CFZ Early Camp Oline observations

[Teague31]

To be fair to Mazi, there aren’t as many dudes as strong as Tyler that he will see

 

[Stash]

I’m curious as to where these observations came from as I’ve seen and heard different reports?

 

[JoeKing]

Waletzko not Ball should be getting reps at RG. If Martin isn't back soon, this could be a disaster on the Oline.

 

[JeffInDC]

To be fair to Mazi, there aren’t as many dudes as strong as Tyler that he will see

While it's just a video game, I did find it interesting that both Tyler and Mazi got a 94 Strength Rating in Madden '24

 

[Cowboy4ever]

You can not judge anything regarding line play with shorts on. We will see who is who next week.

 

[Praxit]

.... I hope Vaughn is everything they say he is. What Im seeing is small fella, with shifty moves.

Sure hope he pans out.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Interesting observations from Day 2 of training camp for the Oline:

• Josh Ball is working as the starting Right Guard with Zack Martin missing camp - and he's getting beat a lot...still.
• Chuma Edoga, who many thought would be working at guard, is actually working at back-up Right Tackle. He's getting some 1st team reps.
• Matt Waletzko seems to be working exclusively at Left Tackle behind Tyron Smith
• Undrafted free agent TJ Bass looking good at backup Left Guard
• Cowboys backup Center Alec Lindstrom is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons Guard Chris Lindstrom, who just became the highest paid Offensive Guard in the NFL at $21M per year, which might be why Zack Martin wants to renegotiate his deal
• Last year's 1st round pick, Tyler Smith, is absolutely stoning this year's 1st round pick Mazi Smith on the plays

Really interested to see how this group works out, it felt like they got short-changed this off-season and could use some more help. Maybe the new blocking schemes will make a difference but that center gets pushed back too much and as soon as Tyron goes down it's going to be musical chairs all over again.

 

[Jumbo075]

Yeah Chuma getting reps at tackle but I think that’s to see what he can do there. He’s our guard but if Tyron gets hurt I guess they’ll have the option of him playing there and leaving Smith at guard.

Rumors are that the Cowboys have also discussed the possibility of moving Steele to guard. I don't know if those rumors are true. But if they are, and if Tyron goes down, and if Chuma Edoga does well at Right Tackle, maybe they'll think about moving Steele to Guard. It will be interesting to see if Steele gets any reps at Left Guard during training camp. If he doesn't, then the rumors are probably not true, or maybe one of the other young players is doing better at back up guard. We'll see.

 

[Teague31]

Any Asim Richards’ sightings?

 

[Jumbo075]

So basically you started a thread to crap on Mazi Smith.

How on earth did you get that out of my post? It should surprise no one that Mazi isn't blowing up camp in his first two days. I like the pick, but last year's pick is also pretty good. I remember in Mazi's introductory meeting, he was asked about future battles with Tyler Smith. I hope they make each other better. And based on Mazi's work ethic, I fully expect him to get better.

It reminds me of when Larry Allen talked about how Reggie White just manhandled him as a rookie, and it made him work that much harder because he was shocked someone could manhandle him the way Reggie White did. So, more power to Tyler. Keep manhandling Mazi so that, like Larry Allen, he will dedicate himself to overcome. Mazi has the potential to be a force. It looks like Tyler Smith can also be a force at Left Guard, and they'll make each other better.

Tyler Smith also had a rep where he made a mental mistake, and pulled when he wasn't supposed to. I'm not making ANY conclusions based on the 2nd day of camp. Even Josh Ball still has a chance in my mind. Obviously, if the Cowboys have given up on Ball, he wouldn't be in the starting rotation at Right Guard. To say that I am crapping on Mazi Smith is just ignorant. Those were just my observations, not my final conclusions.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Waletzko not Ball should be getting reps at RG. If Martin isn't back soon, this could be a disaster on the Oline.

Yeah, last chance for Ball. He probably won't make it

I thought waletzko was going to be the swing tackle?

 

[Jumbo075]

Yeah, last chance for Ball. He probably won't make it

I thought waletzko was going to be the swing tackle?

