Noel Mazzone knows he’s not a popular man right now.

With UCLA coming off season-low offensive outputs in losses at No. 6 Stanford and No. 2 Oregon, the coordinator has started hearing criticism from fans, media and just about everyone he talks to.

“I want to give a shoutout to my mom and my dog, because they’re the only two people that like me right now,” he said Wednesday.

If not for that unconditional love factor, though, even his mother might have turned on him. Mazzone said he hears the most complaints from her: “My mom calls me all the time, ‘You throw too many of those swing passes! Throw it down the field!”

The Bruins’ playbook seemingly has contracted this month, with more calls for tosses out to the flat rather than long throws downfield. On the season, their 81 passes of at least 10 yards ranks sixth in the Pac-12. On passes of at least 30 yards, they’re at 11th with eight completions.

Against the Ducks, quarterback Brett Hundley finished with a career-low 64 passing yards, with his longest going for 11 yards.

Has stiffer competition limited the passing game? Oregon ranks ninth in scoring defense nationally, and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu widely is regarded as the best at his position in college football.

UCLA receiver Shaq Evans dismissed that idea.

“I had a dig route pretty much every time he guarded me and I got open each time,” Evans said of Ekpre-Olomu. “I guess Brett didn’t have the time or didn’t see me, but I don’t think it was anything to do with No. 14.”

NFL state of mind?

The National Football Post reported Hundley’s representatives had reached out to rapper Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports agency regarding a potential deal for the 2014 NFL draft.

Hundley, draft-eligible as a redshirt sophomore, had generated hype as a potential first-round pick prior to his recent struggles.

His father, Brett Hundley Sr., vehemently denied the reports and told multiple outlets — including Rivals.com — his son was not thinking about the NFL draft and no one had contacted any agencies on behalf of the family.

It is not an NCAA violation for an athlete to talk to an agent if the athlete did not receive any illicit benefits, such as free meals or transportation.

Staying young

UCLA started three true freshmen on its offensive line at Oregon after adding Scott Quessenberry to the left guard spot.

The Bruins may stick with that lineup for the rest of the season, even if left tackle Simon Goines (knee) returns in the next few weeks. His absence has forced All-American Xavier Su’a-Filo from left guard to left tackle and thrown Quessenberry into his college debut.

Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm said he prizes consistency above all else. If Quessenberry and the rest of the line jells, he would rather not disrupt that rhythm.

“I want to have continuity, but at the same time, I don’t think a guy loses his position to injury,” Klemm said. “If we’re rolling and things are good, we have cohesiveness and we’re playing well, I don’t see any reason to shake it up.

“Regardless of if Simon comes back next week or two weeks from now, he’s not going to be healthy anyway. Maybe it’ll do him some good.”