About eight years ago, Taylor Mazzone’s playing career came to an end.
He was mainly a special-teamer for East Carolina, which lost to Arkansas in the Jan. 2, 2010, Liberty Bowl. Mazzone was a midyear graduate, so it was time to move on. He planned to become a construction manager and sent out 10 e-mails to companies in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area.
About that same time, then-Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson hired Noel Mazzone, Taylor’s father, as the Sun Devils’ offensive coordinator. Noel asked Taylor if he wanted to come to the desert. Taylor wasn’t having much luck in the construction business; maybe he’d give coaching a try instead.
“Day 1, we spent about 15-16 hours in the office just talking ball,” Taylor Mazzone said Monday. “I was like, ‘That’s it? That’s work?’ ”
Mazzone has been coaching alongside his dad ever since. They’re about to spend their ninth year together, this time about 110 miles down I-10.
Mazzone is Arizona’s outside receivers coach. His father is the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. If anyone can help teach Noel’s system, it’s Taylor.
“The father-son business is still rolling,” Mazzone said. “I’m happy to be back in the Pac-12.”
Mazzone and his father spent two seasons at ASU, four at UCLA and the past two at Texas A&M under current UA coach Kevin Sumlin.
Mazzone was the latest Arizona assistant coach to meet with the media. He discussed his position group, the differences between him and his dad and other topics. Here’s a portion of that conversation, which has been lightly edited for context and clarity:
Who or what in your group has stood out the most so far?
A: “Shawn Poindexter’s ability to use his length. Him being 6-5, 6-4, the red zone’s kind of his number. That’s where we’re going to try to use him more. Cedric Peterson’s doing a great job learning the offense; he’s a smart kid. The whole group, as a unit, they’re taking in this new offense and trying to develop what their role is for us. I’m very pleased (with how they’re) preparing and trying to be on top of everything before we cross that white line to play.”
What about Devaughn Cooper?
A: “He’s been doing well. Right now he’s banged up a little bit with a shoulder. We’re trying to get him more reps. The kid has ability. He’s quick at the line of scrimmage. He’s tough to put hands on. You’ve gotta use your strength, and his strength is going to be his speed, getting open at the line of scrimmage and downfield attacking the safeties.”
What are the traits you’re looking for in an outside receiver in this system?
A: “Speed is something you’ve gotta have. If teams are going to go Cover-1 (one deep safety) and put all their guys in the box to stop your run game, you’ve gotta run by that Cover-1 DB. We’ve gotta have a guy that makes the defensive coordinator call a two-high shell to stop the one-on-one throws. So speed is No. 1. And then it goes size, how tall he is. I’ve seen great receivers from 5-10 to 6-3. But we do want to have a bigger-profile outside receiver, a little more physical at the line of scrimmage to get open.”
How would you compare your coaching style to your dad’s?
A: “You’ve gotta have your own personality. We have similar mannerisms. But I’m a little bit more detailed-oriented. He kind of shoots from the hip. It makes him a tough play-caller; it’s hard to cover what he’s trying to call, his tendencies. He’s been there and done that. He knows what he likes to do and doesn’t like to do. All in all, we’re pretty similar, the way we talk, the sayings I’ve learned through him.”
You know this offense better than anyone besides your dad. How can you use that knowledge to help others get up to speed?
A: “One thing about receiving is the patience in your route and getting to the correct depth. I’m explaining to them the progression of the quarterback and what he’s thinking. Understand, if you’re the first read, you’ve gotta get open now. You’ve gotta have some urgency to get open. If you’re the third progression or the fourth progression, take your time. Get to 14 (yards), push it to 16 and come back to the quarterback.
“Just kind of telling them what the timing is for the play, the execution, where the quarterback’s eyes are going. It’s been a lot of fun being in that room and kind of giving them my quarterback knowledge. I’ve been in this offense for nine years. You could say I have a master’s in this offense. I’ve seen it from all different angles.”
What are your recruiting areas?
A: “I’ve got it rough here. I have Orange County and San Diego. I might carry two bags and not come back for about three weeks. I’m excited. I had about three years of recruiting Orange County when I was up in Los Angeles coaching there (at UCLA). Very familiar with that area. Very close to those coaches. … I’m very excited to get the Arizona brand back into Orange County and get them to come to the desert.”
Theron Aych works with the inside receivers. How do the two of you work together when it comes to recruiting?
A: “We all have the same, common goals, and that’s to win and to build the best roster, the best class. He has Texas ties. I have California ties. … We’re kind of tag-teaming it. The kid gets really comfortable having my angle, having his angle. We kind of have that communication back and forth.”
What is the advantage of breaking up the inside and outside receivers?
A: “It’s the focus. It’s the attention to detail. It’s difficult when you’re a receiver coach, you have 15, 16 guys on a roster, and you’re trying to go through each guy. Because each guy is different. You kind of coach each guy like a boxing coach would a fighter. Each fighter is different. You’ve gotta work with his style and what he can do.”
