Jaylon and what could be.

[88ND]

I only watched some of spring practices and such so I'm not sure where he is playing for 2015.
Getting this right is absolutely crucial. Crucial for our defense and crucial for Jaylon getting a high pick should be choose to enter said draft.

He is an outside linebacker folks. Period.

He could be a high first round pick playing on the edge to someone drafted in the middle rounds if he continues to play inside.
Schmidt and #5 are inside material. #5 being horrible at fundamentals but he isn't afraid to bang heads...something needed from the ILB. Jaylon is shy when it comes to that. It takes a special breed to play inside backer properly.

But what Jaylon could be incredibly amazing at is playing on the edge. Better yet let him be a rover type. Give him some freedom to create havoc. But that will Not come from him playing inside.
Hopefully that inside experiment is long gone and we can see just how disruptive #9 can really be.

 

[Irish Duck]

This is the first I've heard (or read) about Morgan having horrible fundamentals. I know that he was a true freshman last year and was trying to learn, on the fly, a complex defense. Not having been a football coach, I can't really agree or disagree with that assessment. As to Jaylon, I do agree. He is likely to be the best football player many of these coaches will ever have coached. I hope to dominates.

 

[echowaker]

I only watched some of spring practices and such so I'm not sure where he is playing for 2015.
Getting this right is absolutely crucial. Crucial for our defense and crucial for Jaylon getting a high pick should be choose to enter said draft.

He is an outside linebacker folks. Period.

He could be a high first round pick playing on the edge to someone drafted in the middle rounds if he continues to play inside.
Schmidt and #5 are inside material. #5 being horrible at fundamentals but he isn't afraid to bang heads...something needed from the ILB. Jaylon is shy when it comes to that. It takes a special breed to play inside backer properly.

But what Jaylon could be incredibly amazing at is playing on the edge. Better yet let him be a rover type. Give him some freedom to create havoc. But that will Not come from him playing inside.
Hopefully that inside experiment is long gone and we can see just how disruptive #9 can really be.

I disagree. he can be dominant at both spots.

 

[die4irish]

LT part 2

 

[BGI User 348]

I agree. Jaylon should be used for his SPEED. Let Grace join Joe & Nyles inside...& Barajas too. JAYLON MUST BE LT-2!!!

 

[88ND]

I disagree. he can be dominant at both spots.

No. Not being sarcastic but you do not know the proper way to play inside linebacker.
Jaylon does not have the courage to do it right and that is no disrespect because 98 percent of the team can't do it either.
Let me explain....
The inside backer first and foremost must take on the lead blocker. In a conventional offense this would be the fullback. (Or see Navy and Georgia Tech.) In the spread attack
this would be the guard or center depending on defensive alignment coming out. The inside backers or middle backer must smash the lead blocker. That is his only responsibility as this frees the other backers to make the tackle cleanly. If that inside/middle backer misses the lead blocker, then he gets the other backers and it becomes a crap shoot if that middle guy will ultimately get the ball carrier. Moreover if that inside guy doesn't take that block on....the rest of the defense is at the mercy of the rb making cuts off the blocks.
It also puts all the defenders lost in the trash. (Trash is the box of down lineman and backers fullbacks. ) you Don't want to be lost in the trash which is exactly where our inside backer puts his teammates should he opt not to lock horns with that lead blocker.

If you watch Jaylon play the inside last year he wants NOTHING to do with this style of play. It doesn't make him bad or anything as I said it takes a special breed of player to do this. ...then get ready to do it all over again the very next play. If you don't have a headache after a practice or game playing inside then you didn't play it right.

Now for what he lacks on the inside his God given talents come roaring to the forefront when he can pin his ears back and go like a maniac. He is that special.

 

[IRISHJD98]

Mike Elston disagrees with your suggestion that Smith can't develop those skills::

"Jaylon's come so far," Elston said. "A year ago, he was a really good player. He was more about himself and just trying to get right within the system. Now he's really got the understanding of our defense and where everybody else is around him. He's more of a complete package. He's defending the run a lot better. He's able to step up now and stuff a blocker and be very physical on him, whereas a year ago when you watched film, he wasn't as physical as you'd want him to be on different blocks.


"I've seen a very drastic change in that. He's a very physical, downhill linebacker. He's an actual linebacker. Before, he was kind of a hybrid bigger safety and very good in coverage, but now he's really taken it upon himself to be very physical, and he's also an improved pass rusher. I think you're going to see him stressing offensive linemen quite a bit."

 

[TurnoverMachine]

He will be leaving ND after this year so I hope he does something on the field before December. Been hearing the hype about him for a while. Guys like Te'o and Floyd left their mark at ND. Smith, not so much thus far.

 

[echowaker]

No. Not being sarcastic but you do not know the proper way to play inside linebacker.
Jaylon does not have the courage to do it right and that is no disrespect because 98 percent of the team can't do it either.
Let me explain....
The inside backer first and foremost must take on the lead blocker. In a conventional offense this would be the fullback. (Or see Navy and Georgia Tech.) In the spread attack
this would be the guard or center depending on defensive alignment coming out. The inside backers or middle backer must smash the lead blocker. That is his only responsibility as this frees the other backers to make the tackle cleanly. If that inside/middle backer misses the lead blocker, then he gets the other backers and it becomes a crap shoot if that middle guy will ultimately get the ball carrier. Moreover if that inside guy doesn't take that block on....the rest of the defense is at the mercy of the rb making cuts off the blocks.
It also puts all the defenders lost in the trash. (Trash is the box of down lineman and backers fullbacks. ) you Don't want to be lost in the trash which is exactly where our inside backer puts his teammates should he opt not to lock horns with that lead blocker.

If you watch Jaylon play the inside last year he wants NOTHING to do with this style of play. It doesn't make him bad or anything as I said it takes a special breed of player to do this. ...then get ready to do it all over again the very next play. If you don't have a headache after a practice or game playing inside then you didn't play it right.

Now for what he lacks on the inside his God given talents come roaring to the forefront when he can pin his ears back and go like a maniac. He is that special.

of course I know all about it. could care less about last year. a young guy with minimal practice time at the position is what you saw. some of the issues he had were the same ones a young manti teo had. smith is an elite athlete with an elite football IQ and feel for the game. he'll excel wherever he plays. it's about what's best for the team. kudos to him for wanting to fill that role.

 

[Bodizephax]

He will be leaving ND after this year so I hope he does something on the field before December. Been hearing the hype about him for a while. Guys like Te'o and Floyd left their mark at ND. Smith, not so much thus far.

Jaylon Smith has been outstanding his first two years and will dominate this year..

 

[Bodizephax]

nm

 

[88ND]

of course I know all about it. could care less about last year. a young guy with minimal practice time at the position is what you saw. some of the issues he had were the same ones a young manti teo had. smith is an elite athlete with an elite football IQ and feel for the game. he'll excel wherever he plays. it's about what's best for the team. kudos to him for wanting to fill that role.

No. The issues he had were of the most soplest that can be taught in football. From pop Warner on up. If you play inside it's that simple.....take on the lead blocker. Period. Hit him at the point of attack. It's not like nobody at the lower levels do not teach this way then suddenly in college they teach the inside backer position differently. Come on.
I want Jaylon to be the all world everything. It just won't be coming from him playing on the inside. Sorry