Wofford linebacker Brandon Brown tackles UTC running back Tyrell Price after losing his helmet during Saturday's game at Finley Stadium.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's defense gave its offense a number of opportunities to swing Saturday's home football game against Wofford in its favor.
The offense never capitalized.
The Mocs were held to their worst offensive showing of the season, totaling 186 yards in a 21-10 loss to Wofford at Finley Stadium. It was the offense's second consecutive subpar performance, but the script was different. In a 17-14 loss at East Tennessee State University, UTC was able to methodically move the ball downfield in the second half but ran out of time.
Wofford (4-1, 3-0 Southern Conference) was simply better when it mattered most. UTC (4-2, 2-2) was never able to consistently move the ball, unable to get its downfield passing game going in part because it could not effectively run the ball.
The Mocs finished with 21 yards on 16 carries, which continues their recent downward trend running the ball. In the past five halves - the second half of their 27-20 win over Samford, plus the losses to ETSU and Wofford - the Mocs have 55 carries for 87 yards. In their previous seven halves this season, the Mocs rushed for 464 yards, which led to offensive balance.
After Saturday's loss, UTC coach Tom Arth called the recent struggles "concerning."
"We haven't been able to run the ball the past couple of weeks, and that's something we pride ourselves on as an offense," Arth said. "To be successful the way we play offensively, running the ball is important. That doesn't mean we have to come out and run on two-thirds of our snaps, but we have to be able to run it when we want to run it. We have to be able to get positive yards on first and second (downs) and be able to convert third downs in the run game.
"We haven't done that consistently the past couple of weeks."
The ripple effect is the Mocs haven't been able to get big chunks in the downfield passing game. After 18 completions that covered at least 20 yards in their first four games this year, they have been held to two in the past two. The longest completion against Wofford was 14 yards, and short slants and screens have had to substitute for the gains one would expect from the ground game.
"Having balance is huge as an offense. We've just got to keep trusting it," quarterback Nick Tiano said. "It's tough to do without (running the ball well). Teams have done a good job against us these last couple of weeks. We've got to keep trusting it. We have great players, great opportunities, great coaches. We keep working on it, keep getting better and it's going to open up for us."
Tiano passed for 1,170 yards and averaged 16 yards per completion the first four games. He has averaged 8 yards per completion the past two games, a span in which Wil Young has 19 catches for 174 yards, Joseph Parker has 12 for 127 and Bryce Nunnelly - the Football Championship Subdivision's leading receiver earlier this season - has 16 but for only 114 yards.
UTC's receivers said they are ready to counted on more heavily if needed.
"When we get the ball in our hands, we're looking to make plays," Young said. "As receivers, we have to make plays if that's how the offense is going to go. It starts with the offensive line. Whenever they're moving guys downfield and we can run the ball and get the ball on the perimeter and start making plays, that's what it's going to take. But if you want to put the pressure on the receivers, we can do it.
"There have been games we've had to put the pressure on the offensive line and they've answered. Either way it goes, we have to be prepared. Each man has to be ready to step up."
When unable to run on early downs, though, the Mocs are put into obvious throwing situations that hinder the passing game.
"It's a tough spot to be in," Arth said. "We have to work really hard to figure out what we can do to improve, whether that's schematically different ways to run the ball - we have to look at every option as coaches to put ourselves in position where we can run the ball with some effectiveness.
"It's frustrating, certainly for everybody, but something we can certainly improve. I think we can be a team that runs the ball very well. We've run fairly well through the beginning part of the season, but the last couple of weeks it's been a challenge for us."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.