The Mazi Smith Thread...

Smitty

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We are one game from ending the regular season.
I think he needs an offseason in an NFL weight room. Remember that you don't really get that coming into the league as a rookie. By time the draft happens, mini camps are literal weeks away and then training camp not long after. There is relocating, getting settled into a new home, learning the ropes of the NFL, etc.

I'm not saying this is a complete excuse, but I am saying, I expect all NFL rookies do not get as much weight training time with NFL S&T coaches as veterans do. And for a position like DT that needs to pack on muscle, muscle, muscle, more than any other spot, this is the position where it will show up the most when the player doesn't get enough access to the weight room.

We have very little experience seeing this because we never draft run stopping DTs early. Literally never. Russell Maryland was the last one. Every other time, we draft pass rushing types and even that is more like in the third round or later.

Let's talk to Green Bay. Kenny Clark was similarly a disappointment as a rookie and ended up a very good interior DL.
 

Rev

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The early returns aren't promising, but there are a couple things you have to remember.

1) He's a run stopping DT. You will never be noticing him as a playmaker. That's not who he is and who he was drafted to be. Sacks and TFLs will never be a hallmark for this player, and don't have to be for him to be successful.

2) He's a rookie at a position that demands man-strength maybe more than any other. Give him a year or two in a weight room and let's see.

It may be too late to ever say "this guy is going to be a steal like Vince Wilfork and is gonna be a multi time pro bowler," but becoming a quality starter I don't think it's too late for that.

We will see.
I don't think the people that are discounting him here think it's because of sacks and TFL. We all know that. You can watch him and see the lack of quality play pretty easily. I don't think he has the drive to do that training but we will see. In the meantime grab more players.
 

boozeman

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The early returns aren't promising, but there are a couple things you have to remember.

1) He's a run stopping DT. You will never be noticing him as a playmaker. That's not who he is and who he was drafted to be. Sacks and TFLs will never be a hallmark for this player, and don't have to be for him to be successful.

2) He's a rookie at a position that demands man-strength maybe more than any other. Give him a year or two in a weight room and let's see.

It may be too late to ever say "this guy is going to be a steal like Vince Wilfork and is gonna be a multi time pro bowler," but becoming a quality starter I don't think it's too late for that.

We will see.
If they keep dropping his weight, he will never be a good one technique, which is what I assume he was drafted to be. If they are trying to turn him into a 3-T, good luck.
 

p1_

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By comparison, Jalen Carter has hit “the wall” apparently. Mazi might have beaten him to it.
 

Smitty

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I don't think the people that are discounting him here think it's because of sacks and TFL. We all know that. You can watch him and see the lack of quality play pretty easily. I don't think he has the drive to do that training but we will see. In the meantime grab more players.
Sure, but then see my point #2.

He gets put on his ass. Solution: He needs more strength.

He may be a bust, but it's too early to say he definitely is.

Again, Kenny Clark in Green Bay was similarly thought of as a disappointment after a year in Green Bay, look at him now.
 

Foobio

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Seattle’s 4th round rookie guard beat the shit out of him.

He’s looked like ass from the get go. Even as a run stopper he’s done nothing.

Maybe he’ll turn it around. He needs to because the 2023 draft is already looking like a dumpster fire.
 
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Smitty

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If they keep dropping his weight, he will never be a good one technique, which is what I assume he was drafted to be. If they are trying to turn him into a 3-T, good luck.
Yeah, I mean, it's not out of the realm of possibility that we mis-advise him.

I agree he's given us very little this year. Fortunately he's under contract for 4 more years. When you draft a DT late in the first you shouldn't be counting on immediate impact but future investment.

It's rare but not unheard of that such positions (interior run stopping DT) are immediate hits. You more often have guys who have to marinate a bit before becoming studs. Mazi could end up sucking, but its too early to draw conclusions other than to say it's clear he was not NFL ready in year 1. He may never be, but he could be.
 

boozeman

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By comparison, Jalen Carter has hit “the wall” apparently. Mazi might have beaten him to it.
That is putting it mildly. At least Carter has a ceiling to hit. Taco Mazi is still on the floor.
 
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shoop

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I don't think the people that are discounting him here think it's because of sacks and TFL. We all know that. You can watch him and see the lack of quality play pretty easily. I don't think he has the drive to do that training but we will see. In the meantime grab more players.
Correct , I would happily accept him making tackles at or near the LOS
 

Bill Shatner

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He's fucking awful.

At this point I'll be surprised if he's still in the league after his rookie contract.
 

ravidubey

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By comparison, Jalen Carter has hit “the wall” apparently. Mazi might have beaten him to it.
Carter's been about as good a DT as I've seen, maybe ever, perform in his rookie year.

Jalen Carter > Jordan Davis > Mazi Smith.

Mazi not only was a slight reach but also landed on a team that seems utterly clueless about how to coach and develop young NT talent.
 
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Cowboysrock55

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Carter's been about as good a DT as I've seen, maybe ever, perform in his rookie year.
Aaron Donald has like 9 sacks as a rookie.

But I do think DT's, especially NT's tend to take time to develop. I'd certainly give Mazi an offseason before I start sounding the alarms. But I am absolutely disappointed. I at least hoped as a rookie that he could be a 330 pound dude standing in the middle holding his ground. Instead he is like a 290 pound something who gets knocked around at the first site of a double team. I don't get the idea of slimming him down. Are we trying to make him a 3 technique who is too slow off the ball? That sounds like an awful idea.
 

ravidubey

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Aaron Donald has like 9 sacks as a rookie.

But I do think DT's, especially NT's tend to take time to develop. I'd certainly give Mazi an offseason before I start sounding the alarms. But I am absolutely disappointed. I at least hoped as a rookie that he could be a 330 pound dude standing in the middle holding his ground. Instead he is like a 290 pound something who gets knocked around at the first site of a double team. I don't get the idea of slimming him down. Are we trying to make him a 3 technique who is too slow off the ball? That sounds like an awful idea.
I actually meant to say "non-3T" type DT
 

Rev

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Reading comprehension? I said year not season.
I know what you said and he has had 75% of that year. I think you can get a feel for some things by the play on the field even at his position by now. A glimpse. A play or two. I'm not talking about a sack. Just not to be the last person to jump on the pile.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I actually meant to say "non-3T" type DT
I'm not really sure how much he is lining up at 3 technique verses playing a true NT. But he has been good. I still think it's only a matter of time before the guy's personality puts him in a bad place off the field. But physically he is a very gifted dude.
 

Rev

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Aaron Donald has like 9 sacks as a rookie.

But I do think DT's, especially NT's tend to take time to develop. I'd certainly give Mazi an offseason before I start sounding the alarms. But I am absolutely disappointed. I at least hoped as a rookie that he could be a 330 pound dude standing in the middle holding his ground. Instead he is like a 290 pound something who gets knocked around at the first site of a double team. I don't get the idea of slimming him down. Are we trying to make him a 3 technique who is too slow off the ball? That sounds like an awful idea.
Like I said earlier my main concern is that their view on that position stays the same. I don't expect or need them to cut him. Just don't go away because he has been disappointing. He has 3 more seasons to go to improve before the option year. I don't think he is mentally strong to change but who knows.
 
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