Better Dallas Cowboys LB: Predator or Wolf Hunter?
By Joel Deering
Dallas Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith, AKA Predator, finished the 2018 NFL season with a stat line of 121 tackles (82 solo and 39 assist), four sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
If we compare his tackles to those of Leighton Vander Esch, Smith totaled 19 less total tackles, 20 less solo tackles, but one more assisted tackle. Based on that alone, it looks like LVE has the edge. However, that doesn’t mean Smith is any less of a tackler. Both LBs totaled over 120 tackles on the year. I believe the reason why Smith totaled less tackles than LVE, is because of the way he was used.
One area where Smith was used significantly more than Vander Esch was rushing the passer. Smith finished the 2018 season with four sacks. Four sacks may not seem like a lot, but it’s four more than Vander Esch. LVE didn’t record a single sack in 2018.
According to Pro Football Focus, Smith has 115 career pass-rush snaps. Of those 115 snaps, he’s generated a 27.2% win rate, leading all NFL LBs. Smith has a skill set that allows him to not only be a successful tackler, but allows him to be a successful pass-rusher.
When it comes to the pass-rush for the Dallas Cowboys, all the attention goes to Demarcus Lawrence, but Smith deserves a good chunk of the credit for their pass-rush success. In addition to that, Smith finished the season with six tackles for loss. That shows his ability to be in the backfield regardless of a run or pass play.
His pass rush success isn’t the only way Smith makes big plays. Smith recorded two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2018. One of those fumble recoveries led to a 69-yard TD by Smith. On the other hand, Leighton Vander Esch didn’t have any forced fumbles or fumble recoveries the entire season.
The Dallas Cowboys have a Predator leading their defense who knows how to find the ball. Not only is he a sideline-to-sideline LB who can make tackles all over the field, but he can impact the game by successfully rushing the passer and creating turnovers.