The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defenders’ job will be a difficult one Saturday, as they try to stop The Citadel’s triple-option attack.
The UTC offense must do its part to make life a little bit easier for the defense.
The offensive coaches and players have spent the week stressing and working on valuing each possession and putting points on the board at every opportunity. The Mocs realize they may not get the ball as much, so extending drives has been one of the team’s talking points, as is getting in the end zone when they do get the chance.
“Last week we were in the red zone a couple of times and had to take field goals, so this week touchdowns will be huge there,” quarterback Nick Tiano said. “We’ve got to move the ball and keep our defense off the field. With these option teams, it equals long possessions and it’s going to wear those guys out, so for us to hold the ball and put points on the board is going to be huge there.”
Offensive coordinator Justin Rascati said “staying ahead of the chains” becomes important to help the Mocs put points on the board.
“We have to be really good on first and second down, which will help us on third,” Rascati, who admitted he’d be “cutting (his) call sheet in half,” said. “At the end of the day, we’ve just got to go execute and play for each other. If we do that, we’ll be fine.”
Last season, the Mocs averaged 13 possessions per game but only 17.7 points. They had only 11 possessions against the Bulldogs, who ran 72 plays to UTC’s 50 in a 20-14 win in Chattanooga.
Those possessions can be aided by not turning the ball over. In The Citadel’s season opener last Saturday – a 28-21 loss to Wofford – the Bulldogs forced three turnovers, including an interception by Noah Dawkins that he returned 47 yards for a touchdown. Another Dawkins pickoff also led to a Citadel score, and the Bulldogs’ third touchdown came after one of their punts glanced off a Wofford player and was recovered by the Bulldogs deep in Wofford territory.
The Mocs had 14 possessions in last week’s 34-10 win over Tennessee Tech, with five of those resulting in points (four touchdowns and a field goal), and their only one turnover came on a big hit on a near pass reception that led to an interception. To end the Bulldogs’ two-game win streak in the series, UTC will need similar if not better efficiency.
“Offensively we have to take advantage of opportunities,” head coach Tom Arth said. “There are going to be moments where they stop us – that’s part of the game – but we have to control the situations that are within our control, like converting third downs. When we have the opportunity to make plays, we’ve got to make them.
“We have to protect the football. The reason why The Citadel was able to fight back last week and nearly pull it out against Wofford was because Wofford turned the ball over. That’s something we’ll have to be conscious of.
“We need to play to our technique, have awareness, and if moments present themselves, let’s take advantage.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.