Sturm on Jaylon Smith

[CalPolyTechnique]

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.

I think it was the team trainer(s) that said that. Regardless, Jaylon injured his knee/nerve on January 1, 2016. The rate of nerve regrowth is relatively predictable. The extent of reinervation and corresponding functionality is not. He'll be more than 2.5 years post injury by the time training camp starts; it's safe to say his prognosis at that point is much pretty much what it will always be.

 

[Bobhaze]

I agree 100% with Sturm's assessment. This team is and has been LB deficient for too long. Jaylon Smith is an outstanding human being worthy of great respect for his courage and work ethic. Is he the top level NFL LB we hoped he would be? He has neither shown that he is nor shown that he can never be but that underscores even more why this team really needs to draft a top talent at LB.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Goal of this draft needs to be drafting this guy. They traded up for that jag claiborne, they can trade up for this beast.

 

[glimmerman]

If Jaylon gets no better than just a year of experience then he is still above average. We will see improvement this year from him.

 

[BlindFaith]

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.

Exactly. 90% would still qualify him as a first round pick. We got him in the second.

Im optimistic of a big year for him.

 

[bayeslife]

Myles Jack wasn’t good his first year playing either. The problem is Jack had Poz and Telvin Smith to play with too. I’m okay with letting Hitchens walk for the money but given our situation it makes sense to get another LB

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

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.

Which is why I clearly said, "We do need more talent and depth at LB". Never the less, if you don't upgrade the interior DL, you will never have enough talent, consistently on the field. There just aren't that many quality LBs available.

 

[CATCH17]

I hated the pick then an still do

Nothing against Jaylon either cause he’s an awesome dude but we had a premium pick and that’s what we did with it.

Disgusting what this franchise will do at times.

 

[Bleu Star]

Don't you mean DEZzz

More like Feliciazzzz

 

[Kaiser]

I think it was the team trainer(s) that said that. Regardless, Jaylon injured his knee/nerve on January 1, 2016. The rate of nerve regrowth is relatively predictable. The extent of reinervation and corresponding functionality is not. He'll be more than 2.5 years post injury by the time training camp starts; it's safe to say his prognosis at that point is much pretty much what it will always be.

But the issue now is more about physical therapy than the nerve regeneration. He had to learn to play with drop foot and then learn to play with different levels of the nerve coming back. He has to learn how to play with the leg at its current level and it was obvious that the leg was completely different at the end of the season than the beginning. Its a moving target, not an on/off switch.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If Jaylon gets no better than just a year of experience then he is still above average. We will see improvement this year from him.

I do not agree with this. I've seen nothing from Smith that suggest he is even an average quality LB at this point.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

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

The 1T was never getting blown off the ball and making the LB reads tough. not with Paea not with Price not with Ash not with Collins. They were already covered.

 

[glimmerman]

I do not agree with this. I've seen nothing from Smith that suggest he is even an average quality LB at this point.

I thought he played average last season. He over persued in some plays because of lack of experience. He will improve, even if it’s slight. But expecting more.

 

[Plankton]

Give me Rashaan Evans in Round 1 and Dorian O’Daniel late 4th and call it a day.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The 1T was never getting blown off the ball and making the LB reads tough. not with Paea not with Price not with Ash not with Collins. They were already covered.

They were never covering up the LBs either because that's not the scheme we run. My point is that I believe we need to change how we are using the interior DL and I believe we need to upgrade that position. Paea was never a factor one way or the other and Price, Ash and Collins were not impactful enough to really make a difference IMO.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I thought he played average last season. He over persued in some plays because of lack of experience. He will improve, even if it’s slight. But expecting more.

I think he played flat out poorly at MLB. I think he was better when he got moved outside but even then, he didn't really play a lot of snaps and the team used him in certain situation only. He didn't really play every down. To me, that's not above average but that is just my opinion.

 

[Kaiser]

Give me Rashaan Evans in Round 1 and Dorian O’Daniel late 4th and call it a day.

I think there is a real shot at Tremaine Edmunds dropping to 19 and then us being able to to Darius Leonard or Shaquem Griffin in the 4th. But I totally agree with your slotting of a 1 and a 4.

Trading down is a real option too with guys like Rashaan Evans and LVE taken in the late 1st or the early 2nd.

 

[Big D]

I do not agree with this. I've seen nothing from Smith that suggest he is even an average quality LB at this point.

I could be wrong but did he not get a defensive player of the week award last yr? That should be an indicator.

 

[Bigdog]

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.

Agree. LB is the biggest need on this team.

 

[TheSkaven]

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

And we don't need just one. If we end up taking a DT in the first, we're really going to be in a bind. Ideally we'd pick three linebackers in this draft, and two in the first three rounds. The position is far and away the biggest and most glaring need on the team.