Mazi looked slow off the snap

[Corso]

I was factoring in everything.

You the man then.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I noticed that when Michigan played TCU. I didn't consider Mazi a 1st round talent.

Yah, he has to be a disrupter and get into the backfield in order for it to be a good first round pick.

He is clearly focuses on one thing, and thats stopping the run. His potential will have to be tapped into.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Mazi wont be a stat grabber, but think he can be a good contributor. Likely splitting snaps with Hankins for most of the season. Different player than Marcus Spears, but Spears was a solid player. I hope for more from Mazi than Spears but if thats his floor itll be a position the Cowboys feel fine with for the next 5-6 years..

Spears was NOT a good first round pick. Lets hope Mazi is better then that.

If thats all Mazi is going to be then we should have gone Oline.

 

[Cowboyny]

This was the big issue that I saw in his first preseason game. Once the ball was snapped he was one of the last to move on our line. At times it looked like he was just waiting for the double team so he could take them on. If he is going to have any success rushing the passer or collapsing the pocket they will need to teach him quicker technique or ques getting off the ball quicker. He is going to have to do more than just take on the double team and not give up ground. And its not like he was NOT giving up ground at times either. He definitely isn't quick enough to chase down QB's.

This was an issue in college, he needs development in this level

 

[quickccc]

Per Bleach Report Scouting Profile

NEGATIVES

— Late reaction to the snap and doesn't have much initial quickness off the ball. This could become a big issue against scoop blocks and reaches at the next level.

— Likes to stand up out of his stance. Quick interior offensive linemen who play with good leverage will be his nemesis against the run at the next level.

— He's slow to get his hands up as a run defender, which will expose his chest and can lead to his shoulders getting turned versus combo and scoop blocks.

— The effectiveness of his bull rush is inconsistent because of his poor get-off and wide hand placement.

 

[Kingofholland]

Spears was NOT a good first round pick. Lets hope Mazi is better then that.

If thats all Mazi is going to be then we should have gone Oline.

I dont think Spears was a bad player or bust. He was here for 8 seasons and did a lot of the dirty work that was probably under appreciated up front. To me Spears was one of those steady starters, nothing flashy.

Hoping for more from Mazi too though. But he may never be someone that racks up more than a few sacks in a seasons. The 1tech or nose rarely does. Even guys like Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton werent big stat guys but doesnt mean they werent great football players.

 

[quickccc]

Per Bleach Report Scouting Profile

NEGATIVES

— Late reaction to the snap and doesn't have much initial quickness off the ball. This could become a big issue against scoop blocks and reaches at the next level.

— Likes to stand up out of his stance. Quick interior offensive linemen who play with good leverage will be his nemesis against the run at the next level.

— He's slow to get his hands up as a run defender, which will expose his chest and can lead to his shoulders getting turned versus combo and scoop blocks.

— The effectiveness of his bull rush is inconsistent because of his poor get-off and wide hand placement.

POSITIVES- Massi Smith (per Bleach Report Scouting Profile)

— Unique blend of size, strength and athletic ability. He carries his frame well, too, with little to no bad weight.

— Tons of power in his hands to stand up to offensive linemen at the point of attack. He can gain control of the block fairly easily, and his upper body strength will occasionally allow him to recover if he gets beat initially against the run.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base.

— When he anticipates the second blocker coming, he can absorb contact and split double-teams.
— Sheds blocks pretty easily and has shown the ability to escape with a swim move/arm over, too.

— Has the potential to be an effective power rusher at the next level if his get-off can improve to be more consistent with his bull rush.

— Also showed flashes of winning with hump and club-by moves and can develop a push-pull move if he gets more limber with his lower half to clear his hips and get a clean win.

— When slanting as a pass-rusher, he has a little more time to get his hands up and has a decent hand-swipe move that he can win with.

https://bleacherreport.com/videos

 

[CowboyRoy]

I dont think Spears was a bad player or bust. He was here for 8 seasons and did a lot of the dirty work that was probably under appreciated up front. To me Spears was one of those steady starters, nothing flashy.

Hoping for more from Mazi too though. But he may never be someone that racks up more than a few sacks in a seasons. The 1tech or nose rarely does. Even guys like Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton werent big stat guys but doesnt mean they werent great football players.

Not so much concerned about sacks as penetration, TFL and pushing the pocket.

 

[CowboyRoy]

POSITIVES- Massi Smith (per Bleach Report Scouting Profile)

— Unique blend of size, strength and athletic ability. He carries his frame well, too, with little to no bad weight.

