Mazi has work to do

[Whiskey Cowboy]

he is plenty strong, strongest guy on the team right now.. he needs to get a feel for how the OL's are going to reach for him so he can split doubles...he ate them up last night which is good for a 1 tech once he learns to split them he will be jumping off the tape.

He really did a good job anchoring against most of the doubles he saw, and occasionally beat them to make the play. He looked incredibly strong, even against the Jag regulars. I was impressed with his pass rush. It's pretty clear he's green and needs some seasoning, but more often than not, he was pushing his guy back into the QB. He's no Warren Sapp just yet, but he does have excellent balance and utilizes leverage very well for a rookie.

This was the missing element from last years defense. If he can consistently collapse the pocket, those edge rushers are going to feast this year. If he can hold doubles like he did against Jax, those LBs are going to find clear paths to the runners. It's clear from watching his college tape vs PSG1, he's been receptive to coaching, he's willing and capable of learning and honing his craft. Folks may see a stat line and think the guy was a ghost, but the film says he has the ability to be a catalyst in the middle of that line. Only a matter of coaching it out of him, and we have the staff to do it. I absolutely love that this guy is on the team. It'll be alot of fun to see what he can do in the starting unit.

 

[Playmaker3128]

Aren't we the same fans who criticized ware when he was a rookie early on. "How could we not take merriman" bla bla bla.

It's one meaningless game. RELAX

 

[DuncanIso]

He really did a good job anchoring against most of the doubles he saw, and occasionally beat them to make the play. He looked incredibly strong, even against the Jag regulars. I was impressed with his pass rush. It's pretty clear he's green and needs some seasoning, but more often than not, he was pushing his guy back into the QB. He's no Warren Sapp just yet, but he does have excellent balance and utilizes leverage very well for a rookie.

This was the missing element from last years defense. If he can consistently collapse the pocket, those edge rushers are going to feast this year. If he can hold doubles like he did against Jax, those LBs are going to find clear paths to the runners. It's clear from watching his college tape vs PSG1, he's been receptive to coaching, he's willing and capable of learning and honing his craft. Folks may see a stat line and think the guy was a ghost, but the film says he has the ability to be a catalyst in the middle of that line. Only a matter of coaching it out of him, and we have the staff to do it. I absolutely love that this guy is on the team. It'll be alot of fun to see what he can do in the starting unit.

He’s one dimensional and can’t get off the football.

So he’s been tasked with “anchoring” the line and “eating space,”

He not even listed as a 1 on the depth chart.

I gotta see more.

As Parcells would say, put away the anointing oil.

 

[CyberB0b]

All these instant evaluations...so fricking stupid!

While I agree it is ridiculous to judge him on a preseason game, the old way of evaluating a guy for 3-5 years is dated. High schools and colleges are producing superior athletes to those who came out even 15 years ago. Guys coming into the league now are expected to produce.

 

[Techsass]

He’s one dimensional and can’t get off the football.

So he’s been tasked with “anchoring” the line and “eating space,”

He not even listed as a 1 on the depth chart.

I gotta see more.

As Parcells would say, put away the anointing oil.

I'll admit I've been caught up in a lot of the accolades ever since the draft without having ever seen him play anything. That low-light tape of him had me wondering if he was really any good, but man we've desparately needed a 1 tech. He's just starting out and I fully expect him to get better, which is only going to help. I look at what a difference Hankins has made when he's out there, so I can't help myself from hoping he does an even better job.

 

[jaythecowboy]

Mazi Smith played pretty well. All the long runs were on the edges. He didn't do anything as far as pass rush yet but he was always considered a work in progress there.

 

[locked&loaded]

All I did was point out that Mazi had a quiet first outing, and was met with passive aggressive, sideways accusations that I don't know football, or what I'm talking about.

What was I supposed to say for a guy who had just 1 tackle all night while the Jags out gained us on the ground by 50 yards or so? A first round pick should have at least had 5 to 8 tackles last night.

ouch. these accusations may not be unfounded.

 

[Section446]

Of course he does, dude is a rookie, they all have work to do.

 

[FVSTONE]

How can you tell an apple tree is actually an apple tree? ( whistling.........) Answer: By the fruit it produces. Another way of saying the cliche, talk is cheaper, show it.

