When the Dallas Cowboys signed veteran Defensive End Aldon Smith back in April there was a huge unknown considering his five-year absence. However, thanks to working with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, he’s completely turned his life around off the field.
Now, the only thing left for the former All-Pro is to get back into football shape as much as he can with the current COVID-19 pandemic derailing any normal protocol in regards to preparation for an NFL season. Just recently, Smith was seen working on his hands in a training video with defensive line specialist Coach Brandon Jordan.
https://twitter.com/CoachBTJordan/status/1283175393504169984?s=19
Of course, as a defensive lineman, your hands are extremely important. The goal is to keep offensive linemen’s hands off of you as much as possible because if they can’t grab you they can’t block you. Smith having great hands will go a long way as he attempts to regain the luster he had after his first two seasons when he registered 33.5 sacks.
Smith wasn’t alone in his training, though, as teammates Antwaun Woods and rookie Neville Gallimore were also in attendance during this workout. Woods and Gallimore will be important pieces on the Cowboys defensive line in 2020 playing behind Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe as the anchors on the interior.
This video was just a continuation of the hard work Smith’s been putting since he arrived in Dallas. Last month, he sat down with Sirius XM NFL Radio to talk about his heavier 287-pound frame.
“Shape-wise I feel great. I feel great. I feel young. I feel… my twenties,” Smith said. “I feel fresh. So I’m good on that. My weight’s good. I’m a little heavier, but it’s all muscle and I’ve been carrying it long enough and I move well, if not better.”
Smith is not only getting in physical shape but more importantly, he’s mentally in a much better place which will help him perform on the field. 2020 could very well be the start of a redemption tour for Smith.