— Tons of power in his hands to stand up to offensive linemen at the point of attack. He can gain control of the block fairly easily, and his upper body strength will occasionally allow him to recover if he gets beat initially against the run.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base.

— When he anticipates the second blocker coming, he can absorb contact and split double-teams.
— Sheds blocks pretty easily and has shown the ability to escape with a swim move/arm over, too.

— Has the potential to be an effective power rusher at the next level if his get-off can improve to be more consistent with his bull rush.

— Also showed flashes of winning with hump and club-by moves and can develop a push-pull move if he gets more limber with his lower half to clear his hips and get a clean win.

— When slanting as a pass-rusher, he has a little more time to get his hands up and has a decent hand-swipe move that he can win with.

https://bleacherreport.com/videos

Ok so its consistent. I actually had never read that about his slow off the snap issue.

 

[Toro9]

If you can go back to last season and check out a few plays with Hankins. This is what he did also. Don’t seem like it does much but he takes on 2 people out of 5 on there o-line and usually a 3rd may chip on the way by. That leaves LB clean and can free up a D-Lineman at times.

Yeah, you make it 10-on-9 football, with the possibility of him developing into a guy who can push the pocket even with double teams, as I think the OP alluded to.

 

[This is Our Year]

Heck, I’ll be happy if he turns out to be like Jason Ferguson the DT we brought in during the Parcells years.

 

[Playmaker3128]

Do you know how many career sacks Vince wilfork had? 16. Haloti Ngata had 32 in his career, but only 6.5 his first 4 seasons in the league. Each played about 184 career games.

I can see the "mazi doesn't get sacks posts" already... and they are ridiculous. Him being slow off the ball right now isn't a concern, he isn't gonna be warren sapp or Aaron Donald. The guy is there to take up blockers.

This defense has been pretty good in recent years, but its achilles heal has been run d. Especially against the read option. We had no answer cause we were soft in the middle. Between Mazi and Hankins we finally have some guys that can take up space and allow others to make plays.

 

[Pass2Run]

He's a rook at a position that takes a little time to develop. I hope for the best, but it's up to him to improve upon said deficiencies.
He has time, but I know fans don't want to give players time. We're the microwave generations where things better get cooked and on the double.
It is what it is.

Good analogy.

 

[Cowboy06]

The last guy we drafted that was slow off the snap was Taco.

totally different player, position and purpose. That being said....I wouldn't wish a Taco career on anyone...well maybe any other of the NFC East teams....lol

 

[quickccc]

I dont think Spears was a bad player or bust. He was here for 8 seasons and did a lot of the dirty work that was probably under appreciated up front. To me Spears was one of those steady starters, nothing flashy.

Hoping for more from Mazi too though. But he may never be someone that racks up more than a few sacks in a seasons. The 1tech or nose rarely does. Even guys like Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton werent big stat guys but doesnt mean they werent great football players.

ex-Giants 1 tech great Snack Harrison, was not a pass rusher, ..but his immense ability to stuff the run - (such that even Martin and Fredrick had issues vs run with Snack) ... if MAzzi can become like Snack we'll be in great shape leading to our run defense.

 

[quickccc]

totally different player, position and purpose. That being said....I wouldn't wish a Taco career on anyone...well maybe any other of the NFC East teams....lol

Ditto here.

Far different position, role and situation with an edge rusher.. vs a two gap 1 tech interior.

 

[Pass2Run]

I dont think Spears was a bad player or bust. He was here for 8 seasons and did a lot of the dirty work that was probably under appreciated up front. To me Spears was one of those steady starters, nothing flashy.

Hoping for more from Mazi too though. But he may never be someone that racks up more than a few sacks in a seasons. The 1tech or nose rarely does. Even guys like Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton werent big stat guys but doesnt mean they werent great football players.

Spears was legit. He's also one of the few who does decent reporting. He's not a Skip Sayless or Stephen A type..

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

Mazi can be slow he just has to eat double teams

 

[quickccc]

Ok so its consistent. I actually had never read that about his slow off the snap issue.

Per Ourlads Draft scout reports, Mazzi was always the last one off the snap on the DL at Michigan.
Coaches here can work with Mazzi on his get off ..(and not playing so high up) more in the NFL than what Mazzi could at the college level.

He's been late off snap his entire career at Michigan so It's not gonna be overnight success with that kind of change.

But he's no slouch or a Williams Fridge or Gilbert Brown like blob.. he's very athletic, and actually chisled for someone his size.
Also we are not gonna see Mazzi getting tossed around to ground as we see with Gallimore and Bohanna.
You never want to see linemen, ..OL or DL ..always on the ground.

 

[CowboyRoy]

spears was a disappointment for a first round pick.