Defending the Best Offensive Minds - UCLA Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone

Theoretical Football

“Theoretical football is the notion that American football is an exceedingly complex sport that requires a branch of learning. Its goal is to accentuate the cerebral, academic, and quantifiable

aspects of American football.” - Denauld William Brown

Contact Twitter: @theofootball Email: [email protected]

Defending The Best Offensive Minds

Topic: Noel Mazzone

Offensive Coordinator UCLA

By Denauld William Brown

This is a continued series on how to read and defend offensive formations pre-snap. We will discuss the pre-snap formations run by

UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone. We will also give an in-depth look at some of the formational intent that defines this

master architect.

NEXT TOPIC: Chip Kelly

Head Football Coach

Philadelphia Eagles

X

There is a precision about

Noel Mazzone that

displays excellence through

his formations. Every

formation is purposeful

and meaningful. There are

three factors about a Noel

Mazzone formation that

really stands out. The first

aspect is the “offset”

feature of the backfield

sets he employs. It can be

better described as an

“offset pistol.” Secondly,

the flipping of the “Y” or

#3 receiver on the line of

scrimmage in many of his

formations is very

important. Lastly, his pre-

snap quick motions provide

for a unique signature for

this master play caller. The

offset pistol is a great

feature that really has not

caught on in the college

game. The question that

needs to be asked is what

makes the “offset pistol

back” effective? Running

the ball without a TE is a

challenge. If an offense is

committed to running the

ball without a TE, their has

to an innovative way to

create holes and running

lanes to take advantage of

both the front side and

backside part of the

formation. Offsetting the

running back allows for

cutback lanes on the same

side of the backs

alignment. The depth of the

back creates down hill

intent with maximum

vision. The offset

visualizes the guard, to the

side of the back, as the

new center and shifts the

focal point of the running

game.

Pro

Number of running backs: 1

Number of receivers: 3

Number of Tight ends: 1

Formation Type: Female

Formation demeanor: Pass

1

X

Slot sets are featured

on many of these

formation assessments.

They are good

formations because

they create leverage

problems for a defense

in almost any coverage

concept versus the slot.

There are two questions

that need to be asked

about this scenario.

First, will the defense

adjust with “corners

over” or with a “spin”

of the safeties?

Secondly, how many

basic adjustments does

this formation require

the defense to

consider? TE “winged”

sets need to be adjusted

too, along with the slot.

Now, notice the depth

of the running back as

lower than the

quarterback? The

question that should be

asked is, if there any

run plays that can be

executed towards the

side of the slot with this

inverted alignment by

the quarterback and

running back?

Formations can be tilted

one way or the other

depending on where

#3 or “MO”, the

“Middle” “Of” the

offensive 5 eligible

players are located? In

this case the “R” tilts

the formation into the

boundary. Why is that

significant? The

chances of the ball

being run or passed in

the direction of the

“wing” is more likely

than not. The slot

aspect can be a

distraction considering

what is going on with

the formation into the

boundary. It is simply

too heavy of a

formation to be

anything else? Not

flipping the “Z”

receiver on the line of

scrimmage is a clear

indication that this

formation lacks

multiplicity. However it

is likely a “game

planed” formation that

was specifically

designed for this

particular opponent.

The motion confirms

this observation pre-

snap.

Pro Slot




Formation Type: Male

Formation demeanor: Run

2

X

Noel Mazzone is a unique thinker and a

master play caller. His unique ability to

create pre-snap illusions with motion and

precise alignments is very unique to his

style. Motion is the key to this offense.

The concept of a motioning player “in

front,” or in fact, “behind” an adjacent

teammate really matters in this offense.

Another important feature that pertains

to motion is who the specific player is

motioning towards? For example the “F”

back, in this scenario, is in motion

towards the “Y” and “Z” receivers with

the option of motioning behind the “Y.”

This can create confusion to a defense.

The “F” traveling behind the “Y”

increases the likely hood of the “Y”

being the intended receiver. The “Y”

being on the line of scrimmage confirms

that prospect. Making the defense await

a pre-snap, 3x1 adjustment, on the fly

can be nerve racking in a zone or man

concept on defense. A question that

needs to be asked is if there are any

disadvantages if the “F” aligned in a

3x1pre-snap rather than a motion to a

3x1?

Pro






3

X

Many defensive game plans set their

defensive front, coverage, and possible

blitz plan to side of the offset back. You

should reconsider that plan given the

type of offense that Noel Mazzone

employs. The first thing that stands out

about this formation is that both inside

receivers are on the line of scrimmage.

Evaluating these formations is an attempt

to accentuate the cerebral, academic, and

quantifiable qualities of the game of

football. Formations, as apposed to

plays, really are to key to any success an

offense will have in scoring. A quick

motion behind the quarterback is not

necessarily common in any offense.

However this particular motion is a smart

way of keep the defense honest. This

mirrored twins set is an interesting

formation choice likely prompted by

being located in the middle of the field.

The middle of the field in college football

is likely when a defense with accumulate

most of its tendencies. It is also the

location where an offense will have a

majority of its “game planed” calls

because of those tendencies. The

question to ask about this formation is

what are the chances that a running play

will be run after this specific motion?

Pro






4

X

A standard definition of a “slot” formation is “any formation where the “X” and

“Z” are on the same side. Regardless of the type of defense you run versus Noel

Mazzone you are going to require a comprehensive plan for how to adjust to slot

and trips formations. Almost all of his formation threaten to end in slot or some

type of trips with motion. Noel Mazzone makes you ask the question who is the

most dangerous receiver in the passing game after the motion, and prior to the

snap? That is a hard question to answer given the speed of these motions. He

plays a great chess game of decoy and primary receivers. This is just a

sophisticated way of playing “cat and mouse.” This is a very difficult offense to

defend because its multiplicity and precision. Its impressive and Noel Mazzone

deserves to be called a master play caller.

Pro Slot






5

X

Great play callers need to know prior to the contest how many plays they want to

run by games end? If you do not do this now then you need to start. This is

imperative given the nature of the play clock and how quarterbacks are taught to

manage the game. With this many motions in one offense it would be a challenge

to gauge the amount of plays an offense would run. However motion is a great

controller of the clock which gives way to dictating the pace of a the game to a

defense. In this scenario you see the “R” back motioning behind the “F” towards

the “Y” and “Z.” This type of 3x1 trips look can be considered a pseudo “quads”

depending on your coverage concept? Given the amount of quarters coverage

played into todays college game, because of the amount of running quarterbacks,

this formation and motion is a quarters killer. These formations and motions give

Noel Mazzone the flexibility to have success versus almost any coverage concept

you run versus him.

Pro






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Defending the Best Offensive Minds - UCLA Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone