UCLA Football: Noel Mazzone -- Ready To Go

I say Noel Mazzone, you say? Dad? Offensive Coordinator? Bearded? All of those are true, but the answer I was looking for was mastermind. Offensive mastermind, that is. No, not offensive as in taking offense to something — though defenses may be doing just that when the season starts. Rather, Mazzone controls one of the few offenses in the nation that can keep relatively close to a team like Oregon. At the helm, and calling some shots, is quarterback Brett Hundley, yet it is Mazzone keeping things on track.

Starting with Virginia, Mazzone will be looking to lead a UCLA offense that is set to explode. With a committee of ball runners in the back field and a Heisman contending quarterback, along with a deep core of receivers that includes the likes of Devin Lucien and Thomas Duarte, the man has got a plan.

More from UCLA Bruins Football

Sure, in the past Mazzone has put himself in tough circumstances running the ball twice, setting up an obvious passing play on third and long, and punting the ball away, but this is the same guy who has so well run the spread offense in UCLA’s system. A system that goes off of signs on the field for each play — signs with Oprah and Smokey the Bear, even Russell Westbrook. A spread offense that has gained so many yards on swing passes in the backfield, or seen a touchdown throw from wide-out Devin Fuller to quarterback Brett Hundley. A spread offense that has witnessed linebackers catch passes, defensive ends run the ball into the end-zone, and a true freshman linebacker tie Maurice Jones-Drew’s four touchdown record in one game.

Nov 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Myles Jack (30) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

All in all, Mazzone has been bitten by his rare conservative coaching, and his sometimes extravagant play calling like a failed fake punt from UCLA’s 25 in a crucial game against Arizona. This season, for what it’s worth, will see Mazzone as a blank slate. Not because anything has changed, but because with new weapons and old leaders, he is ready to set fire to college football and possibly lead the Bruins to the first ever College Football Playoff.

Perfectly matching Jim Mora’s tooth and nail ideals that the defense epitomizes, Mazzone’s up tempo offense is prepared to fight for every yard and claw out every win, and it’s, in part, due to the man on the sideline who comes out fired up every third quarter — no matter what happened in the first half. So yes, Noel Mazzone may be flawed — but he’s human, and as good as UCLA could hope for entering this colossal season.

UCLA Football: Noel Mazzone Profile

By Rick Timmons | Jul 10, 2014