To this point, former first-round pick Mazi Smith has not lived up to the billing. When the Dallas Cowboys took him out of Michigan, many hoped he would anchor the defensive line for years to come. Smith has not performed as such through two seasons, still looking to capture something heading into Year 3. And […]
To this point, former first-round pick Mazi Smith has not lived up to the billing. When the Dallas Cowboys took him out of Michigan, many hoped he would anchor the defensive line for years to come. Smith has not performed as such through two seasons, still looking to capture something heading into Year 3.
And so far, results have not been good. Those are the words of the man himself. Smith gave a brutally honest assessment of his performance during the Cowboys’ first preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. Not too often do we hear a player speak like this.
“I just have to keep getting better,” Smith said via Patrik Walker. “The first [preseason game], I wasn’t happy with at all, to be honest. I didn’t do anything. I just need to keep learning the scheme and keep getting off the ball. I just didn’t do anything, you know? Like, you gotta do something. I’m a first-round pick. There’s expectations and all that. This is my third year.”
Looking at the stat sheet, you do not see Smith’s name pop up. He did not record a tackle, lining up with him saying, “I didn’t do anything.” Usually, a third-year player who was a first-round pick does not find themselves participating in a preseason game, let alone lacking any contribution.
If there is any defence of Smith, it’s the coaching turnover throughout his career. This will be the third defensive coordinator he has worked with, getting used to Matt Eberflus‘ system. Earlier in training camp, Eberflus broke down what areas Smith needs to improve.
“Biggest thing, I think, is learning how to play with leverage, with power, quickness,” Eberflus said. “He’s got all the talent he needs and once he learns that — it’s a day-to-day process. You grow, you learn, and he’s going through that process right now.”
With or without an improvement from Smith, defensive tackle is going to be a position with major questions for the Cowboys. Stopping the run was far from the team’s strength in 2024, mainly due to the lack of quality players up the middle. Dallas might have the best EDGE room in the NFL but cannot complement them at all inside the tackles.
Smith will have another opportunity to impress on Friday night. maybe easing some of the positional concerns. Preseason game No. 2 comes against the Atlanta Falcons inside AT&T Stadium.
Category: Football
