Can New Coach Mike Zimmer 'Fix' Cowboys Rookie Mazi Smith?
The Cowboys approached the 2023 NFL Draft coming off a season where the defense was known for having issues stopping the run. Dallas allowed 1,910 yards total on 459 opponent rushing attempts, and 4.2 yards per carry. The Cowboys defense gave up 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Dallas was hoping to find a run-stopper in the draft, and in the first round, Michigan's Mazi Smith fell to them at No. 26 of the first round - and the pick was made.
Most teams considered Smith to be an elite run-stopper in college, so the pick was justified at the time. The Wolverine was named No. 1 on Bruce Feldman's Freaks List.
It marked the first time the Cowboys selected a defensive tackle in the first round since Russell Maryland was taken with the overall No. 1 pick in 1991. That selection worked out well for Dallas. And they're hoping the Smith pick does, too. ... With new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer likely to have the "fix'' at the top of his list.
Smith reportedly lost a noticeable amount of weight when he arrived in Dallas (we are checking on the facts involved there) and struggled often and early, falling short of expectations in camp and to begin the season.
Mazi saw the field in all 17 regular-season games this season and started three, mainly due to others' injury issues. Smith registered one sack, 13 combined tackles with three for loss and three quarterback hits.
Smith is now a developmental project, which is not how you want to describe a first-round pick in the NFL, even at No. 26. But all is not lost yet, and he's certainly not to be labeled a bust after one season.
Dallas desperately hopes he turns out better than another defensive lineman from Michigan they drafted recently in Taco Charlton - in fact, that comparison isn't fair at all.
The Cowboys have a new defensive coordinator in an old defensive coordinator, Zimmer. ... and he worked with Maryland and others to get yhe best out of them, here in Dallas ... and he did the same as a head coach in Minnesots, too.
Along with Zim will be new staffers and new position coaches. There's still time for Mazi to pan out. Dallas just hopes it's sooner than never.
