In Season for Youth, Cowboys Must Make Tough Choice on Jaylon Smith

The Dallas Cowboys are in the position they http://www.divasta.com/eddie-lacy-jersey-c-1_52.html are on defense, losing consecutive games by allowing a combined 70 points to the Rams and Packers at home, for a ton of reasons. If Aaron Rodgers is still in your nightmares this morning, the horrifying image of Davante Adams stretching over Jourdan Lewis to win the game is probably at the forefront of your blame on Dallas’ young defense. In a season that was going to be all about the youth Rod Marinelli has on his side of the ball though, an unexpected hindering force has been 2016 second round pick Jaylon Smith.
An amazing story of perseverance and medical achievement, Jaylon Smith isn’t just not helping the Cowboys at MIKE linebacker right now – he is hurting this defense with the amount of snaps he’s seeing despite ineffectiveness against the run and pass.
The reason the Cowboys lack any depth on defense is largely due to the risks they’ve taken in the draft to quickly fix weaknesses at all three levels here. The Jaylon Smith pick itself remains a risk that’s yet to pay off, as he is unfortunately a fraction of the player he was at Notre Dame.
When Smith starred for the Fighting Irish, scouts everywhere could watch his tape and agree on the 6’2?, 233-pound beast’s status as a top-10 prospect. This was thanks to his constant presence defending the run from sideline to sideline, dropping well against the pass, and pressuring the quarterback from the edge.
With a needed bye week prior to their week seven game at the 49ers, the Cowboys should be in position to make the right decision and start a healthy Sean Lee alongside Anthony Hitchens moving forward. Appearing in his first game of the season on Sunday, Hitchens saw 50 snaps while Jaylon played just 33.
If grading each and every play in which this Cowboys defense lined up against Aaron Rodgers, CB Jourdan Lewis and the likes of his teammates http://www.aescranna.com/frank-clark-jersey-c-1_35.html in the secondary, such as safeties Xavier Woods, Byron Jones, and Chidobe Awuzie; actually inspire hope that this unit could come together sooner rather than later.
When objectively watching Jaylon Smith, with the liability he’s created on nearly every down by failing to play through contact and hold the point of attack, the Cowboys are seeing a player that is costing them yards – and games.
Lack of continuity at the linebacker position does nothing to support an already weak defensive line in Dallas, as the strength of this front four is being lessened by these LBs. Especially with David Irving back in the mix, the Cowboys’ interior push at DT and overall ability to play the run up front should be their strength in the front seven.
In Season For Youth, Cowboys Must Make Tough Decision On Jaylon Smith