When the Cowboys drafted Mazi, the sell job was " he is a great athlete". The Cowboys will coach the NFL into him. Well, a meanless preseason game and training camps, the Dallas Cowboys staff is not producing the fruit they were selling....so far. The staff couldn't do it with John Ridgeway after selling him when he was drafted. Dallas cut him and was picked up by the Commanders, who is a starters for them now.
Not giving up on Mazi, nor did he have a bust game, but being a #1 pick, the 1st showing was somewhat yawning.

And your 2nd round pick --right now --- looks like your 3rd string TE.

Want to see why Dallas can't sniff a NFC Conference game in 30 years, the groceries are bought from ALDI store
(Side note: OL was B-A-D and if just one starter goes down, look out )

Jacksonville dominated his behind all night long. His play was so bad that Quinn made him play deep into a meaningless the game to to get the stink off of him, but the longer he played the lousier he looked. Had Mazi played up to his 1st rd status Quinn would have had him on the bench after the first defensive set so that he didn't get injured. I guess an injury to Mazi never factored in after watching him dance all night with his offensive dance partners...............

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Wow, you guys expecting second coming of Sapp or a boy named Suh out there already. Gimmie a break. PS games are here for a reason, and that is what i am looking for in Mazi. Improvement week to week. Starting point is always roll of the dice. Like the Deuce, he came in with guns blazing. Mazi just came in humbly knocking on the door and seeing who's home. By the first game, i expect him to be kicking down the door with a SWAT team behind him.

 

[stilltheguru]

Same dudes hating on Mazi would've drafted Jordan Davis last year.....who did nothing as a rookie and eagles fans haven't bashed him. We have such a pathetic fanbase

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

While I agree it is ridiculous to judge him on a preseason game, the old way of evaluating a guy for 3-5 years is dated. High schools and colleges are producing superior athletes to those who came out even 15 years ago. Guys coming into the league now are expected to produce.

I think 2-3 years is still the norm....maybe less for a first rounder. But we are talking first month of real NFL action. Gotta give the guy a break. Film breakdown on him shows he was constantly eating double teams and freeing up other players.

 

[manster4ever]

How can you tell an apple tree is actually an apple tree? ( whistling.........) Answer: By the fruit it produces. Another way of saying the cliche, talk is cheaper, show it.

When the Cowboys drafted Mazi, the sell job was " he is a great athlete". The Cowboys will coach the NFL into him. Well, a meanless preseason game and training camps, the Dallas Cowboys staff is not producing the fruit they were selling....so far. The staff couldn't do it with John Ridgeway after selling him when he was drafted. Dallas cut him and was picked up by the Commanders, who is a starters for them now.
Not giving up on Mazi, nor did he have a bust game, but being a #1 pick, the 1st showing was somewhat yawning.

And your 2nd round pick --right now --- looks like your 3rd string TE.

Want to see why Dallas can't sniff a NFC Conference game in 30 years, the groceries are bought from ALDI store
(Side note: OL was B-A-D and if just one starter goes down, look out )

You HAD me he entire post until putting down Aldi Sully...love me some Aldi.

Look, I live in Michigan and saw this kid play. He's solid but nothing special and like I've said on here many times a reach. I said the same thing about Taco Charlton, another over hyped Michigan product and we all saw how he worked out. Here's the main thing about Smith IMO: He's always been the biggest and baddest dude up until now. Pee Wee football, middle school, high school, college ball and now he hits the NFL and most Olineman are bigger and stronger so he has to perfect technique and REALLY rev that motor up to match his opponents intensity. Can he do it? Taco couldn't but I think Smith can IF he wants to. The potential is there but like I said, the playing field is even now and his work ethic and heart will now be under scrutiny. Closest comp on the team? Probably Hankins really, he should be assigned a room with Hank cuz those two have a lot of the same traits. Hoping for all of us he works out, but his early struggles absolutely don't surprise me.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

he stuffed double teams all night, its the EXACT thing we drafted him for, again we drafted a 1tech Rob M is no longer here to make sure we have undersized "Pass Rushers" at the DT while the other team stuffs the ball up the middle. Smith will get better at the pass rush but i think we have that roll filled in spades on this team, we needed a big dude to eat OL's and thats what he did.

