Tiano’s improvement has been a big key
With his first season — a disappointing one at best — with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga done, quarterback Nick Tiano was determined to grasp a deeper understanding of the Mocs’ offense.
He spent time with offensive coordinator Justin Rascati watching NFL video, as well as that of other colleges. He was exhaustive in his study of the Mocs’ playbook, all the while trying to be the best player he could be going forward.
He’s still working on that, but he’s much better already.
Tiano has been a completely different player in his second season with the program, which continues today at 1 p.m. against Furman at Paladin Stadium. Statistically he’s far superior this season, but just a look at the 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior reveals the level of confidence that was mostly lacking a season ago.
“He’s grown a lot,” UTC head coach Tom Arth said. “Nick’s a really smart guy; he’s really sharp, and football is important to him. He spent the time needed to invest and learn, and you grow in an offense. He went from knowing and understanding the offense to mastering the offense.
“That’s where Nick is now and that’s even fast, but that’s a credit to his work ethic, his intelligence and how much he loves the game.”
Tiano has thrown for 2,113 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, ranking in the top half of the Southern Conference in most passing categories. He has had at least two touchdowns in seven of his past nine starts dating back to last season, and the Mocs are 7-0 in those games.
He also has five games of more than 250 yards passing with a 63 percent completion rate and has run for 199 yards and a score for good measure.
But his greatest contributions may actually come before each snap. UTC quarterbacks are in charge of a lot in terms of pre-snap reads, and that may actually be where he’s been his best. Rascati called him “an extension of the coaching staff,” and center Noah Ramsey said Tiano knows everybody’s job on the offensive line.
“He’ll come down and call a protection, and he knows what we have to do,” Ramsey said. “It makes us all feel comfortable to know what we have to do.”
Tiano said the game has slowed down as a result of his offseason work. He doesn’t have to worry about where everybody is supposed to be because he knows, which has given him more time to know what the defense is doing. That’s helped him become a more efficient passer, with only four interceptions in 272 attempts after six in 158 a season ago.
It’s why he understands that he’ll need to continue to carry that level of confidence as the Mocs look to take a step closer to a playoff berth with a win today against the Paladins.
“They’re a very good team and the game’s on the road, so it’s going to be tough,” Tiano said. “In this conference everybody is beating everybody, and Furman already has a big win versus Wofford and they’ve played teams tough all year, so we’ve got to be as ready as ever.
“Each week is everything at this point. We control our own destiny and we have to take care of business each week, so this week is huge for us.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.