The Dallas Cowboys selected Mazi Smith in the 2023 NFL Draft to strengthen their defensive line. However, Smith’s rookie campaign was not smooth, with only three starts and 304 snaps. He had 13 tackles and one sack, indicating a lack of coaching, weight change, or insufficient adjustment to the NFL game. Smith’s effectiveness as a rookie is crucial for his second year.
Well, new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer laid out a plan to get Smith back to the level that made him a dominant force with the Wolverines.
“Obviously, he was a high draft pick,” said Zimmer. “I heard that he kinda struggled last year, so we’re gonna start with the basics: get him in a good stance, get him using his hands the right way, getting his footwork the right way and then go from there.
“I talked to him yesterday and asked him what weight he felt comfortable at, so we’ve gotta get him to that point first and then get his strength back, and then we’ll let him go out here on the field. We anticipate he’s gonna be a good player like he was in college, and that’s how we have to go.”
Smith entered the league at around 330 pounds. At Michigan, he was a run-stuffing nose tackle that ate up double teams like a Thanksgiving turkey. However, his weight went under 300 pounds last season, and he resembled more of a 3-tech attacking up field. That’s where the biggest mismanagement came with Smith. He wasn’t asked to be what got him to the level.
Zimmer plans on getting him back to the disruptive force he was instantly expected to be in Dallas.
“We’re gonna probably play blocks a little bit more, and try not to get reached so linebackers know where they’re supposed to fit — so forth and so on,” he said of Smith. “That’s the biggest thing. … Yeah, it’s what he did in college.”
Smith entered the league at around 330 pounds. At Michigan, he was a run-stuffing nose tackle that ate up double teams like a Thanksgiving turkey. However, his weight went under 300 pounds last season, and he resembled more of a 3-tech attacking up field. That’s where the biggest mismanagement came with Smith. He wasn’t asked to be what got him to the level.
Zimmer plans on getting him back to the disruptive force he was instantly expected to be in Dallas.
“We’re gonna probably play blocks a little bit more, and try not to get reached so linebackers know where they’re supposed to fit — so forth and so on,” he said of Smith. “That’s the biggest thing. … Yeah, it’s what he did in college.”
