UTC seeks to improve offensive balance

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An offense that gathered its running legs last week has the chance to continue gaining confidence this weekend. Admittedly still a work in progress, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offense has had glimpses of its passing potential at times this season and last week finally rolled up big rushing numbers.

Facing a VMI defense that ranks at or near the bottom of the Southern Conference standings in several categories, Saturday's homecoming game at Finley Stadium could provide the platform the Mocs need to put both offensive areas together.

"We're going to do what we do first," said offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, who was the OC at VMI the last time the teams met, a four-point Keydets win in 2002. "I'm more worried about our execution. We start with running the football. That's our mentality.

"I would love to improve weekly in our passing game. There's a lot that goes into throwing the ball. It's about protection and getting off man coverage. It's not just how the quarterback plays. I think our kids are growing and learning. We want to be balanced because that makes us tougher to defend, but it starts with being able to run the ball for us."

Through four games UTC's offense has struggled either on the ground, through the air or both, but in beating its last two opponents it has shown flashes of what it's capable of. The Mocs threw for 232 yards in a win at Austin Peay, while running for just 119, and last week ran for 252 to beat Samford but threw for only 91.

VMI ranks as the SoCon's worst defense in average per game yards allowed (498.4), stopping the run (284), points (40.8) and first downs allowed (25.2). Only two teams in the league are worse than the Keydets in pass defense (218 yards) and percent of passes allowed to be completed (65.5).

The Mocs have three road games against tougher SoCon foes looming in the coming weeks, which puts a premium on the offense continuing to work toward the needed balance.

"Whatever it takes to win, that's what I'm willing to do," said quarterback Jacob Huesman, who added that there is a noticeable uptick in confidence on his side of the ball. "If that means running the ball 75 times, so be it. If it means throwing it 75 times, let's do it.

"When we were struggling earlier we were all wondering what the heck was going on. Confidence plays a lot into it. The biggest part of it is you have to believe in yourselves, and we've gotten some of that back the last coupe of games. If [Saturday] turns into something where we can work on some things, so be it, but that's what practice is for. The main concern is to just win and get better."

Tull closing in

With his next sack, UTC's Davis Tull will move into a tie for sixth on the SoCon's career list. He tied for ninth with 29.5, just a half sack out of seventh place. He needs seven sacks the rest of the season to tie former Appalachian State player Josh Jeffries atop the list.

Rasmussen suspended

True freshman Zach Rasmussen has been suspended from the team indefinitely for violation of team rules, according to Jay Blackman, UTC's associate athletic director of communications and marketing. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive lineman, who played at Memphis' St. Benedict High School, had yet to play in a game this year and was expected to redshirt.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.