dbair1967

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Rod Marinelli on Jaylon Smith's debut: 'Oh boy'

By Kevin Patra
Around the NFL writer
Published: Aug. 24, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2017 at 11:37 a.m.

Jaylon Smith finally made it on to the field last weekend, logging 12 snaps and one tackle in a win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli raved about the linebacker's first action.

"Oh boy. Good instincts. Speed," Marinelli said, via the Dallas Morning News "Man, that was a heck of a play he made on that tackle. You could see his speed. He's got natural instincts with leverage. And he's just so hungry. The energy. He took another step."

As for playing time on Saturday against the Raiders, head coach Jason Garrett said Smith will play at least as much as he did in last week's tilt.

Smith has impressed coaches after missing all last season while rehabbing from a major knee injury that led to nerve damage. Marinelli's praise of the 22-year-old linebacker is notable because unlike some in the Cowboys organization, the DC has been restrained this summer regarding his expectations of Smith.

Dallas is still likely to keep it slow with Smith as we ease into the regular season, but his first preseason tackle displayed exactly what the Cowboys were hoping to get when they made him a second-round selection in 2016.

Smith starts in the A-gap on the third-and-9 play, retreats into his zone, reads the underneath throw and immediately breaks on the play for the tackle. On the tackle, he showed speed, vision, mental acumen and tackling ability. The Cowboys' defense would be massively upgraded if Smith can grow into a full-time role.

It's just one step, but it was a big one for Smith. The Cowboys hope more "oh boy" moments from the linebacker come when the regular season kicks off.
 

dbair1967

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3 tackles last night including a TFL, but as I mentioned in my game review I still am not sure he is ready to play every down or rely on as "the" starter there at MLB. I also wonder how they use him on game days if he is not the starter. I think normally you want your backup LB's playing on special teams, and I think the team has already said he WONT be doing any of that this year.
 

Doomsday

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3 tackles last night including a TFL, but as I mentioned in my game review I still am not sure he is ready to play every down or rely on as "the" starter there at MLB. I also wonder how they use him on game days if he is not the starter. I think normally you want your backup LB's playing on special teams, and I think the team has already said he WONT be doing any of that this year.
I think they do need to eliminate random chance as much as possible with him, at least this year. So no ST work for him is fine with me. Dunno why it appears he is backing up Lee at MLB? Why wouldn't you have them both on the field at the same time? Lee at MLB is just a injury certainty, history shows.
 

JPP1974

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It is about injury. And that you can't always play every down. As but so far, liked what I see of him.
 

dbair1967

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I think they do need to eliminate random chance as much as possible with him, at least this year. So no ST work for him is fine with me. Dunno why it appears he is backing up Lee at MLB? Why wouldn't you have them both on the field at the same time? Lee at MLB is just a injury certainty, history shows.

Kinds sounds like Justin Durant will be the MLB
 

Doomsday

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Lo and behold.... Two games into the season, and The Gimp leads the team in tackles!

Dunno what it means though.
 

theoneandonly

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Lo and behold.... Two games into the season, and The Gimp leads the team in tackles!

Dunno what it means though.

It means he is racking up empty stats and making little impact on one leg. Tackles 10 yards down field, etc. Forget the debacle on Sunday, after watching Eli shit the bed last night, I wouldnt read anything into anyone's performance against the Vagiants. That game will likely be the high water mark for this defense this year.
 

Bob Sacamano

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Yup, Jaylon is still a gimp. Can hardly change direction. Oh well, I didn't put much hope in him anyways. Pray Hitchens gets 100% healthy and soon.
 

Doomsday

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Yup, Jaylon is still a gimp. Can hardly change direction. Oh well, I didn't put much hope in him anyways. Pray Hitchens gets 100% healthy and soon.
Looks like a fucking crab, pre-snap and then really doesn't do much of anything except run in the general direction of the play.
 

yimyammer

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Looks like a fucking crab, pre-snap and then really doesn't do much of anything except run in the general direction of the play.

I think there's a decent chance jeri is mandating to the coaches to keep his ass on the field regardless
 

Bob Sacamano

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We're playing Jaylon because our LB group has next to no talent on it. Moreso than it being a PR stunt.
 

dbair1967

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Yup, Jaylon is still a gimp. Can hardly change direction. Oh well, I didn't put much hope in him anyways. Pray Hitchens gets 100% healthy and soon.

Sounds like Hitchens is going to play Sunday, although unfortunately Lee might be out again.

Hitchens was having a really strong camp and preseason, it's unfortunate he got hurt and had to miss all this time.
 

dbair1967

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We're playing Jaylon because our LB group has next to no talent on it. Moreso than it being a PR stunt.

I was really hopeful Damian Wilson would have a nice year, he was pretty good most of last yr the more playing time he got. But he hasn't looked very good this year to me either.

Lee is a good player and getting Hitchens back will help, but the LB spot might end up being a decent priority next yr in free agency and/or draft. As much of a feel good story Jaylon Smith is, he doesn't look like he should be on the field right now. Maybe that will change as the year goes on or he gets another year of rehab work in, but right now the decision to draft him is looking really bad.
 
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