Mazzone proud to showcase Osweiler at Pro Day
Mar 2, 2012, 3:55 AM | Updated: 4:15 am
Former Arizona State offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone’s close relationship with former Sun Devil quarterback Brock Osweiler has transcended their days together in Tempe.
Mazzone, who is now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UCLA, is going to run Osweiler’s Pro Day on March 30 in anticipation of the NFL draft on April 26. For Mazzone, this will be a chance to showcase Osweiler’s skills to the scouts.
“Brock did not throw at the combine or run the 40, so he’s going to have to do both of those things for the scouts,” Mazzone told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Thursday. “Usually a Pro Day you get the director of player personnel, the GM and a lot of times the head coaches and you get a real feel for who’s really got an interest in the guy.”
For Osweiler, this will be the most pivotal benchmark yet for the powers-to-be to determine whether the former ASU quarterback is an early third-round pick or a late first-rounder in the draft. In his career at ASU, Osweiler threw for a total of 5,082 yards and 33 touchdowns. He played in a total of 25 games, but just 15 as a starter. He opted to leave after three years, a move that many critics questioned.
As a mentor and friend, Mazzone is thrilled with the progress and improvement that Osweiler has made and feels confident in his ability to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.
“I cannot be happier for [Osweiler],” Mazzone said. “He’s worked hard. Since my first spring with Brock and from that point on, he went through some growing pains his first season and I think he’s learned a lot about playing the [QB] position and I don’t mean just the x’s and o’s, but about what type of person you’ve got to be.”
Despite concern from scouts about his release as well as his height — Osweiler measured at 6-6 (7/8) at the NFL combine, shorter than the 6-8 he was listed at Arizona State — Mazzone believes the young quarterback possesses the intangible qualities that truly make him a special commodity.
“The thing that I really love about Brock is his passion and his competitiveness,” Mazzone stated.
Osweiler’s drive and determination mirrors another one of Mazzone’s disciples, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.
Tebow worked with Mazzone on improving his accuracy this winter and came away feeling very encouraged and confident with the tutorial.
“We went back and broke everything down fundamentally and tried to get the ball out of his hands a little quicker,” Mazzone said of Tebow.
Mazzone believes wholeheartedly in Tebow’s capacity to improve as well as his value to the Broncos organization.
“I want him on my football team,” Mazzone said. “He’s a guy — I want the ball in his hands if I am going to win a football game or lose a football game.”
If Osweiler shines on his Pro Day, many NFL executives may be saying the same thing about him in the very near future.