They have to start him somewhere. It's too early to know. It will be a month of practices before the Cowboys make up their minds. It's just interesting to see how they are using them at the start.

 

[blueblood70]

Mazi getting schooled early on. Welcome to the NFL rookie.

Yeah but that's good I mean that's what training camps for these rookies are coming in and now he's going up against one of our best lineman that we've drafted in quite a while that got a full year experience last year which includes playing most of the offseason inside at left guard so it's expected that Mazi it's going to have to learn to beat the best.

Don't forget Tyler Smith got beat quite often last year by the speed rushers around the edge, I mean he played really well overall for a rookie but he had some schooling as well throughout the year under live fire and I imagine mazi's going to do the same thing,

all these rookies are in here learning the training camp and the preseason is really for them..

 

[blueblood70]

Waletzko not Ball should be getting reps at RG. If Martin isn't back soon, this could be a disaster on the Oline.

That's not what they're trying to accomplish

they're gonna give all these backups time at all positions to sort out who's gonna play best as a backup... so they need reps in both spots.

OK coach

I mean I didn't realize that you were employed by the Dallas Cowboys did they give you a red phone or something to call in let them know you're unhappy with the way they're running practices lol

 

[Risen Star]

How on earth did you get that out of my post? It should surprise no one that Mazi isn't blowing up camp in his first two days. I like the pick, but last year's pick is also pretty good. I remember in Mazi's introductory meeting, he was asked about future battles with Tyler Smith. I hope they make each other better. And based on Mazi's work ethic, I fully expect him to get better.

It reminds me of when Larry Allen talked about how Reggie White just manhandled him as a rookie, and it made him work that much harder because he was shocked someone could manhandle him the way Reggie White did. So, more power to Tyler. Keep manhandling Mazi so that, like Larry Allen, he will dedicate himself to overcome. Mazi has the potential to be a force. It looks like Tyler Smith can also be a force at Left Guard, and they'll make each other better.

Tyler Smith also had a rep where he made a mental mistake, and pulled when he wasn't supposed to. I'm not making ANY conclusions based on the 2nd day of camp. Even Josh Ball still has a chance in my mind. Obviously, if the Cowboys have given up on Ball, he wouldn't be in the starting rotation at Right Guard. To say that I am crapping on Mazi Smith is just ignorant. Those were just my observations, not my final conclusions.

I hope Mazi makes you eat your words.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Any Asim Richards’ sightings?

In the Cowboys' official camp report videos I saw him working at left tackle with the second team unit.

 

[Bigdog]

I know it is hindsight but maybe we should have picked OG Cyrus in the 2nd instead of Shoomaker. It is still early so time will tell

 

[Jumbo075]

I hope Mazi makes you eat your words.

I won’t have any words to eat. Mazi getting his butt handed to him on day 2 of camp is GOOD for Mazi in the long run.

You need help with reading comprehension.

 

[Jumbo075]

I know it is hindsight but maybe we should have picked OG Cyrus in the 2nd instead of Shoomaker. It is still early so time will tell

The Cowboys don’t draft college guards. They draft centers and tackles, and convert tackles to guards. Nate Newton, Kevin Gogan, Larry Allen, Ron Leary, La’el Collins, Zack Martin, Connor Williams and Tyler Smith all played tackle in college. Even Kyle Kosier started at Right Tackle in college. They all played guard for the Cowboys.

Connor McGovern played Center in college, and Guard in the NFL. He only started one year for the Cowboys, then they went out and drafted Smith in the first round to replace him. The only reason Smith played Tackle last year was Tyron got injured.

The Cowboys have drafted in the last three years Centers Tyler Biadasz and Matt Farniok, and tackles Josh Ball, Matt Waletzko, Tyler Smith and Asim Richards. You can just give up on the idea of the Cowboys drafting a college guard. They don’t do that. They might sign an undrafted college guard, but they won’t waste a draft pick on a guard.

 

[shabazz]

To be fair to Mazi, there aren’t as many dudes as strong as Tyler that he will see

This is going to be great for Mazi in his learning process…..like I’ve said before he’s gonna have some good days and some bad days this upcoming season. time will tell how he learns from it