DALLAS, Texas — At the midpoint of the 2020 season sitting at a 2-7 record, the Dallas Cowboys certainly spent the bye week reflecting and evaluating. Given the team’s failure to meet expectations, it is natural to try and uncover attributing factors that have led to the lackluster season. A name that continues to be a topic of discussion is linebacker, Jaylon Smith.
Smith has been on the hot seat and focal point of criticism for much of the season in regards to his production on the field. Being a player on America’s Team comes with added scrutiny but tack on his leadership role on the defense and his lofty $68 million contract extension in August of 2019, and it stands to reason why the fourth-year player is constantly analyzed.
Former Cowboys’ linebacker and quality control coach, Dat Nguyen, remarked to D210SPORTS on the regression narrative that seems to be synonymous with Jaylon Smith in 2020.
“It is easy to find the negatives- the missed tackles. I think he is a great football player. He is phenomenal. I wish I were even half as good as he is. You have one of those years; you are always going to have those years that bring you back or years that you are not good. You look at yourself and you say, ‘ok hey, I didn’t play that good this year. Guess what? I’ll work harder the next year.’ That’s all anybody can do.”
It has been an up and down year for Smith as tape reveals. At times, he has struggled with gap integrity and poor tackling. Against the Steelers, the 2019 Pro Bowler had two, although questionable, costly penalties that favored Pittsburgh and helped shift the momentum/outcome of the ballgame.
However, he places the weight of the team on his shoulders. Smith has been the constant variable in the middle of the defense, racking up a team-high 89 tackles that currently places him at second-best in the league.
On top of adjusting to a new scheme under Mike Nolan, Smith has shifted between MIKE (middle) and WILL (weak side) to accommodate injuries. The person next to Smith has been ever-changing. Sean Lee began the season on injured reserve with a sports hernia injury and returned in week eight against the Eagles, only playing four snaps. Leighton Vander Esch fractured his collarbone in week one and was placed on IR. He was sidelined until being cleared to return for the Cardinals matchup in week six. Both Lee and Vander Esch have been acclimated and worked back into the rotation that previously consisted of Smith and Joe Thomas in nickel packages. It is hard to find chemistry with an inconsistent linebacker corps. taking the field. If one player takes a risk and goes to make a play, his teammate can then cover him and fill the gap; That trust is built by communication, which is a difficult challenge to achieve with a different group of guys every week.
It has not been smooth sailing but Smith rarely leaves the field, which is a testament to the coaching staff’s faith in his ability, evidenced by the workload.
“ Very few linebackers in the National Football League can play all three downs like he does, “ Dat Nguyen elaborated to D210.” I think that is why he is so special. “
Regardless of all the chatter outside the building on Smith, the commentary from inside the building is what truly counts. He clearly has the support from the front office, which gave him a rave review. Not only did owner and general manger Jerry Jones give Smith high-praise, he also described the schematic challenges up front that have led to some of the hiccups in the transition, affecting the linebackers early on in the season.
“ He’s one of our cornerstones and he’ll get better and better and better, “ Jerry Jones remarked on his weekly show on 105.3 The Fan. “ Remember those guys have to sit there as we two-gap those interior down lineman and they’re deciding which way they’re going to go rather than just go one way quickly in one-gap. Then, that linebacker has to read which way he goes and go the other way for the most part. That takes a little time. It’s what you’re seeing get used to. It will get better.”
Over the last several weeks, the defense has made significant strides and the fruit of the defense’s labor, so to speak, has epitomized on the gridiron. The run defense has improved and the unit has been able to force turnovers. Players are fitting and growing accustomed to the new scheme, forming what actually looks like a cohesive unit.
At the core of the squad is No.54. Smith will definitely be someone to watch throughout the second half of the season.
