Smith produced game-changing stops near the line of scrimmage, highlighted by a fourth-down forced fumble and third-down sack, but surrendered a few chunk gains when pinned by second-level blockers.
Smith's solid 75.3 grade was powered by elite splash plays on critical downs, notably a 9-yard sack of Dak Prescott on third-and-short (Q1 08:53) and a jarring fourth-and-1 forced fumble (Q2 09:24). His run defense (81 facet grade) was largely stout as he consistently read flow quickly and filled downhill into interior gaps. However, his overall mark was tempered by coverage inconsistencies (63 facet grade), where he surrendered intermediate voids in middle hook zone drops (Q1 12:20, Q3 07:04). In addition, he was occasionally washed out at the second level by climbing offensive linemen, directly yielding explosive runs (Q1 11:11, Q3 08:50).
Strengths
Interior blitz timing and gap penetration
Short-yardage run stopping and pursuit
High-impact plays on money downs
Weaknesses
Shedding second-level climb blocks
Awareness and depth in hook zone drops
Plays that moved the grade
+2Q1 08:53, 3rd & 1Mugged the A-gap and fired through cleanly to sack Prescott for a 9-yard loss.
+2Q2 09:24, 4th & 1Triggered decisively into the playside B-gap to stop Williams for no gain and force a fumble for a turnover on downs.
-1Q3 08:50, 2nd & 10Got walled off by a second-level climb block, springing Javonte Williams for a 22-yard run.
Every graded snap · 31 wins or losses, 44 routine
-0.5Q1 12:55 · 2 & 1 · Run defenseFills downhill toward the frontside A-gap but gets walled off by Beebe, arriving late to assist Madubuike on the tackle.
-0.5Q1 12:20 · 1 & 10 · CoverageDrops into the middle hook zone but does not gain enough depth or vision to disrupt Pickens crossing directly behind him.
+0.5Q1 11:59 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFlows swiftly to the playside B/C gap, taking on Steele's climb and assisting on the tackle.
-1Q1 11:11 · 2 & 7 · Run defenseFails to slip the second-level block from Booker and is walled off from making a stop in the hole.
-0.5Q1 10:40 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseClimbed on by Beebe and unable to shed in time to fill the running crease.
+0.5Q1 10:09 · 2 & 2 · Run defenseFlows cleanly to the playside gap, meets Williams in the hole, and assists Campbell in finishing the tackle.
+0.5Q1 09:35 · 1 & 5 · Run defenseFlows over top to the playside to assist in swarming Williams right at the goal line.
Q1 08:53 · 3 & 1 · Pass rushMugs the A-gap pre-snap and fires cleanly through on the snap, pursuing Prescott backwards and making a diving ankle-tackle sack for a 9-yard loss.
+0.5Q1 05:48 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseReads the run quickly, shoots downhill to meet the lead block, and congests the running lane.
+1Q1 00:11 · 2 & 6 · CoverageDrops into hook zone, reads Prescott breaking contain, matches Flournoy crossing, and plays tight contested coverage on the incompletion.
+0.5Q2 11:23 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFlowed cleanly to the A/B-gap crease and helped clean up the pile on Williams.
+0.5Q2 10:02 · 3 & 2 · Run defenseFast flow into the interior box, occupying climbing blockers to condense the running lane.
+2Q2 09:24 · 4 & 1 · Run defenseDecisively triggers downhill into the B-gap on 4th & 1, stops Williams at the line of scrimmage, and jars the football loose to seal the fourth-down stop.
+0.5Q2 03:20 · 1 & 10 · CoverageReads the play quickly and flows cleanly to the screen side in immediate pursuit alongside Simpson.
+0.5Q2 01:25 · 2 & 1 · Run defenseReads the handoff instantly, triggers downhill through the crease, and makes initial contact to limit the gain to 3 yards.
+0.5Q2 00:48 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseReads the handoff quickly, scrapes into the playside A-gap to assist on bringing down Goodson.
+0.5Q2 00:27 · 3 & 6 · CoverageShows blitz in the A-gap before dropping quickly into the middle hole, effectively taking away Prescott's first interior progression.
+0.5Q3 14:20 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFlows cleanly laterally with the zone stretch, arriving to assist at the tackle point.
+0.5Q3 10:40 · 1 & 10 · CoverageReads Dak's eyes and the screen action immediately, flowing quickly to the perimeter to collapse space.
-1Q3 08:50 · 2 & 10 · Run defenseFails to scrape over the top of Guyton's climb block, allowing himself to be walled off completely from the tackle.
+1Q3 08:23 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseQuickly reads the handoff, scrapes across the formation, and meets Williams at the line of scrimmage for the tackle.
+0.5Q3 07:39 · 2 & 7 · Run defenseFlows cleanly over the top of the line of scrimmage, tracking the ball carrier in position to clean up.
-0.5Q3 07:04 · 3 & 9 · CoverageDrops into the middle hook zone but gets caught looking into the backfield, allowing Pickens to cross directly behind him in the void.
+0.5Q3 02:55 · 3 & 10 · Run defenseDrops into his zone hook, reads Prescott's release quickly, and shows excellent hustle to pursue Pickens all the way to the sideline to force him out.
+0.5Q3 02:36 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseTracks the ball carrier closely in tandem with Simpson, arriving right as the tackle is completed.
+0.5Q4 13:03 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFlows cleanly to the playside gap behind Simpson and assists in cleaning up the tackle at the 5-yard line.
+1Q4 07:29 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseReads run flow immediately, shoots downhill cleanly past the offensive line's wash, and combines with Jenkins for the stop at the line.
+0.5Q4 06:47 · 2 & 9 · CoverageThreatens the A-gap before dropping to the low hole to monitor the quarterback; rallies quickly to Prescott's scramble.
+1Q4 06:01 · 3 & 6 · Pass rushShoots the interior gap quickly, getting into Prescott's throwing lane and forcing a rushed throw.
-0.5Q4 01:09 · 2 & 1 · CoverageDrops into hook zone with eyes downfield and is slow to trigger forward when Prescott scrambles through the open A-gap.
+1Q4 00:20 · 2 & 7 · Run defensePlays patient spy depth, reads Prescott tucking the ball immediately, and shoots downhill to make the primary tackle at the 5-yard line.