There have been a lot of reactions to Mazi Smith’s debut as the team’s first-round pick this preseason.
Smith, a man who stands 6-foot-3, 337-pounds, is no exception to the rule. He’s not going to line up on the edge and burn around the corners for the highlight reels. He’s going to take on blocks and try to control his gaps.
As a 22-year-old, that’s no simple task, even for a man his size. It’s a grown man’s game inside and struggles aren’t just possible – they’re expected.
To state it simply, Smith hasn’t been great.