What top-ranked NFL DTs did in their rookie season

[blueblood70]

P A T I E N C E

Here ?our fans? right..

 

[Risen Star]

Mazi's impact won't be measured in his individual stats.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

All he needs to do is to clog against the run and push the pocket on passing plays. That would result in Mazi having no stats… but it would help the defense considerably.

Bingo! Exactly why I have said they are different monsters......coz their primary job(s) is lots of dirty work with no stats.

 

[JohnBoy]

I really wanted to know, so I looked it up, here it is for anyone else who is curious:

"Aaron Donald: 38 solo tackles, 10 assists and 9.0 sacks in 16 games in his rookie season in 2014."

 

[speedkilz88]

I comped Mazi to Dallas, though always after a trade down. It was a limp draft class, and the pick made sense given Dallas' relative strength at other positions but need in the middle of the defense.

But reality? In most drafts Mazi is a second round pick. He's not an elite prospect nor a refined one. My hope in this thread is to recalibrate Cowboy fans expectations: don't expect too much, especially statistically, and especially not in year one.

If he can help a little in year one...and build on it...the pick can prove a success.

P A T I E N C E

Whatever fans or media thought about Mazi, the Cowboys scouts had him #14 on their board. Still a second round grade but that highly ranked.


He should be judged by how well the defense stops the run with him in there and if he plays well enough in passing situations that they leave him in their on 3rd downs.

 

[Ken]

Currently top-ranked defensive tackles - their rookie season performance
Chris Jones, 28 tackles, 2 sacks
Jeffery Simmons, 32 tackles, 2 sacks
Quinnen Williams, 28 tackles, 2.5 sacks
Dexter Lawrence, 38 tackles, 2.5 sacks
Cameron Hayward, 11 tackles, 1 sack
DeForest Buckner, 73 tackles, 6 sacks. (1st round, pick 7)

I'm not going to include Aaron Donald. No one like him. Not human.

We cannot assume Mazi will become a top six DT. Even if he develops into that... the immediate likelihood is 1 or 2 tackles a game. Maybe one sack in the season.

Yes but Jalen Carter will set the NFL sack record.....

At least that is what should be assumed based on draft "experts" takes on him.

 

[doomsday9084]

First year goal for Mazi: Don't get blown back 5 yards on run plays.

Anything better than that is gravy.

During the first half of the year before Hankins, teams were simply blowing up the middle of the Cowboys line. We all give LVE grief for him making tackles downfield but did anyone notice how much better LVE looked in the second half of the year? Well, not having to dodge guards running free at you will help a linebacker out.

 

[Jumbo075]

Six big individual winners from the Mazi Smith draft pick in round 1:

1. Johnathan Hankins - will only need to play about 25-30% of the snaps, which might extend his career by a couple of seasons. That a couple more Million dollars in his pocket, and that many more chances to win a championship.

2. Osa Odighizuwa - will get less attention from interior Olinemen, which will increase his stat line and effectiveness.

3. Micah Parsons - was rightfully excited because his sack number will go up if the QB’s cannot step up in the pocket because Mazi has pushed the center and guard into his lap.

4. DeMarcus Lawrence - will get more sack opportunities as QB’s try to escape from Parsons. This could land him a nice new contract in two years.

5. Dan Quinn - who will likely Captain an even more effective defensive unit in 2023, leading to another Head Coaching opportunity in 2024.

6. Mike McCarthy - whose offense will get more opportunities during games because the defense shuts down other offenses, and creates more turnovers.

Heck, even Neville Gallimore might benefit because he can trim down and play more often and quicker at his more natural 3-tech position. He probably won’t be a Cowboy in 2024, but if he plays better in 2023, he might be given more opportunities by other teams after this coming season.