Tag: Mazi Smith

NFL Preseason: Why aren’t Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, Mazi Smith playing for Cowboys vs Raiders?

The Cowboys stars and hopefuls have two different agendas for the preseason. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys will take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night in both teams’ second exhibition game of the 2024 NFL preseason. Fans of the Raiders will have an opportunity to see all of their key players such as newly signed free agent DT Christian Wilkins, edge rusher Maxx Crosby and even WR Davante Adams, who missed last week’s game and would sit out if head coach Antonio Pierce allowed him too.

The same can’t be said for the stars on the Dallas Cowboys’ side of things. Quarterback Dak Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons will be on the sideline for the game. So, too, will future Hall of Famer Zack Martin. Head coach Mike McCarthy has taken a totally different approach to star players playing in the preseason. They don’t.

WR CeeDee Lamb and second-year DT Mazi Smith also won’t be around, but for different reasons. Lamb continues to hold out in hopes that a new contract is coming his way soon. Smith, who would have played in an effort to improve on his lackluster rookie season, but an allergic reaction on Friday kept the former Michigan star from traveling with the team yesterday and they’ve ruled him out as well.

The absence of the key players is a gamble and NFL coaches land on either side of the fence on whether playing is important. Pierce, in his first offseason as a head coach, certainly has his reasons as he looks to set the tone for his ballclub. McCarthy, having been a coach in the league for three decades, sees things differently and doesn’t want to risk injury amongst his impact players.

McCarthy’s way might infuriate some fans who want to see the stars, but it does allow backups and down-roster hopefuls to gain much needed experience with in-game reps which can’t be simulated in practice.

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Questionable status for Cowboys Mazi Smith ahead of match v. Raiders

The Cowboys have officially stated Smith experienced an allergic reaction while at training camp and was treated rather than making the journey for Saturday night’s preseason matchup.

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith could not travel with the team hitting the road to challenge the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Cowboys have officially stated Smith experienced an allergic reaction while at training camp and was treated rather than making the journey for Saturday night’s preseason matchup.

His status will be reevaluated in the morning and Smith is still expected to play against the Raiders unless not cleared to go out.

Mike Garafolo shared the team’s statement regarding Mazi Smith’s health scare.

Smith did not get a lot of playtime in his rookie season with the Cowboys last year so he needs all the preseason experience he can get while developing into his role as a starter for Dallas’ defense. If Smith is unavailable to play versus the Raiders, the Cowboys will be forced to use rookies Justin Rogers and Denzel Daxon in place of their first-string defensive tackle.

Cowboys rookie DT Justin Rogers standing out as a critical defender

Justin Roger’s hot start is important for the Cowboys defense because he plays such a critical role. | From @ReidDHanson

By the time the seventh round of the draft rolls around, teams are just throwing darts. The plug-and-play blue chip prospects are long gone, as are the role players and the wild cards. Developmental prospects are the name of the game late Day 3 and players with NFL traits are often the targets.

The Cowboys saw one of those players in Auburn defensive tackle Justin Rogers when they drafted him with their final pick. At 6-foot-2, 340-pounds, Rogers fits the profile of an NFL nose tackle. Strong and stout, he packs a punch. Maintaining a low center of gravity, he’s capable of maintaining balance against double-team blocks in a way needed to play a 0-1 technique effectively.

Over the offseason, the Cowboys bid adieu to Johnathan Hankins, their previous man in the middle. Hankins was serviceable in that DT role, but he was far from irreplaceable. Hoping to save money, the Cowboys clearly hoped a young player like Rogers, playing on a rookie deal, could take over that key run-stopping role inside. Early returns in camp say he’s doing just that.

While Mazi Smith dominates most fan attention and media headlines, it’s Rogers that looks the part of the run-stopper. Smith projects as the starting 1-tech in Mike Zimmer’s defense but on critical short yardage downs it’s Rodgers who looks like the top option.

