What can we be sure about Jaylon Smith - No MD needed

waldoputty

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Public reports with links provided

1. Archer / ESPN - "I saw Smith run late in the season as he went through drills with fellow rookie Charles Tapper. He went through pass-rush and change-of-direction drills, all while wearing the brace on his foot. Without the tape job, you wouldn’t know he could not lift his foot." ESPN - http://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cow...ets-ezekiel-elliott-dak-prescott-jaylon-smith
So Jaylon is still wearing the brace. Also Jaylon (with brace) appears to be performing cutting (pass rush and change of direction drills) as if he was normal.

2. Jaylon - "I'm getting my 4.4 speed back, I'll tell you that," Smith said. "That's how well I'm moving. You wouldn't be able to tell if you saw me run." - same article as above
Jaylon said he is running 4.4/4.5 (straight ahead speed like before injury).

3. FO - saying they expect Jaylon will be fine for 2017. We have all seen these.


What do we know for sure
1. Jaylon still has foot drop at least to some level (wearing brace).
2. To a member of the Press (ESPN), Jaylon is cutting as well as if he was not injured.
3. The brace only prevents foot drop. The brace does not help push off and cutting. So he is improving at least in this aspect.
4. The surgeon said 9-15 months for recovery. 15 months get us to April. http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...n-coopers-expertise-in-selecting-jaylon-smith


If we trust what Jaylon said
1. 4.4/4.5 speed means his pushoff is back to what it was before injury.

If we trust that Archer can tell what is good agility and what is not
1. Jaylon's nerve is doing something, because the brace does not help Jaylon make cuts.
2. The same nerve that is important for cutting is responsible for foot drop. Though it is probably a different branch of the same nerve, it is unlikely one branch is improving while the other branch is not at all. Thus, Archer's statement would imply the foot drop condition should also be improving - though he still has foot drop.
3. This obviously assumes ESPN is not colluding with FO to make Jaylon seem more healthy than he is.


If Jaylon is never cured of the foot drop
1. If we trust Archer, then Jaylon seems to be cutting and pass rushing as well as if he was not injured. So it may not matter that much. Though it is hard to believe there is NO DIFFERENCE.
2. The need to the brace should not be an injury concern.


Personally as a non-MD, I am not sure if Jaylon will ever be rid of the brace though the evidence suggests he is improving. His recovery seems to be slower than some of the cases I have read about. Though there is a difference between NFL performance and everyday living. If Archer is right, it may not matter that much on the football field - though obvious it would matter to his quality of live.
 
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Idgit

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Jaylon's also come out and point blank said this month that the never is regenerating ("“Yeah, it’s regenerating,’’ he said. “It’s doing great deeds.’’). Everything I've heard about his recovery is that he's ahead of schedule, too, btw.

I don't buy that he can play with the brace all that effectively if that's what's required, and I don't buy that he automagically comes back from an injury of the scope of the one he had and walks right in as an impact player. But I do buy that he's recovering and will get his shot.

I also have to say it sucks that people have to mention multiple times on this topic that they aren't doctors because they know damn well there's a high likelihood somebody's going to accuse them of pretending to be a doctor. :)
 

waldoputty

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I want this kid to pan out in the worst way, but I will be skeptical on this whole situation until I see him on the field playing like the elite player he was supposed to be.

Well it is likely he really has his straight line speed back - and that is a lot of what made him a unique player.
I would guess he will lose some agility - so the question is how much will he end up losing.
If he needs to play with the brace, it has been done before but I believe the player is not his caliber.
 
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waldoputty

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Jaylon's also come out and point blank said this month that the never is regenerating ("“Yeah, it’s regenerating,’’ he said. “It’s doing great deeds.’’). Everything I've heard about his recovery is that he's ahead of schedule, too, btw.

I don't buy that he can play with the brace all that effectively if that's what's required, and I don't buy that he automagically comes back from an injury of the scope of the one he had and walks right in as an impact player. But I do buy that he's recovering and will get his shot.

I also have to say it sucks that people have to mention multiple times on this topic that they aren't doctors because they know damn well there's a high likelihood somebody's going to accuse them of pretending to be a doctor. :)

Without much new info, I have not written an update for a while.
I would count Archer as a worthwhile update since he is supposed to be independent.
Also I would guess his evaluation should be reasonably valid though he is not a coach and did not seem to use a stopwatch.
 

Fletch

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We will be in the NFC Championship game vs the Falcons, the pass is made, Jaylon lunges, the nerve has not fully regenerated, he misses the pass by an inch. Falcons kick a game winning 60 yard FG because nobody misses in our house and the nerve was only 89% rejuvenated. Smh!
 

Idgit

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Without much new info, I have not written an update for a while.
I would count Archer as a worthwhile update since he is supposed to be independent.
Also I would guess his evaluation should be reasonably valid though he is not a coach and did not seem to use a stopwatch.

You should probably also mention he is not a doctor. Otherwise people will become very confused and lose track of what's going on.
 

TwentyOne

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We will be in the NFC Championship game vs the Falcons, the pass is made, Jaylon lunges, the nerve has not fully regenerated, he misses the pass by an inch. Falcons kick a game winning 60 yard FG because nobody misses in our house and the nerve was only 89% rejuvenated. Smh!

Id say being in the NFC Championship game coud be considered as a successfull season....

Sorry, but i am still not over that loss against such a bad GB team.
 

big dog cowboy

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I don't buy that he can play with the brace all that effectively if that's what's required, and I don't buy that he automagically comes back from an injury of the scope of the one he had and walks right in as an impact player. But I do buy that he's recovering and will get his shot.
Some considered Smith a top 3 prospect in last years draft. If he comes back to 90% of what he was then the Cowboys will have a special player. Can't wait for preseason.
 

Fla Cowpoke

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From the beginning, the Dr said that even if the nerve never regenerated that Smith could make a return to football with the brace. He couldn't say at what level he would be.
 

Derinyar

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The easy answer is no we can't be sure until he's on the field in a regular season game. I do believe the team has more information then anyone else has and they seem convinced that he's a piece for next year. Hopefully they are right because I suspect FA/Draft is going to be run with that being the mindset.
 

waldoputty

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The easy answer is no we can't be sure until he's on the field in a regular season game. I do believe the team has more information then anyone else has and they seem convinced that he's a piece for next year. Hopefully they are right because I suspect FA/Draft is going to be run with that being the mindset.

I do think Jaylon has a good chance to be really good.
Having said that, I hope that they are not banking on him being a generational player.
 

Seven

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Jaylon's also come out and point blank said this month that the never is regenerating ("“Yeah, it’s regenerating,’’ he said. “It’s doing great deeds.’’). Everything I've heard about his recovery is that he's ahead of schedule, too, btw.

I don't buy that he can play with the brace all that effectively if that's what's required, and I don't buy that he automagically comes back from an injury of the scope of the one he had and walks right in as an impact player. But I do buy that he's recovering and will get his shot.

I also have to say it sucks that people have to mention multiple times on this topic that they aren't doctors because they know damn well there's a high likelihood somebody's going to accuse them of pretending to be a doctor. :)
Preach it brother idg.......
 
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