In the Trenches: Smith Talks Continued Improvement, Bye Week as 'Reset Button'
10/20/2021 9:00:00 AM
On this week's edition of the "In the Trenches" podcast, Jon Jansen sits down with defensive lineman Mazi Smith, who discusses his improvement throughout the season, the ways he utilized the bye week, and his mentality on the field and in the locker room. Jon also talks with the creator of the George Jewett Trophy, U-M alum Andy Johnson, about the honor of participating in this process and the journey to getting the trophy to Ann Arbor in time.
By Brian Boesch
Many units on the Michigan football team have made tremendous strides to aid in the program's 6-0 start, and the defensive line is right at the top of the list. While Aidan Hutchinson has stolen many of the headlines, and understandably so, the entire group has helped the Wolverines field one of the nation's best defenses.
Entering 2021, the Wolverines had to replace two-time captain Carlo Kemp within the interior of that defensive line, and Mazi Smith has assumed a starting role. The Grand Rapids native has been honored and driven by that opportunity.
"It's everything you work for, and it's just more motivation to know I can do it and know I just gotta do it every game," Smith told Jon Jansen on this week's edition of the "In the Trenches" podcast.
Smith, like his position coach Shaun Nua, is in his third season with the Wolverines. The two have developed a strong bond, and Smith has taken to Nua's coaching style.
"He's done a great job pointing me in the right direction, and I've kind of taken it and run with it," Smith said. "One of the great things about him is when you make a mistake, he's not the coach that's gonna get on you like certain coaches would. He's the coach that's going to encourage you and trust you to have enough determination to not let it happen again."
Determination will be critical for Smith, and the Wolverines collectively, coming out of the bye week. Everything is still within reach for Michigan, thanks to an outstanding 6-0 start that culminated with back-to-back road victories in hostile environments at Wisconsin and Nebraska.
Last week's bye was a brief respite, as the Wolverines immediately return to action against the reigning Big Ten West Division champion Northwestern Wildcats. Beyond that, Michigan will face three teams currently ranked in the top 10 nationally, including a trip to East Lansing to face 7-0 Michigan State on Oct. 30. Smith takes the "day-by-day" approach, with the expectation that his next game should be his best.
"To me, it's like a new season," Smith said. "We hit the reset button, so now we gotta come back with the focus that we had in Week 1."
"I think we're facing a lot of good teams with a lot of good fronts that are coached well, but we're coached well, too. You gotta get out there and see who wants it more and see who can handle the big stage."
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In the Trenches: Smith Talks Continued Improvement, Bye Week as 'Reset Button' - University of Michigan Athletics - MGoBlue
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