Cowboys nation we knew it all along. This team went out there, played the best game of the season, and beat the best team in the league. Even if you didn't know it, you knew it! Don't let these OUTSIDERS remind us of all the bad things we said about this team. How we wanted Jason Garrett fired. That we were upset that they possibly traded a top 10 pick for Amari Cooper. Don’t give outsiders the satisfaction of seeing the belief in your favorite team finally return after 12 weeks. More importantly, remember you’re not alone. Most of us (me too) were so upset with this team that we lost hope. This team has restored that hope, and I saw something in that Saints game that has me all kinds of Giddy!
The Dallas Cowboys have one of the most athletic defenses in all of football. No, athleticism isn’t all about how fast you run. Although they have some guys that can fly. Athleticism is all about using the physical talents that you do poses to benefit the scheme. That means if you’re fast, you’re able to use that speed to be in the right place and to aid in recovery defense. If you’re strong, than you can disrupt plays and help the other people on the team by taking on blockers.
Case in point, Tyrone Crawford. He has been in the NFL in for 7 seasons, all of them with the Cowboys. I’m a huge Crawford fan, but some people would love to know why he is on this team. It’s because he is the perfect glue guy for this defense. Think Michael Bennett for the Seahawks all them years. Bennett didn’t post godly numbers, or always make impactful plays. He did provide them with depth and positional flexibility. On top of that Bennett was good for a few impactful plays himself.
Crawford is the same way. He provides depth and positional flexibility . When this defense is at full strength (when Irving returns) Crawford will be a rotational player. Think about that for a min. Someone of Crawford talents will be playing in a rotational position for this defense. The point I’m making is that great defense needs guys like Crawford so that the stars on the unit can shine bright. Think of Crawford as the sixth man of the year, in the NBA.
Back to those bright shining stars! I don’t really know how to put this. So it’s best that I just come out with it. Watching Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esche play, is like watching Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis on the same team. These two guys are that good, that instinctive, and that impactful. No, I’m not saying they’re future hall of famers, yet! What I’m saying is that they make watching this team fun.
Leighton Vander Esche can really move. He is rarely out of position. That man is a tackling machine and plays sideline to sideline. The best thing about him is that he plays excellent in space. In today’s NFL you have to be able to tackle these wide receivers and running backs in the open field. So many plays revolve around getting the ball out the quarterback's hands and into the hands of a playmaker. Vander Esche has shown that he can stick with anyone out in the flats and across the middle. LVE has a ways to go before I can say his play resemble Urlacher, but he is well on his way.
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| (Brain Urlacher on the Left, Leighton Vander Esche on the right) |
As for Jaylon Smith. I know that Ray Lewis is arguably one of the best defensive players to lace up cleats. Comparing Jaylon Smith to Ray Lewis is a little insane. Well I’m going there. Go back, watch some old Miami Hurricanes and Raven games when Ray was young. You’re going to see those same ripped arms running around that you see with Jaylon Smith. Those same eraser type plays, where he closes a distance that know one expected him to close. Jaylon doesn’t have that mental aspect of the game yet, but that’s because he hasn’t seen as much football as Lewis.
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| (Ray Lewis last year in college on the Left, Jaylon Smith Last year in college on the right) |
Think about what I’m saying Cowboys Nation. Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis were the best two linebacker in football over about a 6 year period. I would say from about 2001-2007 these two linebackers alternated the #1 spot. The Cowboys may have them on the same team. The similarities between these four men is crazy.
Brian Urlacher stood 6’4 258 lbs. LVE stands 6’4 256 lbs. Ray Lewis stood 6’1 245. Jaylon Smith stands 6’2 245 lbs. Brian Urlacher ran a 4.57 sec 40 yard dash, had a 34” vertical, and benched 225 lbs 27 times. LVE ran a 4.65 40 yard dash, had a 39.5” vertical, and benched 225 lbs 20 times. Neither Ray Lewis or Jaylon Smith performed at the combine. Jaylon due to injury and I’m not sure why Ray didn’t. The similarities in statue are enough for this comparison. Jaylon Smith has proven to be every bit the athlete Ray Lewis was. It will remain to be seen if he can prove to be the playmaker, leader, and force on defense that Ray Lewis was. I will say this, if these two continue to play together, this defense will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest.
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