Malcolm White and the other University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive linemen are well aware of the talent on Jacksonville State’s defensive front.
If the Mocs’ offense is going to do well, the talented yet inexperienced front five will have to be up to the challenge.
“Controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball will be really important to us,” coach Tom Arth said this week. “Their defensive line is as talented a group as we’ll see. They’re deep – they may play nine, 10, 11 guys – and they all have a very defined role on defense, a very good skill that they’re put in position to utilize, whether it’s pass rush or stopping the run.
“Whatever it is, they’re a talented group and it’ll be a big challenge for us, but I feel we’re ready for it because we have opportunities to go against a great group every day in practice. But it’s always a little bit different when you get out there on Saturdays.”
Senior Josh Cardiello is the only UTC lineman who has started against the Gamecocks, who have won four straight in the series, all by close margins. White was a redshirt during the 2015 season – the last time the programs met – but said Wednesday that if the Mocs practice well against UTC’s formidable front, they should perform well against preseason All-America defensive end Darius Jackson and the rest of the Gamecocks.
“We just have to stay in the film room and watch a lot of film,” White said. “Controlling the line has been our focus, so we’ve been practicing hard and focusing on having good technique. Through camp we’ve come together as a unit, and I think we’re all getting used to play together.
“We all like each other and we’ve become pretty good friends even outside of football, so I think that’ll help us all come together as one.”
The Gamecocks’ personnel at all three levels of the defense are no secret to the Mocs, and definitely not to UTC offensive coordinator Justin Rascati, who has spent the past three seasons at UT-Martin and Tennessee Tech, Ohio Valley Conference opponents of the Gamecocks. In addition to Jackson – who had 10 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in 2016 – JSU sports a talented linebacker trio in Joel McCandless, Siran Neal and Quen Stoudemire and a freshman All-America safety in Marlon Bridges. Eight starters return from a Gamecocks unit that ranked fourth in the country in total defense and second in pass-efficiency defense.
But the Mocs’ focus entering the first game has been on themselves.
“I told the guys that we have the talent to beat anybody we play against,” Rascati said. “If we know our assignment, we will do it well because we’re extremely talented and I have all the confidence in the world in our offensive line, running backs and protection.
“It’s never about who we play; it’s about us – the way we prepare, the way we know our job and know our assignments. The guys have had a really good fall camp. They get tested every single day with our defense and the scheme, so they’re really fired up for this opportunity.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.