Dallas Cowboys: Jaylon Smith looking at an expanded role in the defense

In his third NFL season, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is looking to earn himself an expanded role on this defensive unit.

The Dallas Cowboys held their first padded practice of training camp on Saturday. Most players can’t wait to put on full pads and show what they can do. Once the session began, there were strong showings from their expected starters. It’s a list third-year linebacker Jaylon Smith is quickly playing his way onto.

It’s feel-good stories like Smith’s that prove the Cowboys are smart in their roster building, more than most give them credit for. The 2016 second round draft pick did what few thought could ever happen last season, playing in 16 games for Dallas after suffering a devastating knee injury in college.

The great Bryan Broaddus of DallasCowboys.com often says that if a team feels good about their depth at a position, it’s wise to add one more quality player there. The Cowboys did just that and then some in this year’s draft, backing up both Smith and Sean Lee with the 19th overall pick in Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch and the 193rd overall pick, Chris Covington, out of Indiana.

Through just a handful of practices though, Smith is giving the Cowboys a diminishing list of reasons for the Notre Dame product to come off the field. We’ve heard tirelessly about Smith’s quest to return to his college form, and now he’s ahead of schedule.

The Cowboys coaching staff being impressed by Smith’s progress in year two was massively important. This was the team willing to give Smith a chance with the 34th overall pick, conceding a “red shirt” season in Dallas for the healthy player they expected to get by 2017.

In its simplest form, the Cowboys defense, coordinated by Rod Marinelli, is built to “bend but not break” in support of a ball control offense. Having the range that both Lee and Smith provide on the second level is imperative.

Of course, winning in the trenches is even more important, and Smith is preparing to help the Cowboys bolster an already deep and talented front four. Flashing as a gap-shooting blitzer towards the end of last season, more opportunities for Jaylon to chase opposing quarterbacks are on the way.

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Part of this expanded role for Smith is credited to Passing Game Coordinator Kris Richard‘s arrival. Although his specialty will come in the secondary, coordinating the Cowboys back seven against the pass still involves linebackers.

Look no further than Vander Esch to see how much the Cowboys value pure athleticism and range at this position now. A fully healthy, confident Jaylon Smith is elite in both areas.

As training camp progresses, the Cowboys will have what resembles a starting lineup for their rotating defense on the field. Not only has Smith already earned a spot here, but the number of looks the team can jump into with Jaylon matching up all across the field is a true testament to their vision for him.

It may have been a blurred vision at first, given the complete unknown that was Jaylon Smith’s future entering the draft, but now the Dallas Cowboys are clearly ecstatic to share in Smith’s clear eye view for a dominant defense in 2018.