Watch: 10 best things wide receivers coach Taylor Mazzone said after Arizona Wildcats' practice
Taylor coached at Texas A&M for the previous two seasons and is the son of Arizona offensive coordinator, Noel.
Like father, like son
Updated
There's no better resource on Arizona's new offense than Taylor Mazzone, the son of Wildcats offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.
By Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
Taylor Mazzone hails from a football background, and has been around the game ever since he was born.
He grew up around his father and longtime coordinator, Noel, who's Arizona's current offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. While their mannerisms are similar, he'll be the first one to tell you that they each have contrastive styles of coaching.
Taylor is Arizona's outside wide receivers coach, while Theron Aych handles the inside receivers.
Mazzone formerly played wide receiver at East Carolina and finished his playing career in 2009. Ever since then, he's been a coach. Taylor was a graduate assistant from 2010-11 at Arizona State, while Noel was the offensive coordinator. Taylor then became UCLA's quarterbacks coach from 2013-15, followed by two years at Texas A&M before arriving to Tucson.
He's young, but he's been around college football his entire life whether it was observing or actually coaching.
Taylor spoke to the media following Monday's practice, here's what he had to say.
Father-son comparison
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone’s father, Noel, is Arizona’s offensive coordinator. How are they different on the football field? pic.twitter.com/80P16LuJhC
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Initial thoughts on UA
UpdatedArizona outside receivers coach Taylor Mazzone on his group and Saturday’s open practice: pic.twitter.com/QAdcTW6Dkv
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Three names to keep an eye on
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone on receivers Shawn Poindexter, Cedric Peterson and Devaughn Cooper: pic.twitter.com/P3t6rNXY8V
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Speed > length
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone says speed is more important than size when playing outside receiver. Mazzone also talks about the usage of Christian Kirk at Texas A&M, and Shun Brown’s versatility to play slot/outside. pic.twitter.com/Y0opLukVp8
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Taylor's journey to coaching
UpdatedBefore Taylor Mazzone started coaching football, he wanted to go into construction management. His father, Noel, was the OC under Dennis Erickson at the school “up north from here” in 2010. Noel offered Taylor to coach, and the rest was history. pic.twitter.com/ryCFCYETpU
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Working with the receivers
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone: “I’m just enjoying being around a bunch of playmakers.” pic.twitter.com/2qUL8yyRew
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Khalil Tate's helmet camera
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone on why Khalil Tate wears a camera on his helmet in practice: pic.twitter.com/7InfwFHMLf
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
So. Cal recruiting
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone says his areas of recruiting are Orange County and San Diego. “I got it real rough. ... I might carry two bags out on the first day and not come back for about 3 weeks.” pic.twitter.com/JOVQOWMCQ4
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Wide receiver depth
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone on where he wants the wide receiver depth, and the advantages of having two coaches at the position: pic.twitter.com/20cCPSOBbs
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
Wide receivers from 2018 recruiting class
UpdatedTaylor Mazzone on the wide receivers Arizona signed for the 2018 class: pic.twitter.com/n960LJBvxM
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 10, 2018
