Tide’s Mazza eager to break into NFL as long snapper

MOBILE — Unable to pronounce his new pupil’s name, Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has taken to playfully calling Cole Mazza, “Maserati.”

It’s a nickname of endearment, as Tabor – a NFL coaching veteran of nearly 25 years – has spent considerable time throughout the first two Senior Bowl practices providing individual instruction to the former Alabama long snapper.

While most of the prospective NFL players participating in this week’s Senior Bowl are trying to improve their draft stock, including a trio of former Crimson Tide teammates, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Mazza is simply looking to catch someone’s attention as one of just two long snappers playing in the Senior Bowl – joining Louisville’s Colin Holba.

“I just want to go out and show them my talent and showcase what I’m about,” Mazza said Monday, “and hopefully they’ll see something bright in me and hopefully it can get me to the next level.”

Just based on his position, Mazza is at best a late third-day selection in April’s NFL Draft. Of course, it helps that he’s considered this draft’s No. 1 snapper, according to CBSSports.com’s and others positional rankings, based mostly on his consistency at Alabama. According to ProFootballFocus.com, has a snap accuracy of 96.5-percent (managing just six “inaccurate” snaps on 141 total tries this season

That said, it’s clear that Mazza necessary value for any team on the lookout for a snapper – whether they’re looking to replace one or create some internal competition at the position.

“I think specialists are important and I think they sort of get taken for granted a lot, until you don’t have one and he snaps the ball over the punter’s head, and then you say where’s Cole at?” Alabama head coach Nick Saban joked Tuesday. “From the first game he ever played, he was (our) long snapper, never skipped a beat and was very consistent.

“Obviously … the guy’s a fantastic player and he’s going to have a long career because he’s really good at what he does.”

After two days of working with “Maserati,” Tabor sounds like he agrees.

“He’s got good velocity on his long snaps, his times are where you would want it (as an NFL coach) – he has an NFL time,” Tabor said of Mazza. “His movement skills are pretty good, I always tell all our guys, you have to continue to work on lateral movement, but he’s doing a nice job and having a good camp. And with every rep he gets a little bit better.”

That daily improvement is especially vital for Mazza, who is receiving the most hands-on training of his life this week.

“It’s nice to have someone there to try and teach me and try and fix me a little bit, and tweak me and watch me every step of the way,” Mazza said Tuesday. “It was a good feeling today.”

Still, while the life of an NFL long snapper can be both long and rewarding, with most teams only carrying a single snapper on its roster – and many of the league’s snappers able to create a bit of job security with consistency – it’s often difficult for anyone to break into the NFL in the first place.

Cleveland’s current long snapper, Charlie Hughlett, just finished his third season with the Browns after bouncing around from NFL camp to NFL camp – sometimes twice in the same season – while trying to find a fit after graduating from Central Florida in 2012.

In fact, Hughlett’s Wikipedia page lists him working with five different teams as an offseason acquisition or practice squad member between 2012-14.

“That’s kind of the life no one knows about for kickers, punters and long snappers, because there’s 32 spots (in the NFL),” Tabor said.

“Sometimes those guys might be working at their craft for a year or two and then they get their chance (in the league), and some guys hit it right away. Every case is different.”

It doesn’t help that it’s a position that many teams place so little value in they won’t even spend a draft pick on snappers.

Since 2009, only two long snappers have even been drafted – one apiece the last two seasons – including Baylor’s Jimmy Landes by Detroit in the sixth round of last year’s draft and Navy’s Joe Cardona by New England in the fifth round in 2015.

Prior to that, only three long snappers were selected between 2001-09, with former Brown snapper Zak DeOssie getting selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round.

It’s one of the many reasons Mazza wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to perform in front of representatives from all 32 NFL clubs this week, and has been proactive and made himself available to every club scout that has approached him.

“I’ve gotten pulled aside from most scouts and just saying ‘Hey’ and introducing myself, trying to get to know them and create a relationship — get that process started,” Mazza said.

But, because of the uncertainty that comes with trying to crack into the NFL at such a specialized position, Mazza also understands the challenge that awaits him in the coming months, which is something he’s taking in stride.

“I just have to do what I can and let all the other chips fall into place,” Mazza said. “I’ve got to work as hard as I possibly can, get my snaps right, get my timing down, all that, and it should all sort itself out in the end.”