Chattanooga: Pitchford, Brown shining for Mocs

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is two weeks away from opening its season at Oklahoma, ranked fourth in the coaches’ preseason poll and rated No. 1 by Playboy.

This morning’s practice at Scrappy Moore Field will be the Mocs’ 18th of the preseason, so here’s a preseason progress report on the Mocs:

Best player

Offense: Chris Pitchford, wide receiver — A bit player in the Mocs’ passing game last season, Pitchford has been on top of his game throughout the preseason and is challenging for a starting spot alongside Blue Cooper, who has been consistently very good as well.

Defense: Neil Brown, defensive end — One of three returning starters on defense, Brown has been a force coming off the left end and a leader with his teammates, both of which the Mocs need. After missing the spring following wrist surgery and earning his degree in May, Brown appears up for a big final season.

“He’s practiced like he wants to be here, win games and be a leader on our team,” coach Rodney Allison said.

Biggest surprise

Offense: Joel Bradford, wide receiver — A year ago at this time, Bradford was largely a bystander during practice. While redshirting last season, he was on the scout team and seemed a long way from playing. But by the end of spring practice he was getting more repetitions with the first- and second-string offense.

Now he’s on the field as much as anyone.

“In the spring I was pretty nervous; I didn’t think I’d get in the action that quick,” he said. “Now I feel comfortable.”

Defense: Rodney Beamon, defensive tackle — Several newcomers have looked good, including linebacker Doug Faatiliga and defensive end Josh Beard, but the nod goes to Beamon for a couple of reasons.

One, he played in all 11 games last season but wasn’t a starter; yet you wouldn’t know it from the way he’s come in and dominated his position. Two, Beamon came into camp carrying more than a little extra bulk, and that’s on top of the 320 pounds at which he’s listed in the media guide. He’s already shed a lot of those pounds, and the more he drops the quicker off the line he’s going to be.

Cause for concern

Offense: Injuries — Running back Bryan Fitzgerald is out for season with a knee injury, and center Brian Heflin has a bad back. Meanwhile, offensive lineman William Giles suffered a minor knee injury, quarterback Jare Gault has a high ankle sprain and running back Erroll Wynn has a hip injury.

Gault, Giles and Wynn are expected back soon, while Heflin’s condition is slowly improving, but the Mocs’ first-team offense has had few snaps together.

Defense: Safety — This is probably the Mocs’ least-experienced position. With Tony Swafford, J.D. Dothard, Chris Blanson and the other players expected to contribute, there’s not a lot of Division I game experience among them.

Overall performance

Offense: It’s still a work in progress because of the hiccups due to injuries, but the offense has shown the potential to be much better and much more dynamic than it was last season.

Defense: The move to the 4-3 formation appears to be working for the defense, which has been solid from the start.

Special teams: Kicker Craig Camay has come back strong from his leg injury last season, while punter Jeff Lloyd has been consistent.