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Jaylon Smith's progress a key to Dallas' plans at linebacker
By Brandon George , Staff Writer Contact Brandon George on Twitter: @DMN_George
The Cowboys don't know what they can expect next season from middle linebacker Jaylon Smith. Really, no one knows for sure.
Smith missed his entire rookie season with the Cowboys recovering from a serious knee injury that included nerve damage. Smith was hurt in his final game at Notre Dame, derailing his chances of being a top-10 pick.
The Cowboys drafted Smith in the second round a year ago, hoping he would return to form by 2017. Smith's nerve has started to regenerate, but it's not 100 percent and may never be.
Smith is still wearing a brace to help with his drop-foot condition and probably will have to play with the brace next season.
The uncertainty surrounding Smith puts the Cowboys in a tough situation heading into free agency. Do the Cowboys move forward as if Smith will start at middle linebacker for them in 2017 or plan for the worst?
"Seems like he's made a lot of progress," coach Jason Garrett said of Smith this week from the combine in Indianapolis. "We anticipate him being in the offseason program and really doing everything from the outset. I know everyone is confident about the progress he's made, and we anticipate him being part of the offseason program from the get-go."
What's for sure is the Cowboys' linebacker corps in 2017 will follow the lead again of weak-side starter Sean Lee.
Lee didn't miss a game because of injury for the first time in his career last season, registering a team-leading and career-high 174 tackles en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
The Cowboys had hoped Rolando McClain would start at middle linebacker alongside Lee last season. But McClain never played in a game because of a suspension and drug issues.
Anthony Hitchens stepped up in McClain's absence and gave the Cowboys a solid replacement. Hitchens started every game and finished third on the team with a career-high 104 tackles.
By Brandon George , Staff Writer Contact Brandon George on Twitter: @DMN_George
The Cowboys don't know what they can expect next season from middle linebacker Jaylon Smith. Really, no one knows for sure.
Smith missed his entire rookie season with the Cowboys recovering from a serious knee injury that included nerve damage. Smith was hurt in his final game at Notre Dame, derailing his chances of being a top-10 pick.
The Cowboys drafted Smith in the second round a year ago, hoping he would return to form by 2017. Smith's nerve has started to regenerate, but it's not 100 percent and may never be.
Smith is still wearing a brace to help with his drop-foot condition and probably will have to play with the brace next season.
The uncertainty surrounding Smith puts the Cowboys in a tough situation heading into free agency. Do the Cowboys move forward as if Smith will start at middle linebacker for them in 2017 or plan for the worst?
"Seems like he's made a lot of progress," coach Jason Garrett said of Smith this week from the combine in Indianapolis. "We anticipate him being in the offseason program and really doing everything from the outset. I know everyone is confident about the progress he's made, and we anticipate him being part of the offseason program from the get-go."
What's for sure is the Cowboys' linebacker corps in 2017 will follow the lead again of weak-side starter Sean Lee.
Lee didn't miss a game because of injury for the first time in his career last season, registering a team-leading and career-high 174 tackles en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
The Cowboys had hoped Rolando McClain would start at middle linebacker alongside Lee last season. But McClain never played in a game because of a suspension and drug issues.
Anthony Hitchens stepped up in McClain's absence and gave the Cowboys a solid replacement. Hitchens started every game and finished third on the team with a career-high 104 tackles.
TheZoneSucks
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I said it at the time this dumbass move was made: "with the 34th pick in the draft, the Cowboys... pass?!?!?".
Bob Sacamano
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ADMIN NOTE: Only one thread is needed on this cripple. Thx.
lol
lol
NoMoRedJ
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Thankfully there is no need to waste another pick on the guy.
We should just trade our 2nd pick every year for something of value. That way we at least get something rather than pissing it away every year.
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First off, it wasn't a warning and couldn't reasonably be called any such. It's just a statement. Secondly, we can bitch and moan about a #34 pick wasted, but does it really require four or more fucking threads? Hasn't enough been wasted on this gimp? Now we gotta have a new thread every time he farts?
theoneandonly
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He won't make it out of the 3rd round.
English Cowboy
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After the shit the Cowboys got from the media for signing Hardy? No thanks. Teams like the Chiefs can get away with having guys like Tyreek Hill because it's Kansas, and the media don't care about Kansas. When it's "America's Team" everything is blown out of proportion. It would be a distraction the team doesn't need. Besides, there are plenty of decent backs in this upcoming draft. Just pick one without any baggage.
Why is this in the Jaylon Smith thread anyways?
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yimyammer
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Oh I'm sorry were they detracting from the stickied despite zero new posts ever Jerry Jones Deathwatch Thread?
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Because we all know they like to gamble with their 2nd round picks. Their last 2nd round gamble was obviously Jaylon. Jerry can't resist the falling player. So Mixon might be their next 2nd round gamble.
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NYDN:
DON'T SLEEP ON THE COWBOYS' 'OTHER' BIG-TIME 2016 DRAFT PICK
QB Dak Prescott (2016 fourth-round pick), RB Zeke Elliott (2016 first-round pick), free agency and the draft are the hottest topics in discussions about how the reigning NFC East champion Cowboys will protect their crown and maybe make a Super Bowl run. But don't forget about Jaylon Smith, the Notre Dame linebacker who missed his rookie season after tearing up his left knee in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State last year. I ran into Smith at the Combine, and Dallas' 2016 second-round pick is in great spirits, excited about his rehab and ability to just practice, let alone get back into game action. Trust me when I say this: If Smith and Sean Lee are both healthy next season, the Giants will not beat Dallas twice, as Big Blue did in 2016. Smith is a game-changer. Teams won't have an answer for him. He's that good.
DON'T SLEEP ON THE COWBOYS' 'OTHER' BIG-TIME 2016 DRAFT PICK
QB Dak Prescott (2016 fourth-round pick), RB Zeke Elliott (2016 first-round pick), free agency and the draft are the hottest topics in discussions about how the reigning NFC East champion Cowboys will protect their crown and maybe make a Super Bowl run. But don't forget about Jaylon Smith, the Notre Dame linebacker who missed his rookie season after tearing up his left knee in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State last year. I ran into Smith at the Combine, and Dallas' 2016 second-round pick is in great spirits, excited about his rehab and ability to just practice, let alone get back into game action. Trust me when I say this: If Smith and Sean Lee are both healthy next season, the Giants will not beat Dallas twice, as Big Blue did in 2016. Smith is a game-changer. Teams won't have an answer for him. He's that good.
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Umm.... No, pissant. It's instead, exactly what I said. We don't need a new thread, every time this fucking gimp takes a piss. This ain't rocket science, asshole.
