It's been a slow build for Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith this season. It's amazing how health can drastically affect a player's performance, as Smith has gone from being a weakness that offenses attacked last season to an integral part and one of the best players on the Cowboys defense this season.

past the injury that stole his 2016 season and rendered him ineffective for long stretches in 2017, Smith has been knocking off the rust and displaying his tantalizing physical and athletic traits.

Smith was at his very best Sunday night against the Houston Texans, finishing with 12 combined tackles and six stops on a night where he showed improved mental processing while showing off his explosiveness and burst. The Cowboys came home with a loss, but Smith did everything he possibly could to lead the team to a win.

This was the most apparent right before halftime, where Smith made the best play by a Cowboys linebacker so far this season:

On fourth-and-goal from the Cowboys one-yard line, Jaylon Smith is aligned behind nose tackle Antwaun Woods and tasked with spying on Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. After the ball is snapped, Smith stays square, mirrors the movements of Watson and slightly jumps outside when Watson pump fakes.

Once Watson breaks the pocket, however, Smith turns his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage and accelerates toward the sideline. Despite the fact that Watson had a step or two head start, Smith's inhuman bursts

him to cut Watson off and make the stop before the Texans quarterback can get to the end zone.

Notice the angle that Smith takes to cut off Watson. Many young linebackers would either underestimate Watson's speed or overestimate their own athleticism and take a more aggressive angle for the tackle, likely resulting in a missed arm tackle or a total whiff. By taking a more conservative angle, Smith gives himself just enough time to catch up to Watson and make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage.

Even though the Cowboys still lost, it's difficult to overstate how important the above play was for the Cowboys. Without it, they probably lose to the Texans in regulation. While that may have been beneficial for head coach Jason Garrett, as he would have never had to punt on that fourth-and-1 situation in overtime, it was huge for

of the Cowboys going into halftime and gave them a much better shot at securing the victory.

While Smith's dash to the sideline rightfully received all of the attention, it wasn't the only time he was able to show off his incredible burst:

Here, the Cowboys are in their nickel defense (four defensive linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs) with Jaylon Smith aligned over the

B-gap. After the ball is snapped, Watson pitches the ball to his blazing fast wide receiver, Keke Coutee. Smith immediately reads the blocking scheme, identifies the pitch and accelerates toward the play-side sideline.

Because he identifies the play concept and flows to the ball so quickly, it allows Smith to outpace the back-side left tackle's block, meaning that Smith will now have a free run to the ball carrier since he's best the man responsible for inhibiting his progress to the ball carrier. With DeMarcus Lawrence slowing Coutee's pace and Leighton Vander Esch forcing the Texans receiver to cut upfield, Smith's sideline-to-sideline speed puts him in perfect position to finish what Lawrence started and tackle Coutee.

These are the plays Smith did not make last year. Smith was relegated to being a downhill thumper last year because of his previous injury. This year, however, Smith has shown the ability to be a read-and-react linebacker who can make plays from sideline-to-sideline, making him a more well-rounded linebacker who can positively affect plays for the defense with a higher frequency.

Speaking of playing downhill, one of Smith's best traits is his ability to make plays between the tackles, where his explosiveness, quick mental processor, burst and power are on full display. This play is a great example:

On this play, the Cowboys are once again in their nickel defense with Smith aligned over the back-side B-gap. After the ball is snapped, Smith quickly reads the initial steps of the offensive line and immediately starts to flow play-side at a 45-degree angle toward the line of scrimmage. Because of his angle of pursuit and exceptional burst, Smith outpaces the block from the back-side tackle and clogs running lane for the Texans running back, which leads to an easy tackle in the hole for Smith.

While his burst is excellent, it's Smith's improved processing ability that allowed him to make so many plays against Houston. Smith routinely recognizes the play's development and has the remarkable processing speed to transform that recognition into action. This play is another great example:

Here, Smith is aligned in the play-side B-gap in Dallas' nickel defense. As the ball is snapped, Smith reads the initial steps of the left guard and immediately starts to flow play-side at a 45-degree angle while staying square to the line of scrimmage, putting him in

position to change direction if the running back decides to cut back toward the back-side of the play.

right defensive end Taco Charlton gets tossed to the ground, Smith's initial movement put him ahead of and in perfect position to defeat the left guard's block, using a slight hesitation move and a quick stab with his inside arm to defeat the left guard once he is in range.

Once he defeats the block, Smith allows his freakish athleticism to take over and put him in position to make the tackle. Once he is in range, Smith does an excellent job of coming to his balance before wrapping the Texans running back and bringing him to the ground.

While it's not often discussed, patience is key for linebackers, and the lack of it is a reason why young linebackers often struggle. Last season, Smith wasn't patient, and it led to him being easily fooled by misdirection and play-action fakes. This season, Smith is trusting his eyes and reading his keys more often, and it's allowed him to make some plays he would have missed out on a year ago. See this play-action play:

On this play, Smith is aligned over the Texans tight end in Dallas' nickel defense. Once the ball is snapped, the Texans do a great job of selling the play-action fake, forcing Smith to flow play-side to defend the potential run. However, once Smith is able to expand

the receiver's block, he shows the patience to not attack the line of scrimmage, putting him in position to work back in front of Watson to read the quarterback's eyes.

Once Watson identifies his target, Smith is in the right position to show off his vertical leap as he tips the pass, rendering the throw incomplete.

Smith has improved a ton in coverage, as he has shown a

knack for playing the intermediate-to-deep middle zones

in Dallas' version of

Tampa 2 coverage

, but he's most comfortable as a

in passing situations. Not only does Smith have the burst and power to be an effective pass rusher

he also a good feel for defeating blocks with a surprising repertoire of pass rush moves. This play is a great demonstration of Smith's ability as a pass rusher:

On this play, Smith is aligned over the B-gap in Dallas' nickel defense. Once the ball is snapped, Smith explodes downhill, looking to generate pressure on Watson as a pass rusher. Once he is within range of the right guard, Smith employs a violent cross chop with his inside hand to beat the right guard's strike.

From there, Smith then uses a powerful rip move to blow by the running back and hit Watson right after he throws, which results in an inaccurate throw and an interception for the Cowboys defense.

It's not a coincidence that Dallas has been more effective with blitzes at the same time Smith is finally getting healthy. At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, Smith could probably be an effective defensive end if he wasn't already such a good linebacker, he's that developed as a pass rusher.

Overall, it was a marvelous display of linebacker play in a losing effort for Smith. Even though he wasn't able to showcase his improvements in coverage much, Smith was able to put together his most complete game as a professional.

Smith exhibited a rare combination of sideline-to-sideline speed and angular accuracy that allowed him to make plays that 99 percent of linebackers wouldn't dream of. His ability to decode the offense's actions allowed himself to play fast and stay ahead of second level blocks, putting himself in perfect position to make stops near the line of scrimmage.

Jaylon Smith is no longer just a good story. He's a very good player too.