them. Great LBs take the play to the running back.