Rookie DT Jay Toia getting 1st team reps during OTAs

[Jarntt]

You guys (and gals) need to tap the brakes on the Toia talk at least a little bit. I mean a run stopping, hole clogging, stand your ground NT more than any other position needs to be evaluated once pads come on. I have high hopes for him, but let's not do the typical thing where we put every draft pick down as an A+++ pick before they even put shoulder pads on (like every other season). Especially not a day 3 pick and especially not a 7th rounder. Let's start with him making the 53 and go from there. I think Justin Rogers is going to have a good camp also. It's great to have this excitement around these guys and I do think it will be a competition where draft status won't hold the value it did in years past and the best players will play, but OTAs are pretty much meaningless for a NT

 

[fivetwos]

How has our 2 year veteran 1st rounder faired? Mazi has absolutely sucked.

I would rather take my chances on a pair of hungry, aggressive and determined 7th rounders, than to keep hoping the BUST named Mazi lives up anywhere close to his 1st round draft pick.

I don’t disagree, but the powers that be seem to think that because they spent a first and gave out a big contract that the position is solved. That’s typical them. We already know that combo won’t cut it. Does Solomon Thomas change that? Highly doubtful.

Just frustrating already knowing what will be the downfall of this team before camp even begins, barring miracles like 7th rounders playing well out of the gate.

 

[America's Cowboy]

There were reasons for Mazi not playing uptown Fans HOF standards. 1st DC had him lose weight, did not play him right. 2nd DC was here as a place holder, didn't really do anything to coach him up.

Now on his 3rd DC. You do know it takes some players 3 years to get it. I will wait and see how he does with his 3rd DC in his 3rd year.

All true.

At the same time, someone as big and strong as Mazi shouldn't need 2+ years to show some kind of improvement. Mazi actually got worse from his rookie year to his 2nd year.

 

[America's Cowboy]

You guys (and gals) need to tap the brakes on the Toia talk at least a little bit. I mean a run stopping, hole clogging, stand your ground NT more than any other position needs to be evaluated once pads come on. I have high hopes for him, but let's not do the typical thing where we put every draft pick down as an A+++ pick before they even put shoulder pads on (like every other season). Especially not a day 3 pick and especially not a 7th rounder. Let's start with him making the 53 and go from there. I think Justin Rogers is going to have a good camp also. It's great to have this excitement around these guys and I do think it will be a competition where draft status won't hold the value it did in years past and the best players will play, but OTAs are pretty much meaningless for a NT

Agreed on Rogers. I do believe he will show up.

As for Toia, if he keeps showing up, it's definitely worth talking about, especially for a 7th rounder.

 

[Pass2Run]

Yes, but you know dogs and their bones.

To me, Mazi's problem is balance, which is difficult to fix. It's also his twitch...he's a slow twitch athlete and his get off gets him in trouble because he doesn't balance well.

That said, he hasn't been as bad as some say he is. He hadn't been great, but not completely terrible.

More like a 4th or 5th round pick than a 1st.

 

[fivetwos]

In fairness to Mazi, there was something up with the whole gain/lose weight thing early on. Not sure exactly what, but it happened (my guess is Quinn said this guy is no nose tackle and he needs to trim down and move to 3T…but, just a guess).

Also, counting his final year at Michigan, this is now his fourth defensive system in four years. Really the path hasn’t been easy for him.

He also didn’t overdraft himself. I can’t even pin this one on Jerry. Based on the video we all saw, it sounded to me as if McClay was pushing for him over the others being considered.

The bottom line is….every team busts first round picks. It should be expected. If you hit on 7 of every ten you’re doing well, but these clowns count on having a productive starter out of every single one of them, and refuse to admit the mistake before doubling down several times.

 

[Reid1boys]

so what exactly is a T doing during OTAs in practice? The one thing we need is to stuff the run. Is much of that happening during OTAs?


Its June. Relax.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

I get you’re playing around a bit, but it’s actually and unfortunately very right.

I cannot at all understand why they put themselves in that spot….having to essentially count on a 7th rounder to contribute immediately, especially after watching themselves get gut punched against the run time and time again.

But hey, get after that passer when the opponent doesn’t need to pass. The Jerry way is working out well.

