How bad is Mazi?

[kumizi]

One of the worst players in the NFL.

 

[nate dizzle]

Mostert and Achane next week...

 

[Starstruck22]

I know in some respect these are getting as popular as Dak threads, but I had some time this morning and wanted to do a semi deep dive into the guy from the Philly game as he should be getting a bump in snaps this week. This is going to be a simple +/- or no grade scale so it'll be pretty basic like a PFF type of score so take from that what you will.

Eagles Game
Q1
7:18 - Mazi on the field, false start offense, Mazi taken out. No grade

:50 - Lined up at 3T, No issues with the get off, screen play, Mazi reads it and falls back, Philly with a nice design here sending #0 to the right side to make it look like a screen to the right, ends up going to #88 on the left. Mazi a non factor, read the play but to the wrong side. No grade.

:12 - Lined up at 3T, Slightly slow off the ball, gets absolutely destroyed and washed out of the play. -

Q2
3:07 - Lined up at 3T, no issues with the get off, pass play, runs into a C/G double team. Both DTs slanted to the right, Mazi makes a move to go around the C, but overall a pretty weak rush move. No grade

2:33 - 3T, No issues with the get off, Pass play, draws the double team, but no impact on the play. No grade

Q3
14:24 - No issues getting off the ball, Holds ground, zero penetration, draws double team, nice split of the double team but it came too late. Solid gain in Mazi's direction but #1 and #14 were both unblocked because Mazi kept the double team engaged and they should have made the play for a minimal gain. I'll give Mazi a +

13:40 - No issues getting off the ball again, pass play, straight bullrush move and not a very good one, #90 came untouched forcing the ball out quick. No grade

12:02 - Slow get off, pass play, straight bull rush move and a much better one this time. Gets his arms extended on the Olineman and looks to have him off balance. Not a bad play by Mazi but seems to lack a pass rush move off the bull rush, if he had one he was in perfect position to execute on this play but didn't. No grade

11:56 - Slight delay on the get off, trap play by Philly, Mazi gets easily washed down. From the All 22 tape his first step was inside like he was supposed to be A gap which played right into the play Philly had on. I think this is simply right play at the right time by Philly but gotta give Mazi a - as he needs to read that better and at least do a better job of fighting back once the G starts to wash him down like that.

2:52 - No issues with the get off, RPO turned pass, Mazi gets washed out of the play as he plays the run. A non factor in the play but he is playing his responsibilities here. No grade

2:19 - No issues with the get off, 1v1 from either a 2 or 3T, couldn't tell for sure with the G and Mazi does a nice job of holding ground. RB runs right into a wall of players (mazi included) for a loss of 1. +

1:34 - No issues with the get off, pass play, Mazi takes on two players (C/G) with a straight bull rush, falls down when DLaw runs into him from behind - No grade


Q4
9:40 - No issues with the get off, pass play, singled up on the G and just holds ground. Good job getting his hands up, extended, and to the chest of the G but the rip move he uses is pretty weak. No grade


Notes:

* His official snap count was 13, I only found 12
* Strictly a 3T until the Hankins injury
* I gave him 2 +, 2-, and a bunch of nothing
* Him being slow off the ball seems to be overblow. Happens on occasion but not a consistent issue.
* Constantly in a stance with his weight back. This tells me the Cowboys are not asking him to be the explosive player we want him to be, and are letting him be more of a read/react guy, which aligns with his college film. This will be an interesting piece to watch next season with Mazi. If they alter his stance over the offseason it'll be a sign that we are going to see a different style of play from Mazi.
* Small sample size but it seems difficult to move Mazi 1v1, although if you can get him off balance he's basically on wheels.
* Seems to be improving on playing the double team
* The trap play was worrisome to me. Granted it's easy for a 1T to get washed down on those traps he has to fight through it better. Goes back to he's tough to beat straight up, but it seems teams can attack him from an angle easily.
* Excellent bull rush as a pass rusher, did a nice job a times getting extension and his hands in place to make a move, but clearly needs work on his moves that play off the bull rush


Clearly a project player still, but I see what the Cowboys liked in the guy. I haven't really watched Mazi film since early in the year and must say it looks much better right now. As a pass rusher he's clearly got potential but still needs to really develop actual moves. His bull rush will play at this level, and works well with his hands, but he needs something to play off it to actually get pressure on a QB. Right now his best attribute on passing downs is probably as a slow rusher who can move laterally to take away the run lanes for the QB. As a run stuffer I actually didn't hate what I saw. Granted I was expecting the tape to be horrid in this area I didn't notice a huge difference from when Hankins was in the game. The key for Mazi with getting more snaps is really going to be avoiding the ugly plays rather than making more plays. If I'm Buffalo I'm getting some run plays ready where I can throw some traps, reach blocks, etc Mazis way to see if I can move him and open up the middle.

