The importance of good defense

[kskboys]

Mazi. He really has no impact on run or passing game

Oh, no doubt. Mazi was a bad pick, and is headed to full bust.

 

[DuncanIso]

Mazi was a bad pick because of his skillset.

Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are both top DTs in this draft and they have all the skills to be great DTs.

It just doesn't follow that because a failed player came from a school that other players at that position from that school are also bad. Unless you're saying the MICH only signs DTs that won't be good in the NFL, I guess.

We were all sold on that pick when it happened. 8(

Then we got to see him in preseason….

 

[DuncanIso]

Oh, no doubt. Mazi was a bad pick, and is headed to full bust.

Likely.

His contract is GTD, so two more seasons.

Unless we can trade him….

 

[kskboys]

We were all sold on that pick when it happened. 8(

Then we got to see him in preseason….

No we weren't. I thought it was a terrible pick. Straightline athlete. That skillset generally dooms a player to backup status.

I really don't remember much excitement about that pick.

 

[CCBoy]

This really isn't that hard to project:

 

[MWH1967]

Absolutely. And a good D starts w/ great DTs. Every time. No exeptions. Can you get this memo to Jerry?

nope!!!!

 

[gtb1943]

nope!!!!

we can send it but he would not read it

 

[Pokes12]

They shared the MVP Martin and White

that game was a little strange: Roger got sacked more than Morton

The O really had a few big plays and that was it

The D was great but not overwhelming. I remember watching that game and felt very confident; but was annoyed the Boys were not just wiping the floor with the Broncos

In today’s NFL the touchdown to Butch Johnson is not a TD. The team played lousy football on offense. Staubach was off.

 

[Jimbo123]

I think they seen his measurables. For his size he’s a freak athlete. But it doesn’t translate to the field for whatever reason. My opinion is he doesn’t work hard enough, learn better technique and lack of effort

I think it doesn’t translate to the field because he doesn't like football; he's probably not interested in working hard at something he doesn't love. I don't think his heart/head is in it. For that reason, I don't think he'll ever work out.

 

[blueblood70]

let me clear this up,

so we're not signaling out one phase or another,

it's all important offensive and defensive lines the trenches the blocking the run game the wide receivers the execution by the players better game plans better play calls better clock management..

I mean you literally need all three phases plus your coaches to be on the same page and to step up and play their best ball against the best competition in the biggest moments and we've had too many from all the phases and coaches to point out that they have fell short for many of the reasons.. There hasn't been one side of the ball or one part of the coaching staff that has been worse than the other there have been pieces from all of it in the moments we can go back and spend too much time on this they have been lacking something in the big games and they have to look at themselves this is mostly on the players and coaches..

So let's hope someday that it all comes together at the right moment...

 

[StarOfGlory]

Sure. But a NT like Reader/Dexter Lawrence/Wilfork/Vea/Jordan Davis is extremely impactful in the passing game. Shutting down the inside running game alone impacts the passing game in a huge way. And collapsing the pocket is the most impactful thing you can do to impact the passing game. Ask any QB what the worst nightmare is, and he'll instantly tell you interior pressure. And your interior pressure DT will not be effective w/o a top NT beside him.

Jalen Carter was the most impactful player in the last super bowl. Sacks: 0 Tackles: 0

When people ask how a player with zero sacks or tackles can be impactful, add in this stat. Number of double and triple teams taken: 50.

 

[CowboyoWales]

I think it doesn’t translate to the field because he doesn't like football; he's probably not interested in working hard at something he doesn't love. I don't think his heart/head is in it. For that reason, I don't think he'll ever work out.

I keep hearing this ....'he doesn't like football'....wasn't the actual quote about liking pushing people about?
The worst thing about the pick was we took a 330 1-tech and tried to making him a pass rush threat ....to justify the pick in the 1st and McClay's comments.

 

[blueblood70]

When people ask how a player with zero sacks or tackles can be impactful, add in this stat. Number of double and triple teams taken: 50.

We do not agree on A lot, both of you are correct. I think people realize if they just Googled it they can find out some of the top pass rushers in this league have similar stats or lack of stats like T J Watt.0-4 in the playoffs 4 games like 1 sack ..pretty similar with Joey bosa and others. Teams do have the ability to take a player away... I don't care how good they are they have to decide is it worth spending that much effort sending 2 to 3 guys to take care of them or running every play at him and then let somebody else on the team eat or in effect the game.

That is the problem with a lot of teams don't have another option at pass rush or devise a game plan knowing this is going to happen so now how do we get sacks and other things to help impact the game when they take your best player out....

And as much as I don't want to talk about the Eagles, they had that they had more than one option to affect the game should carter be neutralized.

 

[Jimbo123]

I keep hearing this ....'he doesn't like football'....wasn't the actual quote about liking pushing people about?
The worst thing about the pick was we took a 330 1-tech and tried to making him a pass rush threat ....to justify the pick in the 1st and McClay's comments.

“I don’t do no talking,” Smith said. “We get straight after it. Nah, I’m trying to hit you. I don’t got nothing to say. “I don’t even like football. I like hitting people.”


Dallas Cowboys NT Mazi Smith doesn’t like football. What does he like about the game?

Jerry needs to start drafting smart players, not ones who "don't got nothing to say"

 

[CowboyoWales]

“I don’t do no talking,” Smith said. “We get straight after it. Nah, I’m trying to hit you. I don’t got nothing to say. “I don’t even like football. I like hitting people.”