It’s a situation Dallas desperately needed to transpire because options inside are extremely limited. If Smith and Rogers couldn’t combine to fill the needs at 1-tech, the Cowboys would likely be forced to look outside the roster for answers.

 

As the Cowboys move into preseason action, the play of Rogers and Smith will be closely watched. It’s still highly possible an outside player will be added once teams are forced to cutdown to 53 on August 27, but until that time arrives, it’s good to see a seventh-round rookie like Rogers stepping up into the much-needed role.

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Mazi Smith showing both good and bad in Cowboys training camp

Pump the breaks on Mazi Smith’s highlights because his main role on the Cowboys is supposed to be as a run-stopper. | From @ReidDHanson

To say the pressure is on Mazi Smith in training camp this summer, is a bit of an understatement. The Cowboys first-round pick in 2023 is coming off a massively disappointing rookie campaign. The Michigan defensive tackle logged the lowest number of defensive snaps for a Dallas first-round rookie since Bobby Carpenter back in 2006.

After doing very little to address the position in free agency and the draft, the Cowboys have painted themselves into a corner with Smith. Despite grading as one of the worst DTs in the NFL last year, Dallas has essentially handed a starting job over to the second-year player. The 23-year-old finds himself penciled in at the 1-technique spot next to Osa Odighizuwa, sparking a “Smith or bust” mentality in Cowboys Country.

Not surprisingly, Smith’s training camp has offered some good news as well as some bad news. The good news is Smith looks bigger and far more explosive off the snap. A year ago, he lost too much weight and was still often the last man off the ball. Now he’s thicker and nearly leading the pack off the snap.

Next, he’s showcasing some of the raw power that landed him No. 1 on Brice Feldman’s Freaks List. Smith is finally playing a little like the powerful and explosive player he was draft to be.

The bad news is that’s not enough.

When discussing Smith on his Love of the Star podcast, Bryan Broaddus pointed out Smith still has a balance issue to contend with. He often gets stuck on one foot, losing his leverage and subsequently taken out of the play.

There’s also an issue with Smith’s confidence. Smith noticeably suffered in this aspect as a rookie and his confidence seems to remain fragile today. Bobby Belt stated, “He seems discouraged,” while Broaddus added Smith is “super tough on himself.”

Onlookers have been treated to highlights of Smith pushing the pocket in training camp and showing the promise he rarely showed as a rookie.

Those eager to see positives have seen them. Smith is penciled into such a vital role in 2024 the Cowboys will find themselves up a creek if he doesn’t move significantly in a positive direction.

Unfortunately, majority of his highlights are in plays he gets to play the aggressor (i.e. as a pass rusher). In plays he gets attacked, like in the running game, his balance gets called into question. Pass protection requires offensive linemen to step back and Smith to charge forward. Run blocking isn’t so passive for an offensive lineman.

This is an important distinction to make because, as a 1-tech DT, Smith’s primary responsibility will be holding up against the run. On passing downs he’ll likely leave the field altogether, making his progress as a pass rusher and pocket collapser somewhat moot.

This isn’t to say his progress isn’t important. It’s just to point out it might not be as significant in regular season application as it might seem in these training camp drills where he’s rushing the passer.

The real test for Smith will be against the run this preseason. Can he maintain his gap integrity? Can he hold up against a good blocker? What about a double team?

It’s great Smith’s pushing the pocket while rushing the passer. All progress must be celebrated, but the Cowboys need Smith to be a serviceable run-stopper and until he shows that, 1-tech is still a major issue on this team.

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Pressure mounting for Cowboys second-year DT Mazi Smith

Second-year defensive tackle Mazi Smith needs a mulligan for Year 1 before the dreaded bust label is placed on his shoulders. | From @BenGrimaldi

When one is a member of the Dallas Cowboys, there’s no shortage of pressure as the eyes of the football world focus in. When that person is also a first-round pick for America’s Team, that burden is amplified even greater.

For last year’s top selection, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, the pressure is mounting after a subpar rookie season.