He really didn't. Not any better than most DTs. He's getting way too much credit for things that guys like Gallimore have always been doing. It's not like Mazi won every single rep. Besides, eating doubles is not a first-round worthy skillset.

What Mazi did show a couple of times is the ability to create movement (in the stunt, and in disengaging the center). That's where his value is.

 

[OmerV]

When the Cowboys drafted Mazi, the sell job was " he is a great athlete". The Cowboys will coach the NFL into him. Well, a meanless preseason game and training camps, the Dallas Cowboys staff is not producing the fruit they were selling....so far. The staff couldn't do it with John Ridgeway after selling him when he was drafted. Dallas cut him and was picked up by the Commanders, who is a starters for them now.
Not giving up on Mazi, nor did he have a bust game, but being a #1 pick, the 1st showing was somewhat yawning.

And your 2nd round pick --right now --- looks like your 3rd string TE.

Want to see why Dallas can't sniff a NFC Conference game in 30 years, the groceries are bought from ALDI store
(Side note: OL was B-A-D and if just one starter goes down, look out )

Not exactly apples to apples. Of course the team talked about what they saw in Ridgeway - every team talks about what they see in every draft pick. But Ridgeway was a 5th rounder, and Mazi a 1st rounder, and the Cowboys didn't promote Ridgeway as the same kind of talent or having the same expectations as Mazi.

If Mazi doesn't succeed, that's entirely different that Ridgeway not succeeding. It would be much more of a disappointment and black eye for the team.

But while I agree Mazi didn't jump out and wow us this weekend, lit was his first taste of NFL action. Much too early to worry about judgements

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I don't care. That's not his job.
His job is to make the LB's life easier.

I hate this rhethoric so much. This is not a thing that matters in the NFL. Teams scheme numbers to get bodies to LBs, and there's not a single thing a DT can do about it. Mazi isn't in on this play, but the LB (Overshown) still gets blown up.A DT does nothing to prevent this, and it's a staple on modern rushing offenses. If Etienne had any vision, he cuts to the playside B gap the second that 73 gets a seal and its a big gain because Overshown was late off the ball and got knocked down.

This is what modern offenses do, 8 blockers for 7 defenders. Mazi (or any other 1T) would make no difference on this play, the back just didn't see the cut.

 

[KJJ]

Mazi obviously didn’t play very well, because when McCarthy was asked today about his performance, he simply said he’s a young player.

 

[Ken]

I hate this rhethoric so much. This is not a thing that matters in the NFL. Teams scheme numbers to get bodies to LBs, and there's not a single thing a DT can do about it. Mazi isn't in on this play, but the LB (Overshown) still gets blown up.A DT does nothing to prevent this, and it's a staple on modern rushing offenses. If Etienne had any vision, he cuts to the playside B gap the second that 73 gets a seal and its a big gain because Overshown was late off the ball and got knocked down.

This is what modern offenses do, 8 blockers for 7 defenders. Mazi (or any other 1T) would make no difference on this play, the back just didn't see the cut.

Watch this whole video of the plays he was in on.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Watch this whole video of the plays he was in on.

No.

Watch him get blown off the ball at 1:39.



He had good reps and bad reps.

 

[Corso]

I hate this rhethoric so much. This is not a thing that matters in the NFL. Teams scheme numbers to get bodies to LBs, and there's not a single thing a DT can do about it. Mazi isn't in on this play, but the LB (Overshown) still gets blown up.A DT does nothing to prevent this, and it's a staple on modern rushing offenses. If Etienne had any vision, he cuts to the playside B gap the second that 73 gets a seal and its a big gain because Overshown was late off the ball and got knocked down.

This is what modern offenses do, 8 blockers for 7 defenders. Mazi (or any other 1T) would make no difference on this play, the back just didn't see the cut.

I don't care what you hate and the game is the game.
If a team tries to establish the run to get an easy 3rd, but you stop it...
You set yourself up for more success than not.

If a team comes out passing and the DT can collapse, or hold for the others...
You set yourself up for success.