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

[ab2cmiller]

There’s a segment of Cowboy fans who believe Jaylon isn’t even the best linebacker on the Cowboys, let alone the entire NFL.

 

[GowerND11]

There’s a segment of Cowboy fans who believe Jaylon isn’t even the best linebacker on the Cowboys, let alone the entire NFL.

Vander Esch kinda makes a really really compelling case. And best in NFL to me is still Kuechly.

 

[ACamp1900]

There’s a segment of Cowboy fans who believe Jaylon isn’t even the best linebacker on the Cowboys, let alone the entire NFL.

I mean that's not some hot take, he and Vander Esch both grade out at about the same level and both are ballers... kind of an either or deal from my view and I'm a Jaylon super fan.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Good write-up from PFF talking about current year performance and the progress he made this year over last.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jaylon Smith named PFF's Breakout Player of the Year! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CowboysNation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CowboysNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DallasCowboys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DallasCowboys</a> <br><br>Read: <a href="https://t.co/jjZ1z1y23f">https://t.co/jjZ1z1y23f</a> <a href="https://t.co/l0p8i34Y3V">pic.twitter.com/l0p8i34Y3V</a></p>— PFF DAL Cowboys (@PFF_Cowboys) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF_Cowboys/status/1080895060873437184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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A torn ACL and MCL in his junior year at Notre Dame pushed now-Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith from a sure-fire first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft to a question mark, as uncertainty clouded his future as a pro. But when the Cowboys selected him in the second round, they kept faith that the All-American and Butkus Award winner would eventually return to form, and Smith may have done it even faster than anticipated, as his performance in 2018 has earned PFF’s award for Breakout Player of the Year.

After wrapping up the 2018 regular season with playoffs looming, Smith has developed into one of the league’s most dominant all-around inside linebackers in just his second year. Alongside rookie sensation Leighton Vander Esch, Smith’s pass-rush prowess as an inside linebacker was unparalleled.

Among off-ball linebackers with 50 or more pass-rush snaps, his 27.8 win percentage as a pass rusher ranked first, and his 22% pressure rate on those snaps was tied for eighth. While inside linebackers are generally expected to patrol the middle of the field in coverage and against the run, Smith’s well-rounded skill set proved to be an asset for the Cowboys’ defense as it helped provide a late push to win the NFC East.

Smith vastly improved his run defense from a season ago. When lined up in an off-ball linebacker position in 2017, he averaged first contact on runners only after they had gained nearly 2.6 yards. In 2018, he shrunk that number all the way down to just one yard before he made first contact, stifling opposing running backs before they had time to break away.

As a result, the Cowboys allowed just 44 runs of 10 or more yards, the sixth-fewest among defenses. Smith’s 74.3 run defense grade ranks in the top-20 of off-ball linebackers, and it’s a much-improved mark from his 53.5 grade a season ago.

Coverage is often a rough area for most linebackers. Most teams accept the fact that passes will be completed into their coverage, but it’s up to the player to stop those throws from gaining large chunks or touchdowns. Smith did just that in 2018 as one of six off-ball linebackers with 500 or more coverage snaps to allow one or fewer touchdowns in coverage.

He also surrendered just one completion targeted 20 or more yards downfield when he was the primary defender and is one of three off-ball linebackers with 95 targets in coverage over the past two seasons to have allowed one touchdown or less.

Maybe one of the more underrated aspects of Smith’s tremendous regular season is how reliable he was. He played 95% of possible snaps and missed just 48 snaps all season. Not to mention, he committed only one penalty on the year — he’s the quintessential inside linebacker as he showed by breaking out in 2018 when so many thought his knee injury would end his career before it started.

Now, Smith owns an 84.4 overall grade (7th) and has the Cowboys looking primed for January football. He’s a force as a pass-rusher, a dependable cover linebacker, and an improving run defender. He shined in college, overcame a significant injury to show glimpses in his rookie season, and finally broke out in 2018 as one of the NFL’s best at his position.

 

[ND88]

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[Domina Nostra]

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Thanks for posting. Kid is truly and inspiration.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I hope he gets himself a sick contract very soon.

Dude has earned every bit of it.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Jaylon is still rounding into form. I think he has another level he can hit but it's good to finally see him near the statistical top. Is his next contract after next year?

