Watch: 7 best things Arizona OC Noel Mazzone said after Wednesday's practice
-
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
- Updated
UA's offensive coordinator updates the media on backup quarterbacks, tight ends and recruiting Khalil Tate as a linebacker.
Updates from the offense
Updated
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate, left, gets instruction from offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.
Tick, tick, tick. Arizona's season-opener game against BYU is approaching fast and the Wildcats are still figuring out who will be the players Kevin Sumlin and company will lean on.
On offense, Khalil Tate returns as one of the top quarterbacks in the country and for the first time in three years, there isn't a quarterback battle for the starting spot. That doesn't mean there isn't a quarterback battle. Who will be Tate's backup? Most likely candidates: K'Hari Lane, Jamarye Joiner and Kevin Doyle.
Where does the backup quarterback race stand? Mazzone isn't quite sure yet, but he also spoke on other topics about Arizona's offense with two weeks left until the season officially starts. Here's the best from Mazzone on Wednesday:
Backup QB race
UpdatedArizona offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone on the backup QB race: “You can’t give seven guys enough reps.” pic.twitter.com/E94cqLURlj
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
Good cop, bad cop
UpdatedNoel Mazzone on Kevin Sumlin’s input in the QB room: “Every now and then you need that good cop, bad cop deal. ... It makes my job a lot easier.” pic.twitter.com/OyIciH3VTu
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
Khalil Tate the linebacker?
UpdatedNoel Mazzone says Khalil Tate is a “fun guy to coach” and recruited him to play linebacker at UCLA.
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
“But then we signed this other kid named Josh Rosen so we stopped recruiting him.” pic.twitter.com/YNzxJLxjyr
Tight ends could have breakout year
UpdatedNoel Mazzone says he hasn’t had a group like Arizona’s tight ends “in six or seven years.” pic.twitter.com/7FhOBVUHoE
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
'God dang No. 7'
UpdatedNoel Mazzone says LB Colin Schooler has impressed him in practice. Or as he puts it, “that god dang No. 7. ... I wish we would block him more.” pic.twitter.com/jM4azDggjk
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
Arizona's running backs
UpdatedNoel Mazzone has enjoyed watching RBs Gary Brightwell and J.J. Taylor in practice. pic.twitter.com/BsRpcQwd8L
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
Blame on the offense
UpdatedNoel Mazzone on head coaches and quarterbacks taking heat after losses: pic.twitter.com/ULY0yIWOud
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 15, 2018
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
