Report: Cowboys' Mazi Smith may be dealing with struggles beyond field

[Rayman70]

ok if I am the team, I take Mazi and act like we wont have him available in 2024 as of NOW. Then I trade for a decent plug and play DT. No way this kid is gonna help us. It can't be more obvious. I wish him the best, but this is football, not a rehab unit. Jobs are on the line.

 

[Rayman70]

Another Dan Quinn special

the Nashon Wright of Dt's

 

[Rayman70]

Broaddus has the issues. He is never right. And always picks a player to rag about.

lets hope thats it

 

[xwalker]

It wasn’t a great rookie season for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith, and his sophomore year isn’t starting off any better. Smith’s shoulder surgery could be hampering his ability to make any drastic improvement before Year 2, and now it appears other factors are at play in his developmental curve.

In a recent podcast, former Cowboys scout and current media personality Bryan Broaddus hinted there may be some mental health angles to Smith’s struggles in his rookie season.

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Broaddua is top dumb to articulate the issue.

It's not mental health...it's just that Mazi is "slow witted".

Every scout had to know that before the draft.

The Cowboys had to know that Mazi would likely struggle as a rookie. He was very raw in college but could just out-muscle college OLinemen.

Zimmer won't be obsessed about having his 1tech DT rush the passer...

 

[big dog cowboy]

If Mazi doesn't make the jump this season, we're screwed.

The level of play the Cowboys get from Mazi Smith isn't going to determine how successful the Dallas Cowboys will be this year.

 

[shabazz]

Mental health issues are accepted and acted on by companies for their employees the same as if it was a physical illness or injury.

Football should be treated like any other workplace. Treat it and if that employee can't perform, they should be replaced either temporarily or permanently.

 

[plasticman]

At the end of the article, the newsletter is soliciting their updates by asking the typical question "Like this article?"

NO!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He's rehabbing right now, not in this minicamp. Prior to now the coaches aren't allowed to work with the players.

Guys rehabbing watch practice. He is in all the meetings and the coaches have constant access to him. Just like everyone else.

You act like he is off in Swaziland or something to rehab.

 

[Sydla]

He’s right. If Smith can’t make the jump, the DT position is brutal and teams will just grind us to a pulp.

Dallas’ compete inaction at DT in FA was baffling beyond belief.

 

[jazzcat22]

He’s right. If Smith can’t make the jump, the DT position is brutal and teams will just grind us to a pulp.

Dallas’ compete inaction at DT in FA was baffling beyond belief.

The entire off season has been somewhat baffling.

 

[Rayman70]

much of it is hes immature and needs more help in that regard than others. DQ shot his confidence I think too. The NFL can chew you up and disregard you fast if you come in and aren't ready for the mental part. Lets hope its just a matter of him getting healthy then gaining his mojo back. This is a huge setback for the team and I wouldn't count on him. I'd make a call and see who we can get. The run D will have the same issues again otherwise.

 

[Rockport]

He’s right. If Smith can’t make the jump, the DT position is brutal and teams will just grind us to a pulp.

Dallas’ compete inaction at DT in FA was baffling beyond belief.

So naive but if you haven’t noticed there’s a new DC in town with, apparently, a totally new way for each position to play the way they had before. So just because of the new system, the run game will be better with or without Mazi.

 

[Rayman70]

He’s right. If Smith can’t make the jump, the DT position is brutal and teams will just grind us to a pulp.

Dallas’ compete inaction at DT in FA was baffling beyond belief.

yep, it was DUMB.

 

[jwitten82]

The level of play the Cowboys get from Mazi Smith isn't going to determine how successful the Dallas Cowboys will be this year.

Then what are your expectations for tje run d if Mazi isnt successful?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Broaddua is top dumb to articulate the issue.

It's not mental health...it's just that Mazi is "slow witted".

Every scout had to know that before the draft.

The Cowboys had to know that Mazi would likely struggle as a rookie. He was very raw in college but could just out-muscle college OLinemen.

Zimmer won't be obsessed about having his 1tech DT rush the passer...

huh? I have heard Mazi talk and don't get the impression he has a learning impediment. I heard BB talk and he certainly didn't intimate that.

If BB is saying that he has mental issues that means he is likely working with a therapist in Calvin Hill's old department. That could mean a lot of things.

 

[Rayman70]

He will start on the PUP list. We are lucky if he plays this year honestly.

 

[jwitten82]

So naive but if you haven’t noticed there’s a new DC in town with, apparently, a totally new way for each position to play the way they had before. So just because of the new system, the run game will be better with or without Mazi.

The new DC hasnt coached since 2021, on a one year deal, about to 68 years old. He was never better than Quinn

 

[plymkr]

Basically it sounded like Broaddus was hearing (hinting at) Mazi lacked the mental makeup to be a number one pick of the highest profile team in sports and play under the brightest of lights. Further the disappointing play led led to an emotional downward spiral that fed on itself as the season progressed. That is what it sounded like Broaddus was getting at to me.

I remember the video of the guy who bought Mazi’s abandoned storage unit. You’d think he’d have enough money to keep up with a storage unit. That was a red flag he may be going through some stuff. Hopefully they can get him some counseling and/or a mentor to help him through. It would be a mindscrew being that young with that much money and under this much pressure. Hopefully he’ll get better physically and emotionally prior to the season.

 

[HungryLion]

Mental health issues are accepted and acted on by companies for their employees the same as if it was a physical illness or injury.

Football should be treated like any other workplace. Treat it and if that employee can't perform, they should be replaced either temporarily or permanently.

This is it. And just because he has some
Mental health issues or struggle adjusting doesn’t mean he can’t overcome it with the right treatment.


Also maybe having a coach like Zim will help. Dudes a hard *** but knows how to get across to players.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The new DC hasnt coached since 2021, on a one year deal, about to 68 years old. He was never better than Quinn

We will see how things turn out but Zimmer is different than what we have been running since Phillips. Ryan got a year with his amoeba multiple front ideas.

Zim has done it as his base. He 2 gaps out of an under front a lot. Quinn did a smattering of it his first year but none after.

Have fun doomcasting.