The story of Smith has been told many times this offseason. The former standout at Michigan never got comfortable with the NFL game under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Smith failed to make an impact at a position where the Cowboys were in dire need of help.

The hope is that Year 2 Smith can be the player the organization expected when they used the No. 26 overall selection on the Wolverine. There was a learning curve that Smith never got over last year, but in 2024 the defense desperately needs the second-year DT to be a quality player.

As much as Cowboys are depending on Smith, the rest of the league sees the pressure growing on the young DT as well. Smith was listed as one of the Top 10 players under pressure for the upcoming season.

As one of six first-round picks from the 2023 draft class mentioned, Smith’s place on the list is well warranted. Early selections are expected to be on the field and contribute, which didn’t happen with Smith, who started just three games and played in only 28% of the snaps. It took an injury for Smith to be thrust into a bigger role, which wasn’t a good sign.

Last year the Cowboys had a veteran starter in Johnathan Hankins to soften the blow of Smith not producing, but that safety net no longer exists. With Hankins now in Seattle, Dallas needs Smith to play like his draft pedigree suggests. As a freak athlete, the team needs to see some of those traits translate on the field under new coordinator Mike Zimmer.

It doesn’t help that Smith could be behind the eight-ball again after shoulder surgery in the offseason, but Zimmer’s arrival might be what Smith needs to get back on track. The Cowboys’ DC has mentioned putting weight back onto Smith and getting him in better position for his scheme in year two.

Smith is projected to be one of the starting DTs for the Cowboys, who have one of the weakest groups of interior defensive lines in the league. If Smith falters again, they team doesn’t have the depth or quality to replace him. Another bad year would also lead to the dreaded ‘bust’ word to be thrown around just two years into his career.

The Cowboys have elite playmakers on their defense, but they are woefully thin on paper at DT. It’s been one of the weak spots on the defense for years and Smith was supposed to solve the problem. He wasn’t the answer as a rookie, but Smith’s still young and can become the player the organization envisioned.

Dallas defense needs the best from Mazi Smith in year two and the pressure is on.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

Report: Cowboys’ Mazi Smith may be dealing with struggles beyond field

Dallas Cowboys second-year defensive tackle Mazi Smith might be delaing with struggles that go beyond the field in 2024 season.

It wasn’t a great rookie season for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith, and his sophomore year isn’t starting off any better. Smith’s shoulder surgery could be hampering his ability to make any drastic improvement before Year 2, and now it appears other factors are at play in his developmental curve.

In a recent podcast, former Cowboys scout and current media personality Bryan Broaddus hinted there may be some mental health angles to Smith’s struggles in his rookie season.

The team and Smith haven’t publicly shared anything along those lines as the second-year DT has rehabbing his shoulder and preparing for training camp. However it’s hard to fathom Broaddus bringing this up without verifying the accuracy.

It’s hard to ignore the pressures that come from being a professional athlete and a highly decorated one as a first-round pick. Combine those burdens with playing for such a high-profile team like the Cowboys while failing to live up to expectations and it’s understandable to see how Smith could be affected.

Smith’s words from his rookie training camp now come under speculation with this revelation. Smith indicated that he’s not one for talking and that the main thing he likes about playing football is being able to hit people. It stands to reason then the spotlight of being a first-round pick for the most famous franchise in sports and not having much success could be weighing on him.

Smith’s rookie season didn’t go planned. He failed to supplant veteran Johnathan Hankins in the starting lineup and struggled for most of the season. Growing pains are normal, especially for a DT, but Smith didn’t contribute at the level most expected from a first-round pick, and perhaps he took that hard. And with his shoulder injury keeping him away from on the on-field work until training camp at the earliest this season, Smith’s impact could be limited in Year 2 as well.

These could be contributing factors in Smith’s confidence level.

If the report is true, Smith’s mental health takes precedence over his play on the field. Calming his thoughts is more important than getting better on the field. There is also little doubt the Cowboys will support Smith as he goes through a difficult time in his young life as that is one thing the organization is famous for.

