GIVING IT AWAY
Mocs must cut down on turnovers vs. Bears
Plenty of changes at quarterback. Plenty of new faces on the offensive line.
There are a number of reasons the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offense has been largely inefficient this season, as well as any number of things the Mocs could do better going forward.
Of course, keeping possession of the ball wouldn’t hurt, either.
The Mocs (1-5, 0-3 Southern Conference) are tied for last in the SoCon with Virginia Military Institute and rank 114th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 15 turnovers through six games this season. Coaches and players have worked on addressing the problem during a week that will end with Saturday’s game at Mercer (3-3, 2-2), which leads the SoCon and ranks fifth nationally with 15 takeaways.
The game will be broadcast on MyNetwork Chattanooga and kicks off at 3:30 p.m.
Four of the Mocs’ turnovers have directly led to opponents’ points: two pick-sixes and a pair of strip fumbles recovered in the end zone. On four other occasions, teams have gained possession on UTC’s side of the field after takeaways and scored on the ensuing drives.
UTC’s defense has forced six turnovers — five interceptions and a fumble recovery for a touchdown by Lucas Webb — but they’ve come in two games: the 27-13 season-opening loss to Jacksonville State and last month’s 63-7 win at VMI.
“We hadn’t been able to create as many as we’d like to,” UTC coach Tom Arth said. “We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball, and the way you help is you don’t put the ball in the air as much. What we need to do is be more committed to running the ball, have more patience, run better when we have opportunities and take care of the football when we drop back.
“That’s an area where we’ve been bad, and it’s hurt us — significantly — and we’ve lost games because of that.”
When the Mocs have attempted to run the ball (sacks not included), they’ve experienced differing levels of success this year.
By average, their best rushing performance was at LSU, when they had 101 yards on 22 carries. By yardage, it was a 154yard showing against VMI, and they also went over the 100yard mark against Western Carolina (112 yards on 30 carries). But on a couple of occasions, they’ve gone away from the rushing game and thrown the ball on nearly every play, either because of their deficit on the scoreboard or their perceived lack of success on the ground.
It’s why, among SoCon teams, they average the fewest rushing attempts per game (28.8) but the second-most passes (34.5). That has put inexperienced quarterbacks — redshirt sophomore Nick Tiano and freshman Cole Copeland — in some bad positions, especially when failures in early downs have led to third-and-long situations.
Tiano has 10 turnovers credited to him this season, three of which resulted directly in touchdowns. Copeland made his first college appearance last week when he started against Furman, and he threw four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.
“We’ve just got to block better,” senior center Josh Cardiello said. “We’ve got to do our assignments right. Two weeks ago against Western Carolina, the strip fumbles, we didn’t block it right and that’s why it happened. Execution is a big thing. If everyone blocks everyone right, the quarterback has time to go through his reads and not worry about pressure. It clears itself up.
“There’s going to be turnovers every game, but I think once we start executing to our potential, we’ll be good.”