The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team begins preparing for a season of high expectations today at Scrappy Moore Field. The Mocs return a lot of key contributors from the past two 6-5 seasons, but they’ve got some significant holes to fill, as well.
Here are five questions facing the Mocs as they begin preparing for the Sept. 3 season opener at Nebraska:
1. Can the Mocs’ defense be better in 2011?
UTC returns eight starters from a defense that in 2010 was eighth in the Southern Conference in scoring defense (31.2 points per game) and sixth in total defense (370.0 yards per game).
The Mocs had four players make the SoCon coaches’ preseason all-conference teams and other playmakers, as well. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller said the defense must eliminate the big plays of 20 yards or more.