Defensive Tackle

DT BJ Hill​

Projected Contract: 3 years, $18M ($10.8M guaranteed)
Previous Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Adding a player like BJ Hill to line up on the interior with Osa Odighizuwa and Mazi Smith would be a huge improvement over the defensive interior play the Cowboys have gotten.

Hill is a disruptive defensive tackle who loves wreaking havoc in the backfield. His quickness off the line of scrimmage and his knack for disrupting both the run and pass would complement Osa’s pass rush ability.

https://insidethestar.com/the-cowboys-get-selectively-aggressive-in-this-fun-free-agency-scenario
 
CCBoy said:
Mazi Smith

Part of the reason for his poor rookie year can be traced back to before the year even began. Smith was asked to drop 30 pounds during training camp.

Asking a run-stopper at defensive tackle to drop nearly 10% of their weight and still be effective is like putting an engine from a Prius into a Formula 1 car and asking it to win a race.

Smith rebounded somewhat in 2024. Mostly due to the fact that he was allowed to put the weight back on.

https://insidethestar.com/this-player-must-amazingly-bust-out-in-2025

The new staff will help a lot to make him into a #1 Defensive Tackle..
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Mazi just isn't quick off the snap. He never was. You need a little bit of forward motion coming off the line to hold position against good run-blocking o-lines. You can get away with it in college. Not in the NFL unless you're playing crap lines like the Giants every week. I really hope he can ball out this year.
 
CCBoy said:
Figure it out and you will understand actual play. You are limited in perspective of actual live techniques for successes by a numbers count alone.
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Results speak for itself. If the play was good results would be better. Don't miss the forest because of the trees
 






Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter


Commanders informed two-time Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen today that he is being released, per sources. The team is allowing Allen to hit free agency early, and he now is expected to be one of the top DTs on the market.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti...unity_in_d_line_free_agency/s1_17615_41869991

You really need a minimum of four defensive tackles in total to be disruptive and effective, but five is usually ideal.

Allen's ability is a rare perk, especially for a player of his caliber. Typically, signing a high-profile free agent could result in the loss of a compensatory pick, but Allen’s release ensures the Cowboys can bolster their defense without sacrificing valuable future draft capital. (more in depth detail on compensatory draft picks later today)
 
Suprised by the faith in Mazi.
To me, he has to prove he's an NFL player. He must earn his snaps.
He has a chance with a new DC, and I hope he turns into what we thought we were getting him when we drafted him.
But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's totally out of the rotation,
He's not good.
 
Robster8989 said:
Suprised by the faith in Mazi.
To me, he has to prove he's an NFL player. He must earn his snaps.
He has a chance with a new DC, and I hope he turns into what we thought we were getting him when we drafted him.
But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's totally out of the rotation,
He's not good.
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You going to a soldier he was lousy because he wasn't soldier of the quarter or on the advanced promotion list? Don't tell me that doesn't matter he is on the VA listings anyway!
 
big dog cowboy said:
And some thought McCarthy deserved another chance.

Should have been booted after the GB disaster.
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Which failing Cowboys players were booted out after that disaster with Green Bay?......Michael Gallup?, lol

Accountability is a rare species in Big D.
 
StarOfGlory said:
Mazi just isn't quick off the snap. He never was. You need a little bit of forward motion coming off the line to hold position against good run-blocking o-lines. You can get away with it in college. Not in the NFL unless you're playing crap lines like the Giants every week. I really hope he can ball out this year.
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That’s a huge part of what I see. He’s the last guy to move on every snap. That and he doesn’t play as physical as the athletic freak he is. That may be technique or effort, I’m not sure which but seems like the snap issues should be fixable. Watch the ball loo
 
CCBoy said:
Figure it out and you will understand actual play. You are limited in perspective of actual live techniques for successes by a numbers count alone.
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Your indignant attitude doesn’t play well in this forum. Take it somewhere else. You’re disingenuous. Move on.
 
conner01 said:
That’s a huge part of what I see. He’s the last guy to move on every snap. That and he doesn’t play as physical as the athletic freak he is. That may be technique or effort, I’m not sure which but seems like the snap issues should be fixable. Watch the ball loo
Click to expand...
Exactly this! Mazi has all the physical tools, but doesn't command respect when he lines up. He needs to be a rotational piece who only is has to earn playing time.
 
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