Mailbag: Mazi affected by 3rd different DC?

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

My biggest question/concern is that Mazi Smith is being written off as a Day 1 bust, but he will now be dealing with his third defensive coordinator in three years with each having a different concept on the 1-tech position. Stopping the run and applying pressure to force turnovers seem right up Mazi's alley. Am I not seeing the big picture? Is another year under another coach too much to ask of Mazi? – Bruce Holden/Bowie, MD

Nick: Well, part of the deciding factors on players drafted in the first round vs. the later rounds, is his ability to step right in and contribute. Not to say that all first-round picks don't need the training as others, but they should be more ready to play than others. And if the scheme changes and/or there is a new coordinator or position coach, players like that should be ready to handle all of the changes.

This isn't a slight against Mazi, but you would think he should be able to handle some of these changes and for now, he's adapted well. We saw a big jump from Year 1 to Year 2 and let's see if he continues that this year. I know that Matt Eberflus was extremely high on Mazi when he returned as the DC. He thought Mazi was ready to turn it up a notch and so now we can see if they will be able to work together to make that leap.

Patrik: 'Tis an excellent point that I myself have pointed out a time or one hundred: the fact Mazi Smith is, yet again, being asked to quickly learn and improve under a different defensive coordinator and a different defensive line coaching staff. That's not an excuse. That's an objective fact. To his credit, Smith has still taking steps forward over a very challenging and forgettable rookie season, and I also subscribe annually to the thought process that defensive linemen in the NFL don't usually break out until Year 3. Wouldn't you know it, Smith is entering his third year and he's doing so with a heralded defensive line coach in Aaron Whitecotton, and a heralded defensive mind coordinating the defense, namely Matt Eberflus. Calling a player a bust when he's progressing and started every game in Year 2 is disingenuous to me — adding in the fact his previous coordinator was a rental.

Could he stand to improve more? Yes, of course. Now let's see if this latest staff can fully unlock his potential and prove him worthy of being a Day 1 pick before rendering final judgment on a career that's just truly getting started. After all, not everyone can be Micah Parsons and devour souls right out of the gate.