All the best to Smith if he’s working through any personal issues.

Why Mazi Smith’s weight is so important for the Cowboys success

Mazi Smith’s weight gain is of vital importance to the Cowboys in 2024, says @ReidDHanson.

Mazi Smith had a season to forget in 2023. With only 304 defensive snaps on the year, the Cowboys first round pick struggled to get on the field, let alone crack a rotation. If it wasn’t for injuries and chronic underachievement at defensive tackle, Smith might have never gotten snaps.

Part of Smith’s struggles were understandable while another part was unexplainable. As a raw prospect coming from a read-and-react system at Michigan, it was understandable he struggled with his timing and technique. As a physical marvel and a certified “freak” with a size/strength/athleticism combo that can’t be taught, it was unexplainable why he lost upwards of 30 pounds, rendering his natural talent almost useless.

Rumors ran relentlessly that the weight loss was a request from the Cowboys coaching staff. But all indications are that’s nothing more than rumor and the decision was more Smith’s doing than a calculated request of the coaching staff. Regardless of the cause, the result was a wasted season in which Smith struggled to maintain his gaps, frequently lost ground to single blocks, and was essentially ineffective in areas once deemed his strengths.

Getting Smith back to his pre-draft weight seemed like a priority for the offseason. Johnathan Hankins departed in free agency, creating a massive void in the middle for the Cowboys defense. Girth is important at the 1-tech DT spot because it often faces double teams (center and guard) and it’s often responsible for clogging two gaps.

A slender player, however strong, will struggle to maintain the assignments frequently bestowed upon a 1-tech. That goes for Dan Quinn’s system as well as Mike Zimmer’s.

It’s what Smith could do with all that weight that made him special as a prospect. Without the lead in his shorts, he was no longer effective inside. It’s why his weight this summer is a such an important item to monitor.

At a time of the year when most people are trying to get into swimsuit shape, Smith is hopefully focused on getting up to 1-tech shape. For anyone wondering, that shape is mostly round.

Early reports seem to indicate Smith is back in the buffet line, so to speak. At a listed weight of 328, Smith appears to be on pace for training camp and in store for a far better season. That is, if the listed weight is accurate.

Not all weight gain is good weight gain, so Smith obviously needs to do things the right way. But getting up above his ideal playing weight by training camp may be a good strategy since weight loss is expected as the grind of training camp and rigors of the regular season wear on through the New Year.

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Cowboys haven’t done much to address biggest offseason need

Despite their glaring hole at defensive tackle, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t addressed their need at the position this offseason. | From @BenGrimaldi

The needs for the Dallas Cowboys have been well known since the offseason began, which included running back, linebacker and offensive line. Another hole on the roster, and possibly the biggest, resides at defensive tackle;  a place where the team hasn’t adequately filled the void.

Here the Cowboys sit in mid-May, with their depth chart looking even worse than it did last year when they were carved up in the playoff loss to Green Bay. While one starter remains in Osa Odighizuwa, another is gone, Johnathan Hankins. The replacement for Hankins is second-year DT Mazi Smith, who the team drafted in the first round last year. The Cowboys know Smith needs to make the leap and are counting on him being better in year two.

However, Smith’s development has been slowed due to shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him out until training camp. With a new defensive coordinator in the building, and with the scheme changes, the Cowboys are off to a rough start opposite Odighizuwa.

Smith isn’t the only option at DT, but he’s the most important.

Dallas re-signed Carl Davis this offseason to help on the inside, can use fourth-year man Chauncey Golston at DT, and drafted Justin Rogers in the seventh-round to pitch in. However, no one in that group inspires confidence to play at a high level. Davis is a former third-round selection that hasn’t lived up to expectations and Golston has struggled to find a consistent role since the team drafted him in the same round in 2021.

It looks bleak for the Cowboys at DT. The team doesn’t appear to have many quality options, something their own website recognizes, where they don’t have a starter listed next to Odighizuwa.

