New Cowboys coach wins fans over with NSFW critique of Mazi Smith

A number of Dallas Cowboys offensive players have defied expectations in training camp, but what piqued everyone's interest coming into camp was how different the defense would look under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

A number of Cowboys defenders have lauded Zimmer's approach to coaching. They appreciate Zimmer's ability to disguise looks and free up pass rushers. Under Dan Quinn, pass rushers relied solely on speed to overwhelm the opposition That strategy lacked the requisite complexity to confuse offenses.

Zimmer, however, is preaching gap discipline and controlling space. His scheme versatility and demand for accountability has been a breath of fresh air, but that doesn't stop at Zimmer. New defensive run-game coordinator Paul Guenther has made a profound impact, as has new defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina, who actually came over from Washington.

Zgonina has become an instant favorite amongst Cowboys reporters. He's brought an infectious intensity to every practice. Zgonina's in-your-face style of coaching may get some getting used to. Mazi Smith will be the first to attest to that after Zgonina gave him an NSFW earful during individual drills.

Cowboys new DL coach Jeff Zgonina unloads on Mazi Smith in training camp

A former 17-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champ with the Rams, Zgonina looks as if he can still handle his own in the trenches. All kidding aside, Zgonina's no-nonsense coaching style could be the best thing for Smith. He doesn't want to see any players slacking or taking a play/drill rep off.

Zgonina clearly didn't appreciate that Smith was slow to get his hands inside. That was among the things that plagued Smith in his rookie year. His explosion off the snap was poor, which saw him consistently moved off the ball by double teams and singular blocks.

Camp is less than two weeks old, but it appears that Zimmer and Zgonina's tough-love approach is already paying dividends on the former Michigan Wolverine.

While Smith has a long way to come as a pass-rusher, his impact against the run is night and day relative to his rookie year. Smith has done a better job fulfilling his assignment as far as clogging gaps and taking on double teams.

There have been multiple instances where Smith absorbed a double team and a linebacker shot through that gap to bring down a ball-carrier for a minimal gain. John Owning of Pro Football Focus astutely noticed a couple plays where Smith was able to "stack and shed" to make a tackle against the run after one of the blockers double-teaming climbed upfield to combat a linebacker.

These are admittedly small wins in the bigger picture of Smith's development, but it's the little victories in trench warfare that make all the difference and and Smith was anything but fundamentally-sound in year one.

If it takes Zgonina hurling more NSFW and Disney-based critiques to bring out the best in Smith, then let's make it a daily occurrence.

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