Thoughts on Mazi Smith thus far?

[McKDaddy]

there are times when "adapting", "scheme", "technique" are valid reasons a player may not be performing as well as expected. other times, it's just football. he isn't looking great in situations where it's just you and the guy in front of you. not encouraging from a first rounder.

 

[Shane612]

Patience. Not only is he getting up to speed technique and football IQ-wise, he is playing with tendinitis in his knee.

For anyone who has had tendinitis, you know what he is going through in playing through the discomfort.

IMO— he will be fine in time. A strong, point of attack 1T that will help against the run and collapse the pocket on occasion. He will get better with time and experience.

That said, those expecting Aaron Donald type production might want to tap the breaks a bit lol

If he has tendonitis that may explain his struggle to move laterally. That's what I noticed from watching him the last to games.
.
Is it tendonitis on his knee? If so it can become serious.

 

[Ken]

If he was a sixth round pick instead of a first round he would not even make the team. So take that how you want it.

Not even close to accurate.

Bohannon has made the team the last two years doing literally nothing.

This guy played well the 1st game and struggled at times yesterday. I need to watch the tape to see how much good there was.

 

[Ken]

Let's see him with all the starters and go from there. He is out there with scrubs as most not doing what they are to do.
Get him with DLaw, Williams (or Fowler or Armstrong), Hankins, threat of Micah. And see how his play improves.

Well it is that but also he will play 20-25 plays a game and won't have his tongue on the ground.

He will be fine, all the usual will be wrong as usual.

 

[Hagman]

We spent a first round pick on him to clog up the middle of the line.
I suspect that the only thing that he's clogged so far are the locker room toilets.

 

[ghst187]

Every "expert" had him as a 2nd round pick...because he has 2nd round talent.

Actually he never even demonstrated 2nd rd talent ON THE FIELD at Michigan ...he just had some very good traits. That's why he was a REACH pick. You get FAT run staffers in the 6th and 7th rds...not in the 1st.

But the Hawks weren't worried about him at all....put ONE blocker on him on RUNNING plays! I get blocking him with 1 guy on pass plays because he is just a fat run stuffer (or we hoped he would be),
But to see him get blown backwards on short yardage run plays by one guy (supposedly his ideal situation) with ease is a major red flag. He just looked like a chubby fat uncoordinated fat boy who likes to eat peanut butter cups and Kool Aide when nobody is looking.

Yep I said similar things when we drafted him and got flamed. Almost never do you see him just whip someone on his college tape, even single blocks. In fact, he scared zero teams into doubling him all game. He may be an underwear Olympics champ in RAS but it hasn’t translated to anything on the field yet at any point in his career. Looking same so far here. Certainly hope we are dead wrong and proven to be fools but I was disgusted by the pick when we made it and my fears are not dying off yet.

 

[wick]

I won't criticize him for his lack of pass rush, because we were never getting that kind of player. Last night was the first game action I've seen of him, and he was not holding the point of attack well at all. That's concerning.

 

[erod]

He looks like he has camp legs. He's tired. Give him time.

 

[StarMan2112]

So far, I’m not impressed. Granted, he doesn’t play a glamorous position where his name gets called a lot. His lack of production in college is concerning to me. Some blamed it on the scheme. I hope they’re right. We’ll see. Hopefully he develops…

 

[Gambit]

Our first round pick, I'll start from camp first. We haven't heard much in camp about him making big plays, he's shown power and loves to hit. But is that translating to the field. Breaking News HE'S JUST A ROOKIE, I know that and I'm NOT counting him out after only a few months. It's a long season, and growth can take place.

What does he need to work on mostly in your eyes??

I'll say this, yes he's a rookie and he's a first rounder who may not be doing much thus far. It doesn't mean he can't make an impression at least. Hoping they coach him up, maybe he backs away from the mic, and just plays football!! Please give your thoughts

I'll first ask some clarification questions so I can give better thoughts.

What big plays are we hearing that Hankins has made in camp? Or Bohanna?

What is a big play for a 1T that would make noise from camp or a 3T?

What role will Mazi play during preseason and how many expected snaps will he see?

 

[Whyjerry]

He wasn’t solid last week.

Same problems as this week.

No way. Someone posted a video here of all his snaps last week. He was much better.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Agree.

He’s not even close to being a 1/starter.

But he’s a 1st round pick, so politics….

That means a player like bohanna is going to get cut.

And you will rue it because Bohanna has been such a huge reason that we are best in the league at stopping the run?
Oh, wait. We picked Smith because guys like Bohanna and Gallimore have been speed bumps. Give him some time.

 

[stiletto]

All I know is he certainly doesn't look like a 1st round talent so far. No other way to say it.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I look forward to watching the game tape from you guys who take time to use the 22s. Line needs it always. Camera only focuses on skill players most the time. Barring a complete collapse, anyone who thinks they can judge the guy based on network coverage is full of it.

 

[Bermystar12]

It's hilarious that you guys pretend to be able to evaluate interior DL play based on live game action.

Comment of the week...in advance

 

[Bermystar12]

I look forward to watching the game tape from you guys who take time to use the 22s. Line needs it always. Camera only focuses on skill players most the time. Barring a complete collapse, anyone who thinks they can judge the guy based on network coverage is full of it.

I watch All 22 every week. I don't post much though because I don't enjoy the levels of extremity that most operate in. Hard to say anything without inviting undue drama.

 

[Cowboyny]

Our first round pick, I'll start from camp first. We haven't heard much in camp about him making big plays, he's shown power and loves to hit. But is that translating to the field. Breaking News HE'S JUST A ROOKIE, I know that and I'm NOT counting him out after only a few months. It's a long season, and growth can take place.

What does he need to work on mostly in your eyes??

I'll say this, yes he's a rookie and he's a first rounder who may not be doing much thus far. It doesn't mean he can't make an impression at least. Hoping they coach him up, maybe he backs away from the mic, and just plays football!! Please give your thoughts

Defensive lineman have a steep learning curve on the next level. Mazi certainly has to get quicker off the snap and stop playing so high. Best hope is, with more reps he gets better.

 

[Gonzomandela01]

The problem is he’s a 1st round pick.

And he isn’t close to being a starter.

And he has zero pass rush skills.

It looks like this pick was bad.

Second pre-season game? Too soon man, too soon.

 

[Maverick84]

Last week he was very solid.

This is a family forum.

 

[Coogiguy03]

It's hilarious that you guys pretend to be able to evaluate interior DL play based on live game action.

More funny that you've probably never played