Mazi Smith isn't that great

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Big_D

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Not reading those. They are reactionary to small samples - its why two of them were written two days apart from each other - and are not data driven. They're also dumb because they are reacting to the Chicago game, which Dallas won by 20 points and voluntarily let the Bears run the ball when down by a lot, and GB, which was lost because of offensive turnovers and big plays through the air.

The run defense was fine. 4th in EPA. I'm going to keep repeating it. They were 4th in EPA. Marginal improvements to the run defense will not make a difference to the success of this team.
The best player on the D, coaches, writers, and actual statistics all say otherwise.. but stick to your guns. Rushing defense was bottom half of the league and it had a snowball effect on the rest of a defense who was very good in select areas but not good enough to make up for the inadequacies in that department. It effects everything from play action to the pass rush and it starts with the ability to plug those gaps in the middle. Using just EPA is comical when you’re 22nd in yardage given up and you still don’t see a problem. You could say EPA all you want. It just tells me you weren’t really watching.
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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The best player on the D, coaches, writers, and actual statistics all say otherwise.. but stick to your guns.
They are wrong, and the statistics prove it.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that any of their losses were because of run-defense deficiencies. Nothing. 0.
 

eromeopolk

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He got his *** handed to him vs TCU. What do you think top tier OL in the NFL are going to do him?


You will never be an NFL scout. It was his play in this game that sealed the deal for the Cowboys as he played with an strained/injured hamstring. What was his stats in that game from the DT position with a injured hamstring?

Scout with your eyes and investigate the facts.
 

kskboys

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Nnadi was not important, Reader could actually penetrate, and LAR did not depend on a player like that when they beat the Bengals...

They shouldn't, because they only averaged 3.5 yards per carry and scored 19 points.
Yes, he was.

Man, you have a lot of stuff floating around in your head that you consider facts that are not facts.

SF rushed for 113 yds against us and that was a big factor in our loss.
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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Yes, he was.

Man, you have a lot of stuff floating around in your head that you consider facts that are not facts.

SF rushed for 113 yds against us and that was a big factor in our loss.
No, he wasn't. The 49ers had 22-141 rushing - that's 6.4 ypc. He played half as many snaps against Philly and they only averaged 3.6 ypc. Nnadi didn't matter.

113 yards is nothing - especially when it is only 3.5 ypc AND you're not generating anything through the air. Plus, the 49ers averaged 138.8 per game during the regular season, so they were significantly less successful against Dallas than most other teams. The 49ers offense was awful against the Cowboys.

You have actually no facts that prove anything so maybe stop pretending you do.
 

75boyz

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No, he wasn't. The 49ers had 22-141 rushing - that's 6.4 ypc. He played half as many snaps against Philly and they only averaged 3.6 ypc. Nnadi didn't matter.

113 yards is nothing - especially when it is only 3.5 ypc AND you're not generating anything through the air. Plus, the 49ers averaged 138.8 per game during the regular season, so they were significantly less successful against Dallas than most other teams. The 49ers offense was awful against the Cowboys.

You have actually no facts that prove anything so maybe stop pretending you do.
Yeah,
maybe a better case can be made for the 2022 playoff 49ers run game over Cowboys run defense. But still not my opinion on the real reason why the Cowboys lost overall.

But the 2023 playoff loss to the 49ers?
Run game defense had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with that loss. 49ers run game totally shut down by Dallas run defense.
Blaming the run defense on that loss is as if they didn't even watch the game.
 
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Mac_MaloneV1

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Yeah,
maybe a better case can be made for the 2022 playoff 49ers run game over Cowboys run defense. But still not my opinion on the real reason why the Cowboys lost overall.

But the 2023 playoff loss to the 49ers?
Run game defense had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with that loss. 49ers run game totally shut down by Dallas run defense.
Blaming the run defense on that loss is as if they didn't even watch the game.
In 2022, they were still under 4 ypc if you filter out the end around to Deebo. Mitchell only averaged 3.6.
 

jaythecowboy

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It isn't just about run defense stats but how they got those results. The Cowboys were often very aggressive to stop the run which left them more susceptible to the pass. I think the goal is for Mazi Smith to play the run well enough that they can devote more resources to covering the passing the game. Then the Cowboys also added Gilmore so hopefully both the run and pass defense will be improved.
 

big dog cowboy

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There are two ways to improve a team. Build upon your strengths or shore up any weaknesses. Dallas was clearly weak in the interior line.
DAL highest rated run interior defender according to PFF was 49th... Chauncey Gholston.

Wanna know the difference between Dallas beating Tampa by 30 versus losing to SF?
Tampa was the worst run offense in football.
Dallas could play pass rush and coverage all day and not allow anything.
SF was the 7th best. --and they were actually better as they added CMC mid-season.
DAL defense was on its heels not knowing what was coming even with a rookie R7 QB that wasn't a rush threat.
More serious truth right there.

GREAT job JT!
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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It isn't just about run defense stats but how they got those results. The Cowboys were often very aggressive to stop the run which left them more susceptible to the pass. I think the goal is for Mazi Smith to play the run well enough that they can devote more resources to covering the passing the game. Then the Cowboys also added Gilmore so hopefully both the run and pass defense will be improved.
Not really. They surrendered to the run game in order to stop the pass in most of their bad games.

Indy, Chicago, Jax were all just empty rushing yards as Dallas played with a lead.
 

atlantacowboy

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This is a BS opinion based on one game where TCU literally ran away from him. Michigans defense lacked speed and TCU exploited it.
 

PackersNation

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Can we wait until the pads go on to start evaluating the 2023 draft?

Really won't truly know what these draft picks are for two years, but at least wait until some meaningful snaps in camp to claim a player: "isn't that great."

No, you don't have to wait 2 years for some of these players to impact the team, but you can't evaluate them before they step on the grass in camp.
 

Acceptablename

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He got his *** handed to him vs TCU. What do you think top tier OL in the NFL are going to do him?


I’ll admit to being sort of a homer but really this guy looks good to me. Remember what it was asked to do which was taken double teams
 

Pass2Run

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He got his *** handed to him vs TCU. What do you think top tier OL in the NFL are going to do him?


He's got a whole team around him. Nothing like his college days. He doesn't have to be the best player on the line. And he won't be. Just solid.
 
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