Where would the Dallas Cowboys defense be without Aldon Smith? Let’s not go there.
What would the Dallas Cowboys defense look like without Aldon Smith?
Most likely much worse, that’s for sure.
The Cowboys’ defensive end, who returned to the NFL after missing the previous four seasons while serving an indefinite suspension for a violation of league personal conduct and substance abuse policies, has been a revelation.
He had three sacks in Sunday’s 38-31 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and now leads the NFL with four for the season.
“I feel like I try to bring my `A’ game every time I go out and play. I work well with the other guys and we work well with each other,” said Smith, who had 3.5 sacks in nine games in 2015 with the Raiders. “Rushing is a team effort, especially [against Russell Wilson]. If it wasn’t for the other guys playing their roles and doing things, it would have been much tougher for me to make some plays out there.”
Smith leads the Cowboys with six quarterback hits — and no other player has more than two — and the rest of the team has totaled just two sacks. Smith also leads the team with seven quarterback hurries.
Smith gave the Cowboys consistent pressure on the quarterback for the first time this season against Seattle, but it still wasn’t enough against Wilson. Smith, however, sees continued improvement with a unit still getting used to a new system and coaching staff.
“Honestly, I feel like every week we’ve had a different obstacle,” he said. “We had a starting linebacker [Leighton Vander Esch] go out the first week. There’s always been something that was new for us. So, us coming together and getting a rhythm as a collective, I’m excited to see what happens next game.”
The Cowboys host the Cleveland Browns at noon Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 12:44 PM.
