'13 IN ATH Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man & Graduate)

[ACamp1900]

Honestly I'll take him over Senior Te'o right now. So much faster (not even close really) and better in coverage. Te'o was great dropping in a zone his senior year, but he wouldn't hold up playing man-to-man.

I mean, it's hard because it sounds like a dis on Manti, when it's all a tremendous compliment to Jaylon... but I'm just about with you.

 

[GoIrish41]

Honestly I'll take him over Senior Te'o right now. So much faster (not even close really) and better in coverage. Te'o was great dropping in a zone his senior year, but he wouldn't hold up playing man-to-man.

I agree with this. He is better now than Manti was in any year at ND. Jaylon is just an incredible talent. And this is coming from a guy who was among Manti's biggest fans. Jaylon is on another level ... a ball hawking monster.

 

[Booslum31]

Honestly I'll take him over Senior Te'o right now. So much faster (not even close really) and better in coverage. Te'o was great dropping in a zone his senior year, but he wouldn't hold up playing man-to-man.

Just to be clear, we are talking about the most decorated LB (Te'o) in college football history who basically won every award available to a LB except the Heisman. I'm a massive Jaylon fan but is this category you see him in now?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

You think it has more to do with his position and/or defensive scheme or his ability? I think he's underutilized as a pass rusher b/c he's so important to us in coverage. If we needed sacks out of him, I suspect we'd get close to double digits.

Agreed.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Too much hyperbole in this thread, methinks.

Jaylon is an absolute gem but Te'o was a phenomenal MLB. If we had Te'o manning the middle with Jaylon, we'd have a force to be reckoned with. Te'o destroys all screen plays and hits like a mack truck.

Jaylon is projected to have a better career at this point but let's pump the breaks because Te'o already did it. He had over 100 tackles at least 2, maybe 3 years in a changing defensive scheme. He was the real deal and capped it off by taking us to an undefeated regular season. Give it time guys, Jaylon will get there.

 

[woolybug25]

You guys have short memories.

I don't think many of you remember how epic Teo's senior campaign was. Smith is a great player, but he hasn't supplanted Teo from the top of the ND linebacker mountain.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

What I saw from him on Saturday, coming out of nowhere to keep a running back from getting the first, getting in the backfield and playing the pass, and wrapping up and finishing tackles, was exactly like Te'o against Michigan and Michigan State in his senior year. Smith is used so differently, but their impact is identical IMO.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I always thought it was a sweeping motion type thing like "cleaning up the garbage"

I thought it was more of his move on a girl. You know a little fist action...

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I think the celebration just looks really cool when the dirt or rubber flies up. That's why he does that.

 

[greyhammer90]

I think the celebration just looks really cool when the dirt or rubber flies up. That's why he does that.

After intense study I've determined that the coolest part is that weird foot-sliding gait that he adopts when celebrating, the hand motion is just a red herring.

 

[ResLife Hero]

I think the celebration just looks really cool when the dirt or rubber flies up. That's why he does that.

I know someone had the answer in the past (can't find it), but he did the celebration last year too so it isn't the turf. Although that does make it look even more badass.

Last year:

 

[Cackalacky]

Hes obviously bowling strikes....I fully expect him to assume this pose when approaching the foul line.

 

[ACamp1900]

The dark soil in the turf looks so badass imo...

 

[irishfan]

I didn't mean it as a knock on Te'o.

I'd take Te'o over Jaylon situationally. Certainly on 4th and Goal from the 1, I'd rather have Te'o to stuff the run.

I'd take Jaylon over Te'o when it comes to making a tackle in the open field or covering a RB or TE.

I just think the game is so spread out now that someone with Jaylon's skill set is more valuable than the 250-pound thumper at MLB.

Either way, thank god BVG is here. Jaylon fits in with his D so much more than he ever would with Diaco.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

He's 6'3"/230 as a sophomore. He isn't undersized at all. In fact, he is currently NFL size for a WILL.

