1st Round Pick: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

[p1_]

He was 14th on their board, so to them, he was a steal. They did seem to have a bad case of one-itis, though. At that point in the draft, there's no player you absolutely have to have. Would be interesting to know the specifics of the trades they turned down.

You know, they love talking so much, I’m surprised they don’t elaborate on what was proposed/what they turned down.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Does it matter, no, but I love the 58. It's different for an interior DL. Glad Jerry didn't force some old glory days DL number on him.

 

[shoop]

Game Breakdown

Summary: I focused mostly on the pass rush reps because we already more or less know what he brings in the run game. He was 1st-team All-Big 10, played the vast majority of their snaps at NT and they were top 10 in the country in both YPC and YPG, he has some pad level issues to clean up here and there against the run but overall he's going to step in and be very good day 1.

How he develops as a pass rusher is what will make the difference between being a Pro Bowler/All Pro vs. simply a good starter, so that's where I wanted to focus. Overall, he has no idea what he's doing in terms of pass rush plan, counters or anything else, he's basically just trying to push guys off him and run at the QB, but the tools are clear as day.

The game where I really took note of him as a potential 1st rounder was Ohio St., which I watched live during the season, and my main takeaway was that he had rare lateral movement and closing burst once he has a runway for a 320+ lb. man. Going back and watching it again only confirmed that, and if you want to really get hyped on him, that's the clip to watch below.

Aside from that I was really impressed with his power against Avila. I watched a good amount of Avila since I'm of course also interested in him as a prospect and I didn't see anybody forklift him the way Mazi did at times.


Highlights (all times are based on the YouTube video, not the game clock):

• 2:14 - holds POA vs. Wypler, easily sheds, gets in on tackle for 1-2 yard gain
• 2:45 - not a whole lot to see here schematically/formationally but this sort of foot speed is very rare for someone 320+
• 3:35 - shows off a bit of a push+pull that gives him a clean runway
• 3:57 - murders the RG on 3rd and 5 and closes ridiculously fast for his size once he has a runway
• 4:30 - kills Wypler with a crude hump move and forces the ball out a beat fast
• 4:17 - beats Wypler clean with a push+pull, gets caught up with a teammate but I think Wypler may have also tugged at him
• 4:41 - gets to Paris Johnson's edge, shows surprising bend and then fights through the RB for another quick pressure, very rare to see someone his size able to get to the upfield shoulder of an LT and start to flatten out
• 8:06 - really good loop/twist on a stunt, again works through the edge of Paris Johnson and forces the QB off the spot

Other impressive plays: 2:34, 5:57, 7:06, 7:59


Highlights:

• :13 - bull rushes RG straight back into Duggan, QB hit
• :35 - forklifts Avila to the point that he has one leg off the ground, ball is out in 2 seconds but would've been a QB hit otherwise
• 1:28 - beats Avila with a crude swim, has a runway within about 2 seconds but the ball is already out
• 2:14 - knocks a RT 2-3 yards into the backfield on a reach block, directly into the RB's path
• 4:00 - works through Avila's chest, knocks him back about a yard, sheds and finds the ball
• 7:20 - kills the RG, bulls him 4-5 yards into the backfield and nearly puts him on the ground

Other impressive plays: :45, 5:55, 6:31


Highlights:

• 1:37 - speaks for itself, he murders the LG and closes in a flash, the hit on the QB is visually jarring
• 2:33 - beats the LG for immediate pressure, nobody else wins though so he has a clean pocket otherwise and can navigate around
• 4:44 - impressive lateral agility on a loop/twist, again, rare for his size
• 5:16 - beats the LG cleanly again, has a runway in under 2 seconds but the ball is out quick, likely QB hit
• 5:35 - chases down a WR screen, rare change of direction and foot speed for his size
• 7:58 - very impressive crash on a twist/stunt, opens up a huge lane for his teammate to loop around untouched

Other impressive plays: 3:00, 4:20, 4:58

Now, it's not all gumdrops and fairy tales, there are several plays where he gets rooted out of his gap vs. a double team or something along those lines, he has to improve his pad level a bit, but those are relatively easy technical fixes.

The bottom line is he's going to be really good against the run right off the bat while there is so much untapped potential as a pass rusher with his tools. If we can keep Quinn and the DL coach around for another 2-3 years I think this guy will eventually be a Pro Bowler.

