gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
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I think he'll continue to improve, but I'm not sure it will be seen as a breakout. Improving at his position will consist mainly of tying up blockers so the linebackers can flow to the ball. If the linebackers are free to go make tackles on run downs, then Mazi will have done his job.As a Michigan fan, I was a fan of Mazi in college but not of his slow development. The same seems to be true for him in the NFL. But looking at next gen stats and AI analysis of the position... a breakout could be coming.
"based on observations and data, many DTs see a significant rise in their role and impact after a few seasons, often around their 3rd or 4th year."
The talent is there. The preparation time has been put in... what what about the coach? Eberflus is a fan: "Yeah, I'm excited about Mazi," Eberflus said, via the team's website. "I liked him coming out. He's a real explosive athlete, with a big body type that can move really well. Excited about bringing his game to the next level, and he could certainly do that."
Mazi appeared to "turn the corner" late last year and with the appropriate amount of "seasoning"... I think he could be posed for a breakout this year.
Anyone expecting him to become a three-down player, though, may be expecting too much.