Nick Barnett - 6'3"/229
Vontaze Burfict - 6'1"/248
Wesley Woodyard - 6'3"/233
Lance Briggs - 6'1"/244
Sean Weatherspoon - 6'2"/244
Jerod Mayo - 6'1"/250
Von Miller - 6'3"/250

He is perfect size for the NFL this very moment, and he's a sophomore in college.

I agree, I don't really understand the Dion Jordan comparison either. Jordan was a DE in college who got sacks and not much else if I remember right. I don't see the comparison to Jaylon other than they are both athletic freaks. I think he's probably more Shazier than Jordan

 

[Booslum31]

He's 6'3"/230 as a sophomore. He isn't undersized at all. In fact, he is currently NFL size for a WILL.

Nick Barnett - 6'3"/229
Vontaze Burfict - 6'1"/248
Wesley Woodyard - 6'3"/233
Lance Briggs - 6'1"/244
Sean Weatherspoon - 6'2"/244
Jerod Mayo - 6'1"/250
Von Miller - 6'3"/250

He is perfect size for the NFL this very moment, and he's a sophomore in college.

I agree...and the NFL likes LB's that can keep up with RB's out of the backfield. He's freakish fast!

 

[NDALA]

One thing I love about Jaylon is he's not the least bit hesitant to leave his feet and dive to make a tackle it seems to me a lot of players not just on ND always wanna try to run someone down and get right on them before wrapping up and give up yards in the process. Not Jaylon he dives, wraps his arms around them, and their ass is down!

 

[koonja]

I got ripped when I said 'I love his bowling ball celebration'. Still don't know what it is if it's not that.

 

[NDdomer2]

He's picking up his money

 

[Riddickulous]

It's not a celebration at all. Coincidentally, he just stumbles every time he makes a play.

 

[Booslum31]

In the case with Michigan he was getting the Skunkbear juice off his hand.

 

[scUM Hater]

I see quite a few NFL players doing the same thing.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

The closing speed he showed when he made the tackle one of scUM's runs was preposterous. He makes TFL's and gets us off the field, while having the coverage skills of a CB. What else can you ask for?

 

[scUM Hater]

He may be the best running back on the roster also.

 

[Chamellion]

Maybe he's a hockey fan

 

[Crazy Balki]

I didn't mean it as a knock on Te'o.

I'd take Te'o over Jaylon situationally. Certainly on 4th and Goal from the 1, I'd rather have Te'o to stuff the run.

I'd take Jaylon over Te'o when it comes to making a tackle in the open field or covering a RB or TE.

I just think the game is so spread out now that someone with Jaylon's skill set is more valuable than the 250-pound thumper at MLB.

Either way, thank god BVG is here. Jaylon fits in with his D so much more than he ever would with Diaco.

This. In today's game, Jaylon > Te'o in a heartbeat. Jaylon's athleticism and lightning-quick reflexes are truly at home in BVG's scheme. Te'o would have been more beneficial in Diaco's scheme, where his size and ability to get up and down the field and lay the wood is preferred. I think that's the difference in this year's defense is their ability to play in space.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I agree, I don't really understand the Dion Jordan comparison either. Jordan was a DE in college who got sacks and not much else if I remember right. I don't see the comparison to Jaylon other than they are both athletic freaks. I think he's probably more Shazier than Jordan

I think the comparison to Von Miller was best. Though I believe he's better in coverage than Miller is/was, but Miller has more polished pass rushing skills.

 

[Irish8248]

Vote for Jaylon as week 2 impact player

Vote For The Lott IMPACT Player of The Week | Lott IMPACT Trophy

 

[FLDomer]

Vote for Jaylon as week 2 impact player

Lotimpacttrophy.org/vote

link didn't work. Here is the correct one

Vote For The Lott IMPACT Player of The Week | Lott IMPACT Trophy

 

[Irish8248]

Damn autocorrect eliminated the second T ... good catch, thanks