“Superhuman!” Dallas Cowboys Encourage Mazi Smith, a Rookie, Despite His Slow Start: “Everything we had hoped for”
With first-round selections like Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb going on to become instant stars, the Dallas Cowboys have done a fantastic job of drafting in recent years.
Conversely, the Cowboys’ most recent first-round selection, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, hasn’t had as much success right away. In his debut campaign, the former Michigan Wolverine has largely been used as a rotational player, totaling 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. Dallas gave up 266 rushing yards in a 31-10 blowout defeat to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the game in which Smith did not start.
Even if Smith’s rookie season hasn’t gone as planned, the Cowboys still have a lot of faith in their most recent first-round pick.
Coach Mike McCarthy stated, “I think there’s definitely plays he can learn from as far as pad level.” “But I thought he did a good job fighting, staying in his gap, fitting his gap.”
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, offered Smith even more support, stating that he is really happy with Smith’s performance thus far.
“Mazi has shown us everything that we’ve wanted when we took him,” Jones stated. “He definitely needs to keep growing. Mazi will be necessary, and we will require him at the center. In the future, they will attack us using the run game.”
Jones used the phrase “superhuman strength” to go so far as to compare Mazi’s strength in the weight room to that of great lineman Larry Allen.
This season, Smith has been mentored by veteran defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, who covered for him on Sunday. As a result, the two have become close. Hankins has emphasized the need of taking his time and allowing the game come to him naturally in the face of all the criticism directed at his most recent protégé.
October 29, 2023; Glendale,
Jones used the phrase “superhuman strength” to go so far as to compare Mazi’s strength in the weight room to that of great lineman Larry Allen.
This season, Smith has been mentored by veteran defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, who covered for him on Sunday. As a result, the two have become close. Hankins has emphasized the need of taking his time and allowing the game come to him naturally in the face of all the criticism directed at his most recent protégé.
“When you get first-round guys at those positions, you would like to see them splash out and do the same things they were doing in college,” said Hankins. “That doesn’t seem reasonable to me, especially considering this is my first season in the league. This is not where I was at the time. Overall, the game will improve if you learn it. The rest will work itself out.”
Smith is expected to start for the second straight game on Christmas Eve when the Cowboys play the Miami Dolphins, with Hankins out once more. Hankins gave the rookie some straightforward counsel before to the game in question.
Hankins advised, “Just go outside and play; don’t think too much.” Simply launch an attack, break through a wall, and pull off someone’s head. If you do that, everything will sort itself out.”