Since Jay Ratliff and mine you he was the only good DT on that team and he was undersized himself, they keep trying to do patch work on a very critical position. Couple of years ago they brought in Hawkins, then the former Gnats player, as my buddy always says the law of averages, we have to get it right sometime.

 

[fivetwos]

Since Jay Ratliff and mine you he was the only good DT on that team and he was undersized himself, they keep trying to do patch work on a very critical position. Couple of years ago they brought in Hawkins, then the former Gnats player, as my buddy always says the law of averages, we have to get it right sometime.

I just don’t get how there’s no such thing as lesson learned.

Fans see this but they don’t? I really don’t get it and it’s maddening.

These would be legit questions from the media but all we hear about is Pickens jersey number and Micah’s contract.

Things to keep in mind as we are being gutted vs the run in a playoff game they can only hope to make.

 

[deerhunter11]

I think they are counting on the 1st rounder Mazi....a 7th rounder is just bonus if he works out. I don't think they had that intention before the season started.

Jay Toia will be a force in the middle, and every one on the defense will feast because of him.

 

[deerhunter11]

To be fair, he said that in jest. But you'd need a sense of humor to realize that.

This will be a better group of Defensive Tackles than Dallas fielded last year, I think Toia will be a beast.

 

[speedkilz88]

I'm not so sure he really played that much better. I know he had a lot more snaps. i thought he got pushed around just as much as he did the year before and it didn't seem like a double team was needed to do it like it is with a lot of other 1Ts.I think this defense this season will suit him a lot better unless he puts a bunch of weight back on. He just wasn't able to control the gap. In this defense he is going to be asked to penetrate a little more. Heck, it can't be worse.

He was drafted at 323 and had his weight around 310 last year. He's up to 325 this year. Losing that much weight as a rookie can kill strength.

 

[speedkilz88]

All true.

At the same time, someone as big and strong as Mazi shouldn't need 2+ years to show some kind of improvement. Mazi actually got worse from his rookie year to his 2nd year.

This is ********. He was better last year. He had some very good games but was inconsistent. He had over 40 tackles and 4 tackles for losses last year.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Jay Toia will be a force in the middle, and every one on the defense will feast because of him.

I hope so but I wouldn’t count on it.

 

[Jarntt]

He was drafted at 323 and had his weight around 310 last year. He's up to 325 this year. Losing that much weight as a rookie can kill strength.

We all know what happened with his weight. It doesn't matter the reason, the facts are what they are and that's just an excuse. The speed/quickness and lateral movement we were told to expect wasn't there either and that should have improved greatly with the weight loss.
Plus, I don't believe he weighs 325lbs for a second. They told us the same thing last season. Plus they list him at 337lbs

https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/mazi-smith/

 

[boysfanindc]

How could it be worse then rolling out a 36 YO Linval Joseph and Carlos Watkins?

 

[FVSTONE]

Does this mean Mazi Smith might be getting replaced as the starting interior run-stuffing DT?

Heard the same time about Mazi in his rookie year, he was all world until he lined up in front of someone who wasn't sporting a star on their helmet! Then he turned into ALL CRAP DOWN HIS LEG!

 

[Rockport]

Cliff notes members: The thread title and OP are addressed in the video between video marks 0:56 and 2:06 only. It is primarily a recitation of an Athlon Sports excerpt on Jay Toia with personal conclusions based upon it.

Athlon sports is a hack site. Just regurgitated news.

 

[Rockport]

You guys (and gals) need to tap the brakes on the Toia talk at least a little bit. I mean a run stopping, hole clogging, stand your ground NT more than any other position needs to be evaluated once pads come on. I have high hopes for him, but let's not do the typical thing where we put every draft pick down as an A+++ pick before they even put shoulder pads on (like every other season). Especially not a day 3 pick and especially not a 7th rounder. Let's start with him making the 53 and go from there. I think Justin Rogers is going to have a good camp also. It's great to have this excitement around these guys and I do think it will be a competition where draft status won't hold the value it did in years past and the best players will play, but OTAs are pretty much meaningless for a NT

Why? This is the time of year to be optimistic. Sure we won’t know until the pads come on, but what’s wrong with speculating and hoping? Nothing.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Progress? He was ranked 207th out of 219 interior d lineman if you want to go by PFF. Or you can watch him and see he still has zero get off, terrible hand usage and gives up his body way too easily.

Yes progress. He was clearly better than his mismanaged rookie year.