Thoughts on the Mazi Smith selection!

[Malhavoc]

Folks still don’t get that every team has different draft boards. Call McClay a hack if you will. But this guy was a top 20 player on their board. Listen to Greg Cosell’s take on the player. He is just 1 guy and certainly is as high on Smith as anyone. The point is if you have a couple of your head scouts who feel the same way, that’s all it takes. I myself would have taken the other Smith. But when your last 3 1st round picks are Lamb, Parsons, and Smith, I’m not going to question it.

 

[gimmesix]

We can put a run defensive front 7 of Tank, Smith, Hankins, and Gholston in the front four with Parsons, LVE and Wilson as the linebackers/SS. Good luck running on us.

Generally run a 5-2 or 3-4 set for run defense, so add one more DL. Of course, with the addition of Mazi, maybe we'll see less of the five-man line.

 

[gimmesix]

One big positive is I do think his run stopping ability is fairy bust proof.

Fingers crossed his pass rush develops and we got a stud.

Yeah, that's the big thing. He's not going to be a bust. He just may not be everything you want from a first-rounder because he's not good enough as a pass rusher to be on the field in clear passing situations. If teams can't run on us because of him and are forced into long-yardage situations where our pass rushers can pin their ears back, I'll consider the pick a success.

 

[cnuball21]

Yeah, that's the big thing. He's not going to be a bust. He just may not be everything you want from a first-rounder because he's not good enough as a pass rusher to be on the field in clear passing situations. If teams can't run on us because of him and are forced into long-yardage situations where our pass rushers can pin their ears back, I'll consider the pick a success.

Also, the more I think about it the more I think the Cowboys might’ve gone DT thinking their other target positions will fall due to depth.

They might look like genius after tonight.

 

[Malhavoc]

Smith was drafted partly for what he is but a lot of it is what he can be. Before knowing anything about him what jumped out at me was the size and movement skills. Guys that size are not supposed to have that kind of lateral quickness. The upside is immense. Can we get it all out of him ? He has the potential to be special.

 

[gimmesix]

Also, the more I think about it the more I think the Cowboys might’ve gone DT thinking their other target positions will fall due to depth.

They might look like genius after tonight.

I think that's the case with tight end. At RB and OL, I think the only players they had rated high enough to be taken were already gone. I really think the debate at 26 was whether to take the TE they liked the most there, and the depth of the position won the debate.

 

[cnuball21]

I think that's the case with tight end. At RB and OL, I think the only players they had rated high enough to be taken were already gone. I really think the debate at 26 was whether to take the TE they liked the most there, and the depth of the position won the debate.

OTs I agree but we could see
some Gs fall.

Torrence
Beegeron
Avila

 

[gimmesix]

Smith was drafted partly for what he is but a lot of it is what he can be. Before knowing anything about him what jumped out at me was the size and movement skills. Guys that size are not supposed to have that kind of lateral quickness. The upside is immense. Can we get it all out of him ? He has the potential to be special.

Having Hankins around may be good for him, too. Hankins is a similar type player who did have one seven-sack year, so maybe he can share with him how to get the most out of his ability.

 

[xwalker]

Smith was drafted partly for what he is but a lot of it is what he can be. Before knowing anything about him what jumped out at me was the size and movement skills. Guys that size are not supposed to have that kind of lateral quickness. The upside is immense. Can we get it all out of him ? He has the potential to be special.

Yes, his movement skills were the biggest surprise to me.

I didn't think his power was as great as some of the draft media claimed but his movements skill were much better than most draft reports.

 

[xwalker]

Also, the more I think about it the more I think the Cowboys might’ve gone DT thinking their other target positions will fall due to depth.

They might look like genius after tonight.

That's normally their thought process as they explain it after the draft each year.

They lean towards the deeper position when debating between 2 or 3 players.

