Mazi Breakout Incoming?

Mazi is what happens when you value testing more than the tape. Dallas fell in love with the athletic profile and testing and ignored the college tape which showed very little of the athleticism translated to the field.

Tape is the gospel. Underwear olympics should just be used to confirm what you see on tape.
Yep exactly.
Those RAS and SPARQ scores become less and less important when the on field product don't match the weight room charade on Sundays.
You nailed the descriptive difference of what's an athlete and what's a football player.
 
Yep exactly.
Those RAS and SPARQ scores become less and less important when the on field product don't match the weight room charade on Sundays.
You nailed the descriptive difference of what's an athlete and what's a football player.
Mike Mayock was talking about how he viewed tape as the basis for evaluations and the athletic testing was just used to confirm what they saw. He said if a guy tested completely out of bounds compared to his tape, good or bad, that’s when they would go reevaluate but ultimately tape was gospel.
Every year a team convinces themselves the athletic profile is too good to pass up and they ignore the tape to their detriment. And it goes the other way where teams talk themselves out of productive players due to testing.
 
Mike Mayock was talking about how he viewed tape as the basis for evaluations and the athletic testing was just used to confirm what they saw. He said if a guy tested completely out of bounds compared to his tape, good or bad, that’s when they would go reevaluate but ultimately tape was gospel.
Every year a team convinces themselves the athletic profile is too good to pass up and they ignore the tape to their detriment. And it goes the other way where teams talk themselves out of productive players due to testing.
Exhibit A: Mazi
 
Yep, and Osi is going to play like a top DT because he got the bag. That’s how it works.

If they don’t add a top DT talent early in the draft, they are going to get stomped against the run yet again by better teams.

Then again, if they don’t add a WR2 they are in danger of having an inept offense. And oh yeah, they need a top back also.

Anyone else catching the big picture here?
Hmm. I like your priorities but we need a
1. D lineman
2. RB
3. WR
 
Mike Mayock was talking about how he viewed tape as the basis for evaluations and the athletic testing was just used to confirm what they saw. He said if a guy tested completely out of bounds compared to his tape, good or bad, that’s when they would go reevaluate but ultimately tape was gospel.
Every year a team convinces themselves the athletic profile is too good to pass up and they ignore the tape to their detriment. And it goes the other way where teams talk themselves out of productive players due to testing.
Not sure Mayock is who I'd be referring about drafting talent.
 
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.
Year 1 was a mistake by the coaching staff.
 
All this was said last year too.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL (post of your career!) lol lol truth!! I mean how much time does a guy need to develop??? A guy can't be useful in his first year,??? We have to make excuse and excuse every year for him?? Nope, he is what he is!!! Cut bait!
 
I mean how much time does a guy need to develop??? A guy can't be useful in his first year,??? We have to make excuse and excuse every year for him??
We knew when he got drafted he needed some time. Then the worst possible thing that could happen to him did. Did you pay any attention to him his rookie year? What happened was 100% on the idiot coaching staff. Last year he started playing better. I don't see anyone making excuses for him.
 
His progression going forward is certainly in doubt especially if his mental state isn't where it needs to be. The NFL is full of examples of talent wasted because the player could not get his head straight. I am rooting for the guy to make a big improvement in his 3rd season. But let's also keep one fact in mind. The coaches did him a disservice by having him lose 30+ pounds during his rookie year. Last season was essentially him just trying to get back to playing at his college weight. This team pulls this crap far too often. They shortened Jay Ratliff's career trying to play him as a NT, a position that he was 30-40 pounds underweight. I think he could have been a perennial pro-bowl type player if they played him where he belonged which is DE in a 3-4. They're doing the same with Parsons - a guy with the talent to make plays at the LB position in a variety of ways, but instead, has now been reduced to a one-trick pony - rushing the QB.
 
We knew when he got drafted he needed some time. Then the worst possible thing that could happen to him did. Did you pay any attention to him his rookie year? What happened was 100% on the idiot coaching staff. Last year he started playing better. I don't see anyone making excuses for him.
so you still claim him being slow off the ball after two years is all coaching
sure
 
His progression going forward is certainly in doubt especially if his mental state isn't where it needs to be. The NFL is full of examples of talent wasted because the player could not get his head straight. I am rooting for the guy to make a big improvement in his 3rd season. But let's also keep one fact in mind. The coaches did him a disservice by having him lose 30+ pounds during his rookie year. Last season was essentially him just trying to get back to playing at his college weight. This team pulls this crap far too often. They shortened Jay Ratliff's career trying to play him as a NT, a position that he was 30-40 pounds underweight. I think he could have been a perennial pro-bowl type player if they played him where he belonged which is DE in a 3-4. They're doing the same with Parsons - a guy with the talent to make plays at the LB position in a variety of ways, but instead, has now been reduced to a one-trick pony - rushing the QB.
being slow off the ball has nothing to do with that
he should have been faster off the ball with less weight AND HE WAS NOT
 
He’s has two seasons left with us.

Contract is GTD.

Doubt they pick up his 5th year.

Will likely be UFA.

He likely gets lost in the rotation.
 
We knew when he got drafted he needed some time. Then the worst possible thing that could happen to him did. Did you pay any attention to him his rookie year? What happened was 100% on the idiot coaching staff. Last year he started playing better. I don't see anyone making excuses for him.
when you're that "big/strong/powerful" you should be expected to do at least something in the nfl. Guys are getting replaced quickly around this league, how many FORMER 1st round picks do we have on our team that we picked up in FA, it happens. Yes he's trending up to some degree, but to make it seem like he couldn't do anything in his first year(s) is an excuse! You're right the coaching staff didn't help him, they wanted him to lose weight to be a pass rusher also. The guy had how many sacks in his collegiate career. Fatten him up lol and make him go stop the run
 
As much as I want to, I just don't see it. Whiffed on this one. We really need to hit on a DT this year.

Or even better, trade for a guy like Hankins. Or just bring him back. Dude was solid at stopping the run.
 
So, just glancing at some of his film from last year (about 30 minutes of good and bad), and considering he's going into this 3rd year, I'd say a "break out" year is possible.

I like him more than Jon Ridgeway.

Mazi got better last year at doing what he was brought in to do, which is take up blockers and help stuff the run.

He's not as bad as I thought if you look into it. He's not the only defender responsible for stopping runners. This could be the year for him.

So, I'll change my answer. I'm a little more optimistic on Mazi. He's got some hustle to his game and isn't nearly as lazy as some try to make it seem.

If he could put on 15 pounds and still stay the same speed, we may have a better run defense this year.

I'd like to see them bring in a vet via FA.
 
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