The challenges aren't getting any easier for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive line.
But despite some statistics that would suggest otherwise, Mocs coach Tom Arth sees improvement in the group.
"Sometimes it's hard to see as a fan because the results aren't great, but they are better than they were at the start of the season," Arth said. "There's so much that goes into the run game, the pass protection, and it's not all on them.
"They make mistakes - no doubt, but we all do - but a lot of the errors we're making aren't always the O-line's fault. Maybe they brought more than we had in protection; maybe the running back missed a protection, or the tight end; maybe the quarterback ID'd it wrong.
"There's so much that goes into it, and I feel like those guys are getting the brunt of the blame for our offense's inability to put points on the board."
Entering the season, the line was expected to struggle some. One longtime stalwart had moved on to the NFL. Two other multiyear starters decided not to play in 2017. Tackle Kennington Cadwell, who likely would have started, also is no longer with the program.
That left a lot of changes to be made, with tackle Malcolm White the lone offensive-line starter returning to the same position he had last season.
Two-year starter Josh Cardiello moved from guard to center. After that, only guard Brian Marshall had even had a start and consistent playing time at the collegiate level.
Still, the Mocs' stats through five games are ... hard to look at. They rank toward the bottom of the Southern Conference in most offensive categories and are last in rushing yards (69.4 per game) and yards per carry (2.2).
UTC quarterbacks have been given little time to throw, having been sacked a league-high 18 times. The job doesn't get easier this week, as Furman (2-3, 1-1) leads the league with 17 sacks, including 11 in the past two games.
UTC head coach Tom Arth adjusts his headset during the Mocs game against Western Carolina at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga."I think we've really focused on studying them, so we have a better understanding before the snap," Cardiello said before Thursday's practice. "If we know what they're going to do, it's going to help us out and make our job a little easier. Collectively as a group we've made some really good strides this week in that area, and if we just go out there and play to what we're capable of playing - doing the right thing, blocking the right people and listening to the call - I think we'll be all right."
One of two senior linemen - backup center Alex Hooper being the other - Cardiello knows what good play looks like, and he knows the Mocs haven't been at that level yet. But he trusts that the youthful unit will get there.
"Sometimes you have to look yourself in the mirror and, yeah, we haven't played as well as we're capable of playing," he said. "Other times we have and we still get run through by some of the fans, but we just have to stay level-headed and not let outside noise affect us and just keep doing what we're capable of doing: Go out there and play to the best of our ability every week.
"It motivates us. We try not to read into it too much, but it kind of puts a spark in our rear end."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.