Keep in mind, many of these reps came against Avila and Wypler, both of whom will be drafted tonight and are likely starters as rookies.

He is consistent at the point of attack and plays until the whistle. I like that

 

[boozeman]

 

[boozeman]

He and Avila battled it out pretty good.

 

[boozeman]

He is consistent at the point of attack and plays until the whistle. I like that

So he is like the opposite of Gallimore.

 

[p1_]

So he is like the opposite of Gallimore.

Less is Gallimore.

 

[Foobio]

Less Gallimore is more

 

[mcnuttz]

“Mazi, man, listen, welcome to the team,” Parsons said. “You’re someone I wanted to be part of this organization. I love the way you play. I just hope you’re ready to be part of the best D-line in the NFL. I’m going to help you get sacks, you’re going to help me get sacks. Let’s get this Super Bowl. And get paid. I’m super happy.”

I don't even give a shit about Philly drafting UGA players.

We've got Micah a hoss in front of him who's gonna be a disruptor.

Boomsday is really about to be a thing.

 

[son of deadrise]

How the fuck would you know, Jerry?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I don't even give a shit about Philly drafting UGA players.

We've got Micah a hoss in front of him who's gonna be a disruptor.

Boomsday is really about to be a thing.

Screw Georgia, let me know when their defensive players play anything like they look on a track.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Less Gallimore is more

Would you be all that surprised if they take another 3T type to replace Gallimore behind Osa?

 

[mcnuttz]

Screw Georgia, let me know when their defensive players play anything like they look on a track.

The skins ain't won shit with those Alabama DTs.

 

[p1_]

 

[mcnuttz]

Dorrance looks like Diggs

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Imagine thinking that's Armstrong ~shakes head~

 

[p1_]

Imagine thinking that's Armstrong ~shakes head~

Apparently its Fowler.

 

[boozeman]

Mazi Smith draws comparisons to former Cowboys DT Russell Maryland
The Dallas Cowboys made Michigan standout Mazi Smith their first defensive tackle first-rounder in over three decades.

Published: 5:15 PM CDT April 28, 2023
Updated: 5:16 PM CDT April 28, 2023

DALLAS — The last time the Dallas Cowboys took a first-round defensive tackle was in 1991.

Take your pick as to whether it was Russell Maryland at No. 1 overall or Kelvin Prichett at No. 20 overall. Prichett was immediately traded by Dallas to the Detroit Lions for their second, third and fourth-round picks. Regardless, the Cowboys hadn't picked a defensive tackle since then until Thursday night when they grabbed Michigan's Mazi Smith with the No. 26 overall selection in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft.

The organization had valued defensive tackle differently since taking Maryland to leadoff the 1991 draft. Forget using the No. 1 overall pick; the highest the Cowboys would go for a defensive tackle in subsequent drafts would be the third round.

"At the time, we got a lot of flak for over-picking him," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters April 27 after Round 1. "Russell was undersized at the time, but of course he had a great career here. I don’t know if he is still number one in character and quality [years later] and he has turned out to be that way 33 years later, but hopefully we got a player of that quality or with those characteristics. These are different guys."

The 6-foot-1, 300-pound defensive lineman played with the Cowboys through the 1995 campaign, winning three Super Bowls and earning one Pro Bowl in the process. The former Miami Hurricane was part of a defensive line rotation under coach Jimmy Johnson that was aggressive and sent waves of defenders.

"Russell was a gapper type player, in that sense, in terms of the type of players these guys are," Jones said.

The game has changed since 1991 as the NFL is more of a pass-heavy league with the run becoming more de-emphasized. Nevertheless, Smith's presence at 6’-3”, 337 pounds gives the Cowboys an anchor inside their defensive line that should apply pressure and shore up the run defense.

The Cowboys are pleased with the work it took to land Smith.

Said Jones: "We were walking out the door yesterday, and I hit [coach Mike McCarthy] and he said, ‘Mazi.’ This was one of those things that worked that way for us.”

The Cowboys have six picks remaining in the draft with a pick per round with rounds two and three to be selected as the draft resumes on Friday evening.
Are you happy to see the Cowboys take a defensive tackle in the first round?

 

[boozeman]

I will be honest, I don't care for the number.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I will be honest, I don't care for the number.

It is a lot of pressure trying to live up to Teh Shanle.