For the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offense to reach its full potential in 2012, contact with the defense can’t be the impediment that it was last season.
Yards after contact, especially in the running game, were minimal, which led to few easy drives or big plays during the Mocs’ 5-6 season. Whether it is yards after contact for the running backs or yards after the catch in the passing game, the offense has to make more plays, offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said.
“It’s making a play,” Satterfield said following Wednesday’s practice at Scrappy Moore Field. “Like today, Ron Moore ran a curl route, made a guy miss and scored a touchdown. That didn’t happen last year.”
According to Satterfield, last season UTC’s running backs averaged 1.73 yards after contact last season. J.J. Jackson, who averaged 1.72 yards after contact, said the team’s numbers were “embarrassing” and have to improve.
“I wouldn’t really say yards after contact is an emphasis, but the fundamentals that lead up to yards after contact have been,” Jackson said. “For example, pad level and definitely lower-body strength. Things like that we’re definitely working on to improve those numbers.”