After a brutal preseason opener for the Dallas Cowboys, they are left with more questions than answers on potential cuts for the 53-man roster. The offense was slow to get going in the first half, and the defense got shredded at one point by former Missouri running back Cody Schrader.
The battle at defensive tackle between Jay Toia and Mazi Smith is far from over. After Toia was basically a no show against the Rams, he's not taking Smith's starting job anytime soon.
However, Smith did cover himself in glory in the game, either. Former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus, now with 105.3 The Fan, kept it real on why Smith won't succeed in Eberflus' system.
"Mazi Smith does not win quickly and Mazi Smith doesn't win in gaps, and to be good in this Matt Eberflus defense, from what I'm seeing, you've got to be able to win and win a gap, and if you have to hold a gap, you've got to be able to hold a gap, and with Mazi, it's not always the case."
Cowboys DT Mazi Smith is trending down entering year three
Of course, it's hard to fight double team blocks, but Broaddus commended Toia to be able to at least stand his own against double teams, and that's why Toia might end up bleeding into Smith's minutes during the season.
The Cowboys' front office was extremely high on Smith. That's why they picked him in the first round two years ago. He may not be what the fan base thought he would entering his third season, but as long as he executes the fundamentals of the position he can have a future with the team.
Smith is lucky Dallas didn't do more this offseason to beef up the DT position. It's one area they should absolutely look into improving before the regular season.
Toia has impressed in camp, but Saturday's loss proved he has a lot of developing to do before he can be trusted with a significant role, let alone take Smiths job.
As Broaddus noted, though, the writing may already be on the wall with how Smith performs in an Eberflus scheme that will ask him to both get upfield and be a rock against the run.