I said he was a bust and it was the preseason. A HUGE WASTED PICK……DISASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[doomsday9084]

I'm surprised how weak he looks. We have all discussed how slow he is off the snap but he is getting driven back 1 on 1. We had all heard about his strength. Apparently he doesn't have the technique to use it.

People can bring up "he is just a rookie" all they want but this looks bad. Quite frankly Bohanna was better as a rookie and Bohanna sucked.

 

[jujoboys]

Wow! Mazi getting blamed for the entire defense playing bad. I saw numerous big runs to the outside that had nothing to do with Mazi. Lots of missed tackles by everyone on the defense and a lot of pile pushing by the Bills. I’m not going to defend Mazi but I didn’t see anyone else on that DLine or the LBers doing much of anything today. Not sure how we can blame one player when all 11 on the field looked bad.

 

[IceStar-D7]

Mazi is bad...He makes Taco look MVP.....Great pick Jerryless and McClay......

 

[ghst187]

They ran run up our Mazi hole

 

[DuncanIso]

Wow! Mazi getting blamed for the entire defense playing bad. I saw numerous big runs to the outside that had nothing to do with Mazi. Lots of missed tackles by everyone on the defense and a lot of pile pushing by the Bills. I’m not going to defend Mazi but I didn’t see anyone else on that DLine or the LBers doing much of anything today. Not sure how we can blame one player when all 11 on the field looked bad.

I think its because Mazi looks like a bust.

 

[Maverick84]

"he's well-spoken"

 

[IceStar-D7]

Wow! Mazi getting blamed for the entire defense playing bad. I saw numerous big runs to the outside that had nothing to do with Mazi. Lots of missed tackles by everyone on the defense and a lot of pile pushing by the Bills. I’m not going to defend Mazi but I didn’t see anyone else on that DLine or the LBers doing much of anything today. Not sure how we can blame one player when all 11 on the field looked bad.

Mazi sucks!@ Period. The rest also but they ain't first round picks. I say get rid of all these clowns next season.

 

[Kumala808]

they don't fix the run def, its done

 

[kumizi]

A bust? Only in the eyes that don't know what is being asked of him at this point. He was ever asked to be a pass rusher in college. And they plan to work him into that for Dallas. It can't happen all in one year for most players.

He is abust to many because he does not have 25 sacks already, for something not asked of him. He is doing what he is supposed to do. Did you read all the play breakdowns in the OP.
Double teamed...that is his assignment for now. That allows other players, the actual pass rushers to be free to get to the QB or the RB.

He’s one of the worst run defenders in the league too. Last week Colinsworth said they had Mazi as literally the worst rated run interior lineman in the NFL.

 

[jazzcat22]

He’s one of the worst run defenders in the league too. Last week Colinsworth said they had Mazi as literally the worst rated run interior lineman in the NFL.

Collinsworth is an idiot. He picked two plays which is probably the only two he seen all year.

 

[thunderpimp91]

He’s one of the worst run defenders in the league too. Last week Colinsworth said they had Mazi as literally the worst rated run interior lineman in the NFL.

I don’t really hate on PFF, but please don’t take it as the gospel either.

 

[HungryLion]

He’s not good right now.

I just am not going to start worrying about “bust” unless he shows no improvement next season.

This is the problem with relying so heavily on the draft to improve the team with very little FA moves. If your draft picks aren’t immediate contributors, the team doesn’t improve.

 

[kumizi]

I don’t really hate on PFF, but please don’t take it as the gospel either.

I mean a guy rated as the worst in the league we can surmise is probably not very good…even if you don’t take it literally.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I mean a guy rated as the worst in the league we can surmise is probably not very good…even if you don’t take it literally.

Look up Trevon Diggs pff grade from 2020 and tell me it’s always accurate. CBs and DTs are probably the two positions I trust least for pff as a reference. I’ll do a deep dive on mazis buffalo tape tomorrow. Honestly I didn’t think he was that bad today however I also shut the game off shortly after half and missed the opening drive.

 

[CATCH17]

Awful pick. Even if he pans out you don’t draft guys like him with premium picks.

 

[Swagger]

Bust.

 

[stilltheguru]

He’s not good right now.

I just am not going to start worrying about “bust” unless he shows no improvement next season.

This is the problem with relying so heavily on the draft to improve the team with very little FA moves. If your draft picks aren’t immediate contributors, the team doesn’t improve.

This is too much sound logic. Not enough emotion!