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

[GowerND11]

Started his first NFL game tonight... just had a bone crunching hit for a forced fumble but the refs blew the call.

Put the forearm right on the ball. Shame they blew it dead.

 

[Shamrock Theories]

Playing tonight in the same stadium where the injury took place, alongside his brother. All around cool as shit.

A quote from BK is included: "When we talk about this young man, unique's not even the right word," Kelly said. "He's got incredible grit. He loves life, and he loves the challenges of it."

NFL - Cowboys' Jaylon Smith remains upbeat, unfazed by return to scene of severe knee injury

 

[HoustonNDFan]

I was actually just coming here to post that. Great article and a cool story about the fan.

 

[ulukinatme]

Man, what a special person. We were lucky to have him when we did. That article is awesome.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Notre Dame Man

Great story. Great article. Great person.

I'm a huge Jaylon fan. Even as a Bears fan, I'd gladly rep that 54 jersey.

 

[irishfan]

He still looks so goofy out there running, I can't wait until his nerve is fully back. You can tell he struggles moving laterally and even seems like he has issues slowing down when the play ends. The straight-line speed is elite still which is great, he's gonna be a beast once that nerve is good to go.

 

[OchoShayneO]

Honest Question...Is that nerve ever going to be good to go? I agree he doesn't look great moving around out there.

 

[IrishLax]

Honest Question...Is that nerve ever going to be good to go? I agree he doesn't look great moving around out there.

They anticipate that there will be significantly more regeneration by the end of the season, and that next year he'll be close to "100%". How they project that, I don't really know.

 

[Irish#1]

Honest Question...Is that nerve ever going to be good to go? I agree he doesn't look great moving around out there.

They anticipate that there will be significantly more regeneration by the end of the season, and that next year he'll be close to "100%". How they project that, I don't really know.

Having went through surgery where nerves had to be cut and reattached, it's hard to explain. It just takes time and the process is so slow that you don't really notice the change taking place. For me it was like one day it hit me that I've got feeling in those nerves.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Top five inspiring LBs of all time?

"Jaylon, Jaylon, Jaylon, Jaylon and Jaylon!"

 

[Cackalacky]

Having went through surgery where nerves had to be cut and reattached, it's hard to explain. It just takes time and the process is so slow that you don't really notice the change taking place. For me it was like one day it hit me that I've got feeling in those nerves.

Right. I was told by my doctor that nerves do regenerate but at about 1" per month roughly. New connections have to be made by the brain and muscles. I was told this after a severe Chafeurs Break to my radius bone after falling through a roof. It took about 6 months for my hand and finger nerves to fully recover including gripping strength and flexing strength even with 4 months of rehab and that was just for nevers near my wrist. I cant imagine the time for Jayoln's lower leg to heal fully.

 

[koonja]

Is he a future MLB in the NFL or is that just based on the Cowboy's personnel? I kind of think he'd be better at OLB. I don't think he's a plug the middle thumper in the NFL, but more of a 'nothing gets outside of me' OLB in the league.

Wondering if the Cowboy fans on here have an idea of where the organization is going with him?

 

[Irish#1]

Food for thought............Imagine while at ND if Jaylon's DC would have been Elko?!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Food for thought............Imagine while at ND if Jaylon's DC would have been Elko?!

Get your witch thoughts out of here.

 

[NDRock]

Food for thought............Imagine while at ND if Jaylon's DC would have been Elko?!

Elko with the 2015 D and we defiantly don't lose the Stanford game and we probably make the playoffs. The only person who would have wanted BVG over Elko is Joe Schmidt.

 

[jspags10pg]

Food for thought............Imagine while at ND if Jaylon's DC would have been Elko?!

I always think about that. Or really just if Jaylon had a competent DC while at ND, let alone Elko. Jaylon was special on his own...I couldn't imagine if he and his teammates were coached and positioned properly what he could have been while here. Glad we don't have to wonder about the "what-ifs" now tho.

 

[woolybug25]

Honest Question...Is that nerve ever going to be good to go? I agree he doesn't look great moving around out there.

Looks good enough to be second on the team in tackles, (one tackle behind) on a team that has Sean Lee on it no less.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Elko with the 2015 D and we defiantly don't lose the Stanford game and we probably make the playoffs. The only person who would have wanted BVG over Elko is Joe Schmidt.

Whose to say they don't lose to Clemson?

 

[snoopdog]

Jaylon struggling a bit in the nfl. Seems a beat slow

 

[woolybug25]

Jaylon struggling a bit in the nfl. Seems a beat slow

He’s had two slow games, what are you talking about? He leads the team (a team with Sean Hill on it) in combined tackles.

 

[zelezo vlk]

He’s had two slow games, what are you talking about? He leads the team (a team with Sean Hill on it) in combined tackles.

To be fair, Sean Lee has been out the last two weeks.

 

[STLDomer]

Jaylon struggling a bit in the nfl. Seems a beat slow

Tied for 11th in the NFL in tackles.

Aaron Rodgers spreading out and dicing up the Cowboys doesn’t exactly make Jaylon slow. Makes him normal lol.

EDIT: He doesn’t look like he did at ND. But I would attribute that to NFL being faster, not Jaylon being slow. If that makes sense.

 

[Ndsoccerguy]

I watched Jaylon yesterday. I think we are seeing him adjust to the much faster speed of play in the NFL along with the "rustiness" of not having played for a year. He seems to be thinking and making decisions about what to do more slowly than virtually all of the other linebackers on the Cowboys. He just needs time. Big adjustment after not having played for a year.

 

[NDohio]

He does look just a tad bit slower than normal Jaylon Smith speed. That still makes him pretty darn fast though.

 

[NDdomer2]

commentators straight up said his last game wasnt his best.

he does look like a one man LB'ing corps right now.

 

[dublinirish]

he's been a liability in coverage, wasn't even on the field for the packers winning drive.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm withholding judgement for a year and I think the Cowboys will too. Hopefully the nerve continues to regenerate because he doesn't look as agile/laterally quick but he'll give them everything he has.

I just hope it's a combination of him still learning to play post injury/nerve still healing/coming up to speed in the NFL.

 

[Luckylucci]

I do think he's a bit tentative, but not slow. I think he's still getting "it" back. Going to take some time from such a terrible injury.

 

[NDohio]

commentators straight up said his last game wasnt his best.

he does look like a one man LB'ing corps right now.

I hope the Cowboys aren't putting too much on him while he is still in recovery mode. He is playing a lot of snaps and being asked to be the anchor of the LB's. That wasn't the plan for this season.

 

[woolybug25]

The reality is that he is balling from a statistical perspective. Tied for 11th in the league in tackles, leading his own team for combined tackles and this is all immediately after returning from a devastating injury. People need to cool their jets, 6 months ago it was questionable of whether he would ever play again. He's doing just fine. Quit it.

One thing I wish they would do is play him as an OLB though. Their pass rush has been hot garbage this season and he could help there. He's doing his job well at Mike, but I don't feel like it's his natural position.