Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith addresses lack of snaps in opener

On3 imageby:Ashton Pollard09/16/21

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Dallas Cowboys household names Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch played just 30 snaps total in Dallas’ opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9. 

Smith, who was on the field for only 16 snaps, spoke out about the dramatic decrease in playing time. 

“Coaches have game plans,” Smith said, per Jon Machota. “It’s my job to be ready. So I’m ready. I’ve been ready. That’s all I can do, just continue to work on my craft and be the best player I can be, a dominant player.” 

Smith is in the third year of a six-year, $68 million contract with Dallas. 2021 is his fifth year in the NFL, and he has totaled 502 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and two interceptions in the league. The 2019 Pro Bowler started six games his rookie year (and played in 16), and started every game for the Cowboys since 2018 until last week. He led the team in tackles in 2019 and 2020 with 142 and 154, respectively.

Smith was a second-round draft pick for the Cowboys in 2017 out of Notre Dame.

Cowboys 2021 draft class signaled defensive overhaul

The Cowboys had one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2020; they gave up 29.6 points per game, which was 28th in the league. To remedy last year’s struggles, Dallas drafted six straight defensive players to start their 2021 NFL Draft, including two linebackers: Micah Parsons in the first round and 12th overall and Jabril Cox in the fourth round. 

In last Thursday’s opener, Parsons played 51 of the 65 total snaps on defense, and Keanu Neal, listed above Smith at the middle linebacker position on the depth chart, played 50 snaps. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said fans should not make too much of the defensive breakdown from a week ago. 

“I would say this is early,” Quinn said, “and we’re certainly expecting those guys to play a lot. Some games, they’ll play a ton. Some games, it will be more balanced. I feel like we’ve got four excellent linebackers. … I’d expect games to be different as the season goes on.”

Because the Buccaneers played a pass-heavy game, Parsons and Neal, a converted safety, were the better options at linebacker for the night. But Quinn did not go as far as saying Smith and Vander Esch will almost exclusively be used for rushing plays. 

“I trust them in all spaces,” he added. “I thought both of them played strong and well in their reps. … Both of them are equally equipped to handle all of the stuff. I would expect that to move around as the season progresses.”

The Cowboys travel to Los Angeles for a game against the Chargers on Sunday. The contest kicks off at 3:25 p.m. CT.