 

[xwalker]

Folks still don’t get that every team has different draft boards. Call McClay a hack if you will. But this guy was a top 20 player on their board. Listen to Greg Cosell’s take on the player. He is just 1 guy and certainly is as high on Smith as anyone. The point is if you have a couple of your head scouts who feel the same way, that’s all it takes. I myself would have taken the other Smith. But when your last 3 1st round picks are Lamb, Parsons, and Smith, I’m not going to question it.

14th player on the board per Jerry.

 

[cnuball21]

That's normally their thought process as they explain it after the draft each year.

They lean towards the deeper position when debating between 2 or 3 players.

That’s the opposite of what I mean.

I’m saying they leaned towards DT at 26 bc TE / G / WR etc are deeper later.

 

[xwalker]

That’s the opposite of what I mean.

I’m saying they leaned towards DT at 26 bc TE / G / WR etc are deeper later.

Yes, I didn't word that well. I meant lean towards waiting on the deeper position.

 

[cnuball21]

Yes, I didn't word that well. I meant lean towards waiting on the deeper position.

Ahh all good.

Let’s hope we can pull it off!

 

[Pass2Run]

My thoughts. It wouldn't have been my pick, but what do I know?

But if this was the pick all along, then it explains the interest in Avila.

 

[Pass2Run]

Folks still don’t get that every team has different draft boards. Call McClay a hack if you will. But this guy was a top 20 player on their board. Listen to Greg Cosell’s take on the player. He is just 1 guy and certainly is as high on Smith as anyone. The point is if you have a couple of your head scouts who feel the same way, that’s all it takes. I myself would have taken the other Smith. But when your last 3 1st round picks are Lamb, Parsons, and Smith, I’m not going to question it.

Exactly.

Sometimes, even if you think you know something, and your decision implies consequences if you're wrong, it's better to hand it over to someone who knows more than you.

Everything else, is just ego.

We can't know everything in life. That's why we have people with specific expertises.

He's been doing this for how long? And us for how long? McCarthy should have just chilled and let him work.

My biggest concern going into next year isn't our players; it's McCarthy. I think we have the squad to get it done.

They did a good job smoke screening TE. Had me fooled, and that's not easy to do, most of the time. But I do sense Jerry has some frustrations towards Mike. I kinda feel like he's always just has pre-canned phrases to deal with every problem, and if you listen to it, it's "It's just like anything else," then whatever he's going to say. It reflects on who he is inside, and it's lazy.

 

[zrinkill]

Its sad that so many young fans think that a DT needs to get a lot sacks to be effective.

Aaron Donald has warped these kids expectations of what a great DT is.

 

[Pass2Run]

To go even further, the truth about it last year is . . . Mike should have taken the initiative to take the bull by the horns last year, and at the very least set up a secondary plan for situations where he's forced to intervene.

Mike is good at preparing. But he doesn't plan well....

If that makes sense.

Not a coach I've seen adapt. How many games has he lost to bad clock management? I think it's something like 6. Coaches like that don't win over the last decade...

Anyway, the difference between us and McClay is that he's been getting paid at it for years, and we're on here, posting about it.

I do it for the fun of it. He's the expert.

If I were drafting for DT, I would have had Mazi more on my radar. But we all scout according to needs-based hunches in the offseason and doubt based on their draft history at the position. We were convinced based on that that we wouldn't do it. We have a certain unrealized bias, and we're just getting started when they've been going year-round. They know about this and bias, and are conscious to have experts in their own fields correct it. It's how you should do things.

I bet they got the right player. As you try to narrow it down, you're always moving things around. But they were going on grades and other data that we don't have access to, or quite simply never thought of.

 

[Pass2Run]

Its sad that so many young fans think that a DT needs to get a lot sacks to be effective.

Aaron Donald has warped these kids expectations of what a great DT is.

Ideally you want both, or they're taking up two roster spots.

That matters in today's games.

Having a guy who gets you both, gives you a way to take an extra offensive weapon to the game....Because he takes up less roster spots.

That's why...

 

[ghst187]

Hate this pick with a passion. Hope to heck I’m horribly wrong