 

[rtrn2glory]

I believe free agency for him is next year but not sure what that entails with the new rookie requirements

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I believe free agency for him is next year but not sure what that entails with the new rookie requirements

Well I for one despise the Cowboys but obviously LOVE Jaylon like everybody else, so I hope by some miracle the 'Boys let him walk.

Not gonna happen. One can dream. He is gonna get paid one way or the other. So happy for him after what happened against OSU at the end of the '15 season.

 

[ND88]

Thanks for posting. Kid is truly and inspiration.

No problem. I saw this last night and had to share. He really is an inspiration. Although I am not a Cowboys fan, it is nice to see that he has found somewhere that seems to really embrace him. I think his brother plays for Dallas also, if I recall correctly. However, with his personality and passion for the game, it’s likely that every team would take him in like family.

 

[NorthDakota]

No problem. I saw this last night and had to share. He really is an inspiration. Although I am not a Cowboys fan, it is nice to see that he has found somewhere that seems to really embrace him. I think his brother plays for Dallas also, if I recall correctly. However, with his personality and passion for the game, it’s likely that every team would take him in like family.

I want him in Pittsburgh very badly.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I believe free agency for him is next year but not sure what that entails with the new rookie requirements

I read that Jaylon is actually going to be some really weird loophole where he won't be a free agent when his contract is up because he had to sit out his whole first year so the Cowboys actually get another year of control. I guess they have to agree to a deal for the year (or a longer term extension) or go to arbitration. But the main point is he likely will have to wait for another year to get his big money contract.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I would be absolutely shocked if he didn’t resign with Dallas. They will likely give him a fair deal and Jaylon will reward them for taking a chance on him, even if some other team will offer a little more money.

 

[Legacy]

Jaylon Smith - Notre Dame Man (Always) and Graduate 2019

Jaylon Smith - Notre Dame Man (Always) and Graduate 2019

Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith realizes a dream, then passes it on

Excerpt:

“Coach (Brian) Kelly knew I was going to make this a reality,” Smith said of his head coach from 2013-15 and a promise he made him and Smith’s parents. “The moment I entered the (2016) draft, we talked about it. It’s just a dream come true that it’s actually happening.”

Now he wants to pass that dream along to others.

On July 12 at Parkview Field in Smith’s hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind., Smith will stage a showcase for The Jaylon Smith Minority Entrepreneurship Institute. An invitation-only audience of 100 minority families will look on as five contestants compete for three opportunities to receive resources to fuel their ambitions and partner with Smith.

“It sounds like a Shark Tank type of deal, right?” Smith said. “The three winners will get three things — financial planning, mentorship and strategic planning. The people who will be in the audience, a lot of them will be young minorities who desire to be entrepreneurs, so for them to witness greatness by people who look like them, that’s the goal.”

Love thee.

 

[NDVirginia19]

Man, I can't wait to see Jaylon Smith win Walter Payton man of the year one day

 

[Prof K]

Can the title of the thread be changed to Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man and Graduate)?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

One of the all time ND greats. Such an easy guy to root for.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Jaylon is so inspiring to so many young people and serves as a pillar in the community. What an awesome person he is!!!!!!

 

[zelezo vlk]

Cowboys are extending Jaylon.

 

[Rizzophil]

Cowboys are extending Jaylon.

So happy for him. He’s such a good egg

Can’t wait to see the numbers

 

[nvirish]

He is one of my favorites and a great human being. So glad to see this! Congrats Jaylon!

 

[Luckylucci]

Awesome news! Hopefully he has a long/healthy career in Dallas.

 

[ACamp1900]

Can the title of the thread be changed to Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man and Graduate)?

Awesome news! Hopefully he has a long/healthy career in Dallas.

Let's get to it Mr. Mod....

 

[Irish#1]

Cowboys are extending Jaylon.

First smart thing Jerry's done in a while.

 

[Luckylucci]

That certainly seems reasonable.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Curse you Van Gorder.

 

[Legacy]

Congrats, Jaylon!

Current salary on rookie contract - $2 mill per year.

 

[BobbyMac]

I guess he won't be going to the Pats for a while.

I'd have let him wear #54 if he'd come to Chicago. Just sayin.

 

[Sea Turtle]

If you want to see something really special, watch the video of him getting the phone call from Jerry Jones letting him know that they have just drafted him. Chills.

https://youtu.be/Xk6Sz1Wj5vs