Rascati likes UTC offense’s approach so far this spring
It’s a work in progress, but one coaches believe is making positive strides.
That describes the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team’s offense, which arguably suffered more losses than the defense from a 2016 team that graduated a lot of talent.
There is talent remaining, but it needs to be developed. And that’s where this spring’s 15 practices come in, especially under a new, young coaching staff seeing the players for the first time.
The offense came out on the wrong end of an extended offense-versus-defense session during the second of two practices on March 25, but this past Saturday it took a step forward in that day’s second practice. Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield showed why he was an All-Southern Conference second-team selection in 2016 by making some tough throws, including one in which he escaped the pocket and lofted a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dejuan McQuarters with cornerback C.J. Fritz in tight coverage.
Fritz was there. The throw was just too good.
“I tease him all the time. I tell him I can’t overcoach him at times,” offensive coordinator Justin Rascati said of Bennifield after Saturday’s practice. “I just have to let him go play ball. He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a NFL talent, and I’m real excited to work with him. He’s really bought in this winter, this spring, and I think his best football is ahead of him. He’s extremely talented and blessed with natural ability coupled with a really good work ethic and a love for the game.
“I’m really excited for his future, and I think he’s going to play football for a long time.”
With receiver James Stovall not having practiced this spring because of an injury, only four full-time starters are back from the unit that averaged 412.5 yards and 34.2 points per games last season: Bennifield, offensive linemen Josh Cardiello and Malcolm White, and receiver Alphonso Stewart. That has led to opportunities for a number of players to get on the field and show their abilities.
Rascati was pleased with the progress of the unit at the midpoint of spring practices.
“They’ve been working real hard, bringing a great attitude and effort every day in practice,” he said. “We threw a lot at them the first eight; now we’re backing up and reviewing the next six to seven practices.
“They’re competing at a high level and really buying into the process, but it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s not going to look like we want it to look overnight, but I’ll tell you what: We’ve got really talented players that work really hard, and I’m excited to keep moving forward.”
There are so many different things at play in the new offensive scheme. Running backs could line up in the backfield on first down, then flex out to a receiver’s spot on second down. Tight ends could be lined up in tight or out wide. There could be some two-receiver sets, some with three.
Who knows? There are probably some four- and five-receiver sets in the playbook as well.
Running the ball will still be a priority, but the scheme’s details are different.
“I want us to be extremely explosive, and I want us to be able to run the ball when we want to,” Rascati said. “We’ve got to be able to play-action pass, throw the ball downfield and find ways to get the ball to guys in space. We’re extremely talented at running back, wide receiver, and we have a great quarterback room. I’m real excited to work with them. This offense has proven to put up points and win a lot of games, so I don’t expect anything less moving forward this year.
“I’m really excited to keep working with these guys.”
The Mocs will practice two more times this week — Wednesday night and Friday afternoon — before Saturday’s spring game at noon at Finley Stadium. That won’t signal the end of the spring work for players and coaches, though, because they will have four more practices over the eight days after the game.
Jones to UTC?
Former Arkansas fullback Chris Jones, who has a year of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer, was at UTC’s second practice Saturday and is considering playing for the Mocs.
The 5-foot-11, 249-pounder played in 10 games — six on special teams — during his Razorbacks career, recording three tackles. He was a two-year starter at DeQueen (Ark.) High School, compiling 603 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns and 63 receiving yards as a senior in 2012.
He graduated from Arkansas with a degree in social work in 3 1/2 years.