Thursday Thoughts: On underrated Michigan DT Mazi Smith
Over the years, Michigan coaches have challenged certain players to step up to better the team — guys like Mazi Smith whose emergence could be the difference between good and great seasons. Some were up to the challenge … some weren’t.
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But few over the years have had the pressure put on them defensive tackle Smith did last year. It wasn’t presented negatively, of course. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, Smith’s teammates and others simply singled him out as “the one to watch” given his play in the spring. “Beast” and “monster” were words used prevalently.
That it was a huge position of importance, however, and he was essentially the one guy who could change the interior line’s fortunes became one of the biggest offseason storylines.
Smith’s numbers weren’t huge, as they aren’t expected to be for the run stopper in the middle. He notched 37 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, four pass breakups, and four quarterback hurries in earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. But he more than lived up to his billing as the anchor on the interior line.
New defensive line coach Mike Elston is asking even more of him this year. The Wolverines need pass rushers, and Smith can help there, too.
“I just be the best version of myself I can be. Whether that’s defending the pass, run — it doesn’t matter. I want to do it all.”
And while he understands the importance after losing elite rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo to the NFL, he’s confident in himself and his teammates.
“Everybody can pass rush,” he said.: “Everybody has got the ability. It’s aout knowing what do do and when to do it. I think I’ve made progress in that area. I know there are a couple pass rushers that aren’t there anymore, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have more. We’re coming a long way — everybody. I am. Mike Morris is, and Taylor Upshaw is coming a long way.”
They’ve all got a lot of work to do before the first game, he added, but there’s still plenty of time before the Sept. 3 opener with Colorado State, as well. Elston was hands on with them and “really interactive” in the spring, Smith noted, and helped in that respect.
“He was bouncing off ideas and making sure we understand what we were doing, how to do it and why,” he said. “’Why’ is always important when coaching, and he emphasizes that.”
He’s also continued to emphasize how important Smith is to the defense, and how much more progress he’s made. As former Michigan All-American Jon Jansen, now the Wolverines’ radio color analyst, said, he couldn’t go into Schembechler Hall in the spring without someone saying, “have you heard about Mazi?” and how well he was doing.
There appears to be more depth in the middle this year, but Smith will be the difference-maker. He seemed to embrace the pressure last year, so there’s no reason to believe he won’t take another huge step.
