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Cowboys Jaylon Smith 1-On-1: 'Dropfoot Fading & Power Improving'
Exclusive: Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Jaylon Smith Tells CowboysHQ.com, 'The Dropfoot Is Fading, I Have More Power And More Flexibility'
Mike Fisher - Feb 1, 7:06 AM 1
Jaylon Smith's story -- which I've often termed a "medical and spiritual miracle'' -- is taking a big left-footed step forward.
"I have more power and more flexibility now,'' Smith tells me. "And the dropfoot (issue) is fading. Absolutely!''
Smith, the Dallas Cowboys' 2016 second-round pick even after sustaining injuries to his anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee and overcoming damage to the peroneal nerve in his final game at Notre Dame, just completely a relatively successful and full season for Dallas. He played all 16 games and finished with 99 tackles (second only to Sean Lee) and one sack, three tackles for loss, four quarterback pressures, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
It was, by almost any measure, a "success'' for Smith to be an at-least "average'' NFL starter. But remember he did all that after a year away from the field, on a surgically repaired knee, while wearing a brace on his left foot and ankle to overcome the dropfoot that, a year before, prevented him from being able to lift up his own toes. He needed two hands to put on a sock: One to hold the sock, the other to guide his foot into it.
And now?
“I'm back!'' Smith says. "Blessings!''
As our colleague Bryan Broaddus has previously noted, it does seem that some of the testing is behind him, that the nerve is regenerating, that the repaired knee is stronger than ever and that more improvement is ahead of him. Smith's 6-2, 245-pound body is about as sculpted as is imaginable. His mind is sculpted, too, the result of his faith and his intellect and his personality and more. He suggests now that more improvement is inevitable, and that includes the medical improvement that is now, to him, simply "a matter of timing.''
There is also improvement from just having gotten those snaps -- not all of them exactly part of the initial plan. The injury to Anthony Hitchens forced Jaylon into the lineup from Week 1.
Said coach Jason Garrett: "He’s one of those guys who learns from those experiences. You see it in him. ... You have different experiences, some good and some not so good. If you approach it the right way and you learn from it, you’ll get better. He’s certainly done that.”
Smith may become an institution at middle linebacker next to Sean Lee. Or maybe he's better-suited at strong-side; some of that depends what happens with free agent middle linebacker Hitchens. said Smith. He is already "legendary'' in one sense, as Smith was voted by teammates as the Ed Block Courage Award winner, awarded to NFL players who have overcome injuries and adversity.
“It’s a great feeling to know I'm able to contribute at a high level for 'America’s Team,' Smith says, repeating his personal mantra. "With a clear-eyed view, there are great things to come.''
_______________________________________________________
Hard to believe the nerve is still healing. But if so, I'd love to see him play without the brace. If he can do that, he might end up with the player we gave up a high 2nd for.
Exclusive: Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Jaylon Smith Tells CowboysHQ.com, 'The Dropfoot Is Fading, I Have More Power And More Flexibility'
Mike Fisher - Feb 1, 7:06 AM 1
Jaylon Smith's story -- which I've often termed a "medical and spiritual miracle'' -- is taking a big left-footed step forward.
"I have more power and more flexibility now,'' Smith tells me. "And the dropfoot (issue) is fading. Absolutely!''
Smith, the Dallas Cowboys' 2016 second-round pick even after sustaining injuries to his anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee and overcoming damage to the peroneal nerve in his final game at Notre Dame, just completely a relatively successful and full season for Dallas. He played all 16 games and finished with 99 tackles (second only to Sean Lee) and one sack, three tackles for loss, four quarterback pressures, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
It was, by almost any measure, a "success'' for Smith to be an at-least "average'' NFL starter. But remember he did all that after a year away from the field, on a surgically repaired knee, while wearing a brace on his left foot and ankle to overcome the dropfoot that, a year before, prevented him from being able to lift up his own toes. He needed two hands to put on a sock: One to hold the sock, the other to guide his foot into it.
And now?
“I'm back!'' Smith says. "Blessings!''
As our colleague Bryan Broaddus has previously noted, it does seem that some of the testing is behind him, that the nerve is regenerating, that the repaired knee is stronger than ever and that more improvement is ahead of him. Smith's 6-2, 245-pound body is about as sculpted as is imaginable. His mind is sculpted, too, the result of his faith and his intellect and his personality and more. He suggests now that more improvement is inevitable, and that includes the medical improvement that is now, to him, simply "a matter of timing.''
There is also improvement from just having gotten those snaps -- not all of them exactly part of the initial plan. The injury to Anthony Hitchens forced Jaylon into the lineup from Week 1.
Said coach Jason Garrett: "He’s one of those guys who learns from those experiences. You see it in him. ... You have different experiences, some good and some not so good. If you approach it the right way and you learn from it, you’ll get better. He’s certainly done that.”
Smith may become an institution at middle linebacker next to Sean Lee. Or maybe he's better-suited at strong-side; some of that depends what happens with free agent middle linebacker Hitchens. said Smith. He is already "legendary'' in one sense, as Smith was voted by teammates as the Ed Block Courage Award winner, awarded to NFL players who have overcome injuries and adversity.
“It’s a great feeling to know I'm able to contribute at a high level for 'America’s Team,' Smith says, repeating his personal mantra. "With a clear-eyed view, there are great things to come.''
_______________________________________________________
Hard to believe the nerve is still healing. But if so, I'd love to see him play without the brace. If he can do that, he might end up with the player we gave up a high 2nd for.