Fansided

10 NFL preseason Week 2 winners

By Ian Wharton

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 17, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 30: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys runs onto the field in celebration during a game against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 38-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 30: Jaylon Smith #54 of the Dallas Cowboys runs onto the field in celebration during a game against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 38-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

3. Jaylon Smith, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith followed up his stellar Week 1 performance with another impressive game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He logged just two tackles in his playing time but was more impactful than that. His presence was felt as a pass-rusher and coverage player beyond just filling run gaps.
Smith’s returned explosion gives the Cowboys one of the most dynamic linebacker units in the league. He’s able to play in the middle, weak-side, or as a pass-rusher. Few teams can afford to move around one of their three-down linebackers as much as that and not be exposed at the position, but Sean Lee and Leighton Vander Esch are unique as well.

Each of the three brings upper-tier movement ability. New defensive backs coach Kris Richard isn’t in charge of building the unit, but he’s familiar working with athletic linebackers in Seattle. The Cowboys have a group that is reminiscent of the versatile and freaky-fast second-level that Seattle relied upon during their dominant run.