Who starts hardly matters in May, but it highlights the lack of talent available for the team. What’s more disappointing is the Cowboys barely made an effort to get better at the position. They allowed Hankins to leave in free agency, waited until the seventh-round to draft help and only signed one undrafted free agent at DT. Counting on Smith to drastically improve when he had a rocky rookie year, and will miss most of the offseason program is wishful thinking.

Davis and Golston are rotational pieces, no one knows what Rogers can be, and even if the team does move second-year man Viliami Fehoko or Marshawn Kneeland inside for snaps, they are first year players at a position that’s difficult to adjust to. Not having much experience and being short on quality talent is not an ideal place to be for the Cowboys at DT.

Also considering the issues the defense has had stopping the run in the playoffs and in big games over the last three years, it’s surprising they haven’t taken upgrading the interior of the defensive line more seriously. This late in the offseason, there isn’t much help available, but the Cowboys should still be trying to find someone who can be an upgrade at DT.

Not finding better options at DT could be one of the big mistakes from the organization in an offseason full of them. Right now, it’s Odighizuwa and everyone else, not exactly a group that instills fear. The Cowboys look worse at DT in 2024 and there’s little reason for offenses to not to continue to run it right at their defense.

The Cowboys haven’t significantly addressed their shortcomings at DT, and it could come back to bite them this season, again.

Shoulder surgeries continue disappointing career starts of Cowboys’ Smith, Schoonmaker

Dallas revealed their two top draft picks from 2023 are going to be out for the duration of the offseason calendar. | From @ArmyChiefW3

This past season was essentially a wash for the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. None of the first three players selected for the club were able to make a significant impact last year, a rare occasion for a club with a reputation for knocking drafts out the park. Second-year impact is now the focus, but that hasn’t gotten off to a great start, either.

Talking at the NFL’s spring league meetings, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy revealed that 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith underwent shoulder surgery this offseason. The injury news didn’t stop there as he revealed second-round tight end Luke Schoonmaker also had shoulder surgery. The Michigan product injured himself during training and underwent the procedure last week.

Smith underwent the surgery shortly after the season concluded and is He’s expected to miss anywhere between four-to-six months, making him unavailable to participate in upcoming OTAs and mini camps.

Dallas used the 26th overall pick on the massive defensive tackle from Michigan in hopes of shoring up their run defense. His rookie season did not go as planned and his play was overshadowed by weight loss questions. Something McCarthy also addressed on the second day of the league gatherings.

Smith played in all 17 games his rookie season but only lined up for 28% of the overall snaps. With the Cowboys reluctant to bring in any outside free agents, expecting Smith to play a significant role in year two has social media in an uproar. This is especially true after veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins chose to sign with Seattle over Dallas.

Schoonmaker’s timeline is expected to be similar to that of Smith. The backup tight end caught eight passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season.

Both players will miss the majority of team activities but should be ready for training camp tentatively scheduled for late July.

Dallas lost third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown for the season in the final preseason game last year with a torn left ACL. Before the injury, the linebacker turned heads during training camp which could have given this class a different feel.

Cowboys lack of capital spent at DT continues to rear ugly head

A thin defensive tackle room with very little salary cap hits makes this group a candidate to be remade with proper investments. | From @ArmyChiefW3

While the Cowboys’ defensive end group takes up a large portion of salary cap space, the opposite can be said of the big boys inside. With a new defensive coordinator, the importance of having guys who can anchor and occupy both players and space is invaluable.

Dallas ranked 27th in the league in ESPN’s run-stop-win-rate, which takes several things into account such as disrupting the running lane, pushing blockers backwards, or recording a tackle within three yards of the line of scrimmage. The nuances of the game make it hard to calculate no matter how much we compartmentalize. A large collection of data is a good indicator that a player is executing his instructions but without knowing the called assignment, an interpretation can be tough. No matter how the team gauges prospects, bodies are needed at the position.