Neither University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Rusty Wright nor senior quarterback Nick Tiano is concerned about a passing offense that has been inconsistent through the Mocs' first two games.
Tiano, who completed nearly 62% of his passes last season, has connected on 56.4% (31 of 55) this year with a pair of interceptions and one touchdown. Wright said adjusting to a different system and throwing to several new receivers are mostly to blame for the slow start.
"You're talking about him being with a new coordinator for the third time in four years," the first-year head coach said of Tiano. "Understanding the nuances of this offense and where the ball is supposed to be will get better with time.
"We're throwing the ball a little more downfield than they did in the past, so that affects the numbers, but you would like to get it up over 60. The worst part about that stat is there were some passes that should have gone to other spots where we had a good chance to catch it. As long as that offensive line keeps protecting Nick well, he will get more comfortable and get a better understanding of the offense and complete some more passes."
Tiano believes the efficiency will improve in time, too.
"We don't throw a lot of the RPOs (run/pass options), the easy throws that a lot of guys get to pad that number," Tiano said. "But we want the percentage higher than it is now, obviously, and I've got to get better and we all have to keep getting better and it will go up.
"We're all getting comfortable. New receivers, a couple of new linemen and running backs. It takes time, for sure, but we will get there."
'Rocky Top' loop
If you have ventured along the Riverwalk near Scrappy Moore Field this week, things might have been a bit confusing.
For the Mocs (1-1), who were practicing for Saturday's noon encounter with Tennessee (0-2) at Neyland Stadium, it was maddening.
Wright and his staff had different versions of "Rocky Top" blaring on loudspeakers during practice, a constant loop that was a not-so-subtle reminder of what was coming. Sophomore offensive lineman McClendon Curtis was asked if he knew the words by heart now.
"No, I'm not big on the words," he said with a smile.
Going home
For junior offensive lineman Cole Strange and sophomore running back Jeffrey Wood, the game against the Volunteers will have a little extra meaning. The Knoxville natives get to return home, though wearing enemy colors will, they admit, make things interesting.
"Going back home is pretty special," said Wood, a Knoxville Catholic graduate. "I've had a lot of people, since they lost to BYU (29-26 in double overtime last week), hitting me up on social media - players and coaches I haven't talked to in years - asking me what I thought about the game. Lot of people are telling me they plan to come watch us and they think we can do well."
Wood admits he wasn't a big Tennessee fan, though the same cannot be said of Strange, who prepped at Farragut.
"I never really missed a UT home game until I was a sophomore in high school, so I was a huge Vol fan," he said. "It will be interesting to go back and play in the stadium I grew up watching my favorite team and play against them. My family is excited for it."
Ford recognized
UTC running back Ailym Ford received honorable mention from STATS for Football Championship Subdivision freshman of the week.
Ford rushed 22 times for 127 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's 41-20 loss at Jacksonville State, becoming the Mocs' first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Erroll Wynn had 131 against Jacksonville State on Nov. 4, 2006.
The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder from South Carolina's West Florence High School is fourth in the Southern Conference in rushing yards per game with 88.5, and all of his action has come in the past six quarters.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.