UTC helmets are seen during spring football practice at Scrappy Moore Field on Saturday, March 25, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.Tom Arth learned a lot about his University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team during its first two-a-day set of practices Saturday.
His defense seems to have quickly adjusted to the new 3-4 front, but his offense still has a way to go.
The defense dominated a 20-minute team session of the afternoon practice at Scrappy Moore Field, the team’s first full day in pads after the acclimation period. Sophomore K.J. Roper and redshirt freshman Elijah Pankey intercepted passes, and the defenders flew around and made plays throughout the 90-minute practice.
The morning’s practice was focused primarily on third-down situations, both short and long. About “75-80” percent of the practice was devoted to third downs, Arth said, and he felt the players reacted well to the new stuff that was installed.
“There are a lot more adjustments, a lot more variety and complexity in the call,” he said. “There are a lot more exotic-type things in how we play on both sides, but our players responded really well to it.