The Dallas Cowboys best defensive player hadn’t played in five years. That’s a problem
The Dallas Cowboys did not want to be in a position to need Aldon Smith, but this is where they are.
They don’t have enough playmakers on defense to think whatever production they receive from a guy who has not played in years is just found money at the ATM.
The Cowboys need that cash.
When linebacker Leighton Vander Esch walked off the field after the first quarter of the season-opening 20-17 loss against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, it made an average defense worse.
LVE is going to be out for a while with a broken collarbone, and Smith — who was already a vital player on defense — becomes even that much more invaluable. That’s an indictment of the rest of the players, as well the front office, and a compliment to Smith.
If Smith continues to play the way he did on Sunday night, the Cowboys found a player.
In his Cowboys’ debut, Smith tied for the team-lead with linebacker Jaylon Smith with 11 tackles. Note where Smith made his tackles. They were at, or near, the line of scrimmage.
Smith also had a sack, and another pressure on the quarterback that led to an interception.
Before Sunday night, Smith had not played for 1,764 days. He had been booted out of the league for a variety of off-the-field infractions.
“I was able to make some plays. I also missed some plays,” Smith said on a Zoom call with reporters after the game. “I’m tough on myself, but I did some things well.”
There were two plays in second half that stood out.
With 3:58 remaining in the third quarter, Smith came on an inside rush to pressure Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who was not able to step into his throw.
The pass was off, and intercepted by Cowboys defensive back Chido Awuzie. The Cowboys offense turned that turnover into a field goal.
Then, with 7:12 remaining in the game and the Cowboys trailing by three, Smith sacked Goff on third down to force a punt.
Of course the Cowboys offense blew that opportunity, but we’re focusing on the positives here.
“I was excited,” Smith said. “I obviously, didn’t know I got the sack right away because the way they get the ball out sometimes, you get back to the quarterback and the ball would be gone.”
Other than Smith, this was not a good night for the Cowboys’ defense.
The Rams converted 9-of-17 third downs, rolled up 422 yards, and while the Cowboys kept themselves in the game, their inability to get off the field cost them.
Defensive end Tank Lawrence was invisible, safety remains a problem, as does their linebacking unit.
It’s worth saying again that their best defensive player was Aldon Smith, a guy who had not played in five years. Let that marinate for five seconds.
The Cowboys know the routine with a player like Smith. Don’t assume this level of production will happen every week. Or again.
In 2014, they signed troubled linebacker Rolando McClain, who, like Smith, had some non-football issues. McClain, a former first-round pick, missed all of the 2013 season because of an NFL suspension.
In a short time, McClain turned into their best defensive player because he was good, and because the Cowboys that season had few playmakers.
But he also struggled to stay healthy, and eventually he could not outrun himself and was out of the league after 2015.
Coincidentally, 2015 was Aldon Smith’s last year in the NFL.
When the Cowboys signed him, the hope was he would come along and provide some extra help and depth.
And yet, after one game Aldon Smith is the defensive player the Cowboys need.
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