Dallas Cowboys NT Mazi Smith doesn’t like football. What does he like about the game?

Jerry needs to start drafting smart players, not ones who "don't got nothing to say"

Exactly, he likes the physicality. He's got no interest in pass-rushing moves..... so why did our scouting team rank him so highly, if he's a run blocking/double team mauler?

 

[fivetwos]

This front office operates as if they are never going to bust a first round pick.

I’ve got some bad news….

 

[fivetwos]

Exactly, he likes the physicality. He's got no interest in pass-rushing moves..... so why did our scouting team rank him so highly, if he's a run blocking/double team mauler?

I’m not so sure it was about them having him ranked so highly. He was picked in the 20s in a not so great class. They had a need at DT since they blew most/all of their weak attempts at fixing the position (which never included spending for a proven veteran), so they passed on LaPorta and took Smith, then forced Schoonmaker in the 2nd.

One mistake fuels the next.

But hey according to them it’s a sound strategy to use the draft to fill all your needs. When you don’t get Horn/Surtain in the 1st, then fixate on a corner in round two, you end up with Kelvin Joseph.

They are about to use pick 12 on a WR2. Let’s see how that goes.

 

[CowboyoWales]

I’m not so sure it was about them having him ranked so highly. He was picked in the 20s in a not so great class. They had a need at DT since they blew most/all of their weak attempts at fixing the position (which never included spending for a proven veteran), so they passed on LaPorta and took Smith, then forced Schoonmaker in the 2nd.

One mistake fuels the next.

But hey according to them it’s a sound strategy to use the draft to fill all your needs. When you don’t get Horn/Surtain in the 1st, then fixate on a corner in round two, you end up with Kelvin Joseph.

They are about to use pick 12 on a WR2. Let’s see how that goes.

We certainly drafting for need. Needed to stop the run and Schoonmaker was viewed as a blocking TE, that would help our whole running game (through the scheme, after the way we'd fallen apart the previous year when Pollard went down).

 

[fivetwos]

We certainly drafting for need. Needed to stop the run and Schoonmaker was viewed as a blocking TE, that would help our whole running game (through the scheme, after the way we'd fallen apart the previous year when Pollard went down).

Yep.

Main point, as examples…going into 2021 they were intent on getting a corner. Didn’t go that way in RD1, so they fixated on it in RD2, and admitted so. Got the fat man’s boss or whatever. Nice pick Jerry.

Wanted a TE when Schultz left in 2023, and when that didn’t happen in RD1 (by choice), they did the same with Schoonmaker in RD2.

Not trying to say I’m some genius, but all along I said that operating that way would eventually bite them.

Let’s see what adding a WR2 as the big addition this off-season does in the long run for the 13th best team in the NFC affording to Vegas.

This team will be fully in the ground shortly, unless somehow Dak on one leg is better than two.

 

[blueblood70]

Exactly, he likes the physicality. He's got no interest in pass-rushing moves..... so why did our scouting team rank him so highly, if he's a run blocking/double team mauler?

Look I'm not saying that this kids not a bust as his primary job hes not very good at,

but his primary job in every nose tackles primary job is not a pass rusher, absolutely not ,zero, you guys are clueless and you're mixing up hybrid guys who play three tech and one tech but pure nose tackles have one primary job , to hold up probably two players and keep the linebackers, safety's, and pass rushers clean and hopefully they can stop the run doing this,​

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but if we're just talking about passing downs their job would to be stand a guy up not let them cross over to their line of scrimmage, it just keeps linebackers clean and stop the run on the way.​

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gap cloggers period!!​

So some of you are absolutely wrong when you think Mazi should learn pass rushing skills, that's what happened in 2023 They made them lose a little weight and know it wasn't 50 pounds, and it probably wasn't even 30 pounds, but they wanted him to be quicker that was a mistake, this guy is supposed to be an anchor that's it.. That doesn't mean there isn't some weird anomaly where you have a nose tackle be able to be a pass rusher and do a pretty good job as a pure nose tackle but most of those guys are hybrids you bring a nascar packaging you put 23 texts next to each other and you're too fast to some best pass rushing skilled guys on the outside on obvious needs to get to the quarterback..

I just want to clear that up and I don't want to hear about the argument I know what a nose tackle is supposed to do when you talk about a pure nose tackle that's his only job he gets pulled when it's in obvious passing situations and then you bring in another 3 tech or your hybrid one tech three tech guy that's never really truly a nose tackle they'll leave him in a nose tackle spots that doesn't make him a pure nose tackle.. This is why the defensive line is the one the most rotated position in football they usually want to be two to three deep especially in the middle and keep the guys fresh but have the proper personnel for the play calls situational football..

I mean why do you think sometimes when offenses are running Hurry up and they're getting up to the line real quick and they're trying to keep the same defense on the field over and over and over they're trying to keep a defense from pulling the nose tackle or bringing in a nose tackle or changing up the defensive line or linebacker core for the right play call so they're going to catch them and just run whatever they want and dictate..

Don't get me wrong I'm not making excuses for Mazi or Hill or whoever else they picked in the line that wasn't very good but I can tell you this you expected him to be smarter and be a better pass rusher is terrible expectations and you're looking at it very very wrong yes they need to get better along the defensive line they need a really a better anchor at nose tackle and maybe he's not a guy but he's also not supposed to be doing what you're saying, those are unicorns..