Micah Parsons sends crystal clear message to Mazi Smith

The Dallas Cowboys have had real success with the bulk of their first-rounders lately, perhaps to the detriment of their cap sheet, but the jury is still out on defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The former Michigan star was only a rotational piece for Dallas last season, even though they could have used a more impactful rookie season as they struggled on run defense.

Smith finished the 2023 season with 13 tackles in 17 games. He recorded his first sack in a December loss to the Bills.

Mike McCarthy revealed this summer that Smith had to undergo surgery this offseason on his shoulder. His shoulder recovery, on top of gaining weight back, should have the former first-rounder competing for more reps this season.

Along with the coaches, Smith’s fellow defenders have high expectations for him going into his second year. Star edge rusher Micah Parsons made his expectations crystal clear at training camp.

“It’s not what I think he can be, it’s what Mazi has to be,” Parsons said Friday. “When you get to this business, there is no more of a choice or a can. It’s either you will or you won’t. They usually try to find someone else to do it if you can’t. It’s what Mazi has to be. He has to be dominant. He has to be a force… has to be that guy for us.

“… That’s why they drafted him in the first round,” Parsons added. “You’re not getting drafted in the first round not to be a productive talent. Not to be on the sideline. We drafted him to be in the game. That’s how much confidence I have. I don’t expect Mazi to do anything, it’s what Mazi has to do at this point.”

Mike Zimmer outlines plan for Smith in 2024

Smith is working with a new defensive coordinator this year in Mike Zimmer. Zimmer believes he has a strategy to put the young defender in a better position to succeed this year now that he’s packed on the pounds. His listed weight is now 328, up from the high 290s at the end of last year.

“He lost a lot of weight when he got here,” Zimmer said. “He was trying to be an attacking 3-technique to get up the field.”

“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 added. “That’s the biggest thing. … Yeah, it’s what he did in college.”

Stopping the run is a major focus for Zimmer in his first year as the Cowboys defensive coordinator. The Cowboys open the 2024 season against the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have multiple rushing threats, including quarterback Deshaun Watson. Also, prior to his injury in 2023, running back Nick Chubb had four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The game will serve as a measuring stick to see how far the run defense has come since 2023.