Twitter: DC Mike Zimmer on Mazi Smith

[RonWashington]

Dak wears his cap backwards.

I don’t see that much .

 

[bigE79]

He does it virtually every game

 

[AsthmaField]

I think his biggest problem is what I called out during the draft, he has always struggled locating the ball carrier. I also agree with Broaddus’ take that he struggles getting moved in the run game.

Yeah, I think he has trouble at times locating the ball. It is a really under rated aspect of DL play. It is one reason that I’m so high on Kneeland. That guy is constantly watching the ball and not just getting caught up in fighting with the offensive lineman trying to block him.

It is the difference between just trying to win your 1-on-1 battle and playing football. Kneeland is always watching the ball and trying to work his way to the right spot. He understands what the offense is trying to do and works to stop it. It is a big reason that my expectations for Kneeland are so high.

Mazi sometimes just looks like he’s trying to work on the techniques the coaches are teaching him, but not really “playing football”, if that makes sense. I will say that Mazi looks like he’s doing that much less this season and is playing better. I’m just hoping that it all comes together for him this season. He has been much better.

 

[RonWashington]

He does it virtually every game

On the bench I see him without the helmet talking to the troops . Romo use to sit off by himself and sulk.

 

[vlad]

Dak wears his cap backwards.

brilliant lol.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Mazi late off the snap.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I know the Cowboys have had issues with overconfidence in the past.

I never dreamed that a 1st round pick in the National Football League would ever have a confidence issue.

Is Mazi having trouble adapting to the reality that all O-linemen play for nothing more than the opportunity of hitting back?

Seems like Zimm is a good enough leader to understand that not all men are best led the same. Sometimes people struggle. If you never considered that then that doesn't say anything about Mazi.

Generally speaking, narrative story time is only credible when one relates it to objective facts. For example, we know that he was asked to attack a gap and penetrate last year, we know that he lost a lot of weight, we know that he played with some objectively horrible technique last season, and we know that he went back to Michigan in the offseason.

Looks like he had a bad experience for a rookie year. That type of thing impacts confidence.

Great thing is that Zimmer and Zuniga seem to be reaching the kid. He is coming off the ball well, using his hands, and playing with effort.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Mazi late off the snap.

Yeah that happened a few times in his two dozen. Still light years better than last year.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Doesn't the use of the word confidence tell you something? Brady and some announcer guy kept using that word about Watkins. He needs to get his confidence.

Is there any doubt in your mind Watkins is a train wreck for Cleveland? Zimmer using the word confidence is a way of saying this guy is a spare and as soon as we can find a replacement, he will be gone?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Doesn't the use of the word confidence tell you something? Brady and some announcer guy kept using that word about Watkins. He needs to get his confidence.

Is there any doubt in your mind Watkins is a train wreck for Cleveland? Zimmer using the word confidence is a way of saying this guy is a spare and as soon as we can find a replacement, he will be gone?

They are human beings, TD. You have never seen anyone in your life lose confidence and have it restored through a parent, teacher, coach, boss, friend, etc?

 

[Hennessy_King]

It's crazy how big of a bust this kid is for a 1st round pick. He will be a backup rotational guy at best in this league

 

[Blast From The Past]

Zimmer doesn’t wear the cap backwards which bothered me with Romo more then DQ but Zim is old school . I wanted a younger DC but I’ve really warmed up to Zim and truth be told if a deep playoff run doesn’t occur he’s probably in line for HC in 25 unless a torpedo like GB hits .

Zim is the wily old vet dcoord that checkmates young and experienced play callers alike. Zim doesn't win all of those but he makes them earn their money during that game. He is what this D needed at this point in time after DQ took it as far as he could. Hoping he has mucho success all year long.

 

[plasticman]

Seems like Zimm is a good enough leader to understand that not all men are best led the same. Sometimes people struggle. If you never considered that then that doesn't say anything about Mazi.

Generally speaking, narrative story time is only credible when one relates it to objective facts. For example, we know that he was asked to attack a gap and penetrate last year, we know that he lost a lot of weight, we know that he played with some objectively horrible technique last season, and we know that he went back to Michigan in the offseason.

Looks like he had a bad experience for a rookie year. That type of thing impacts confidence.

Great thing is that Zimmer and Zuniga seem to be reaching the kid. He is coming off the ball well, using his hands, and playing with effort.

Mazi Smith is not a rookie and it is not at all unusual for players to go through coaching changes with their different styles, even early in their career. Those are objective facts.

Many players can claim bad experiences in their rookie seasons. That, too, is an objective fact. Hall of Famer, Randy White, was converted to MLB as a rookie and struggled. However, I don't recall any effort on the part of DC and Hall of Famer Ernie Stautner to address White's confidence.

My concern is a timeline in which a 2nd year 1st round draft choice should be emerging as an impact player in a position that desperately needs one. "Reaching" Mazi should not be the DC's present concern.

This is the season in which the DT/NT position was expected to be strong. What we have instead was the team's effort to bolster the position in the waning hours of the preseason by enlisting a couple of guys in their mid 30's with one foot already out the door.

That's not exactly a resounding endorsement for a player the Cowboys invested in so much.

 

[Streifenkarl]

Mazi late off the snap.

Man, that sucks. How do you coach something like that? Do you play reaction time games with him or what?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Mazi Smith is not a rookie and it is not at all unusual for players to go through coaching changes with their different styles, even early in their career. Those are objective facts.

Many players can claim bad experiences in their rookie seasons. That, too, is an objective fact. Hall of Famer, Randy White, was converted to MLB as a rookie and struggled. However, I don't recall any effort on the part of DC and Hall of Famer Ernie Stautner to address White's confidence.

My concern is a timeline in which a 2nd year 1st round draft choice should be emerging as an impact player in a position that desperately needs one. "Reaching" Mazi should not be the DC's present concern.

This is the season in which the DT/NT position was expected to be strong. What we have instead was the team's effort to bolster the position in the waning hours of the preseason by enlisting a couple of guys in their mid 30's with one foot already out the door.

That's not exactly a resounding endorsement for a player the Cowboys invested in so much.

I never said he was a rookie. We were talking about how he might have lost confidence.

His coaches are saying that he is gaining in confidence and it is easily seen in his play which is objectively better in his second year.

And an absence of evidence does not imply evidence of absence. The notion that his coaches from Landry on down were not key in getting him playing better after a putrid first two years should be a nonstarter.

What you think should happen or what you expected has no objective relevance.

Mazi is playing better. Deal with it.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Man, that sucks. How do you coach something like that? Do you play reaction time games with him or what?

It likely means he is thinking and uncertain before the snap.

 

[RonWashington]

In Philly they’re calling year three make or break for Jordan Davis picked 13th round one two yrs ago . DT is a tough position to crack success in the NFL . You’re not throwing around OL like you were in college .

 

[RonWashington]

Having said that it’s very few DT’s out of college worth draft one capital .

 

[VaqueroTD]

Parcells explaining Bobby Carpenter‘s performance deja vu.

 

[Coogiguy03]

We shall see