One Whopper of a learning curve
Cowboys star LB Smith developed accountability working at fast-food franchise
FRISCO, Texas – Studying film this week, Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith wants to crack the code of Sean McVay’s offense.
He wants to understand how to stop electric all-pro running back Todd Gurley better than he did in a Week 4 loss last season, Smith’s first game calling plays at middle linebacker in veteran Sean Lee’s absence. Gurley gashed Dallas for 215 yards and a touchdown in the 35-30 Rams’ win.
But before Smith turned his focus to deciphering a frenetic Gurley across the line of scrimmage, or even college offenses, Smith looked to understand another vantage point as a senior in high school: the other side of the counter at a fast-food restaurant.
In the spring of his senior year in high school, the fifth-best recruit in the Class of 2013 signed up for a job at Burger King. “I got a full-ride to Notre Dame, really can’t work when you’re at the collegiate level, so I wanted to experience it,” Smith said Wednesday at practice. “Growing up, always going to different fast-food restaurants, looking over the counter, waiting for my food and seeing how hectic it was or how it looked, I wanted to put myself in their shoes and understand.”
One message he says he learned: accountability. He’d manage the drivethrough window, aiming to brighten the days of customers.
“One of my passions and gifts is putting smiles on people’s faces,” Smith said. “I was able to do that.”
He looks to do the same as a thirdyear linebacker anchoring Dallas’ top-5 rushing defense on the field and motivating teammates off. Smith reckons he has a personal handshake with almost every teammate. He calls himself the “Predator,” while rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is named the “Wolf Hunter,” with the duo howling each time Vander Esch carries out a big play and making Smith’s signature “swipe” motion when Smith cashes in.
Vander Esch leads the team with 176 total tackles, Smith close behind at 150 along with four sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. When Randy Gregory stripsacked Jameis Winston in December, Smith returned the loose ball 69 yards for a touchdown. The Cowboys won that game by a single score as defenders worked in tandem.
“Not only do we play so well together,” Smith said, “but we love one another on a deeper scale than usual. Being in tune with each other, each other’s kids, families, mamas.”
Smith said he started calling Taco Charlton’s mother “mom” like she were his own after they met. Smith’s mom — and that of brother, Rod, who plays running back for the Cowboys — has made pancakes for teammates.
He hasn’t made them a burger, joking that his playoff diet veers more toward salmon than the Oreo shakes he loved while working at the fast-food chain.
Sticking to a diet is one way, Smith says, he’s transferred the accountability he honed taking Burger King orders to keeping straight offenses’ many tendencies, like he’ll aim to do as he chases his first career win against the Rams and the Cowboys’ first NFC championship game appearance in 23 seasons.
He’ll look to continue a goal-line-stingy trend in which Dallas has limited opponents to 51 percent red-zone conversion rates (seventh best) and 20.3 points per game (sixth). The Rams are averaging 32.9 points in the red zone (top 2) and the number skyrockets to 37.1 at home in the Coliseum, where the teams kick off Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
And when Dallas’ postseason run ends and Smith’s no longer on the clock eating healthy? “Probably get the chicken crisp or double Whopper,” he said of his go-to Burger King meal. “Cheese, no tomatoes, extra pickles. Something like that. ...”