UAB Passing Attack Still a Work in Progress

By Steve Irvine

October 1 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

From Alex Mortensen’s point of his view the UAB offense took a step forward in the passing game last week against Navy. Now, the UAB head coach didn’t say they were perfect in that area but it was a step forward nonetheless.

“We're still not protecting to the degree that we're capable, but I think if you're watching the game on TV or if you're in the stands, you probably saw us run out the back of the pocket a couple times,” Mortensen said earlier this week as they began preparing for Saturday’s non-conference matchup with Samford at Protective Stadium. “I turned into a fan a couple times and was going, ‘What are we doing?’ But I'll say this, there were actually some positive strides in pass protection despite a couple of those plays, so that was good. And then I think the route detail and the quarterback timing and rhythm was good. I think Ryder has a really high ceiling and he's doing a lot of things really well. I think we have the receivers to do it. I think we're very capable (with) tight ends, backs. I do think it was a step up. The exciting thing for us is like there's still a lot of steps that we can take and I think we just continue to get a lot better.”

The numbers still suggest that there is a long way to go for UAB to reach its potential in the passing game. After four games, UAB is 122nd nationally in passing offense (163 yards per game), 119th in team passing efficiency, tied for 116th in sacks allowed per game (2.75) and tied for 124th in total sacks allowed (11).

Improving pass protection is the first step. Quarterback Ryder Burton has proven if given time the passing game can click. As Mortensen has said several times, though, improving the pass protection doesn’t solely land on the shoulders of the offensive line. It’s a matter of all 11 players on the field doing their job. For Burton, that doesn’t just mean delivering the ball to the right receiver.

“Look, Ryder's a good athlete and there's been times this year he's put us in positive situations by scrambling,” Mortensen said. “A lot of times that involves him scrambling forward. Like I said, there were a couple times we went out the back and you don't want to totally take it away from him. I think going back to the ULM game, the big touchdown pass that we threw to take the lead was set up by a scramble that he had. So you don't want to take that away from him completely. But I do think there are different kinds of scrambles. I think there's situational awareness, understanding ‘Hey, if it's first-and-10 and we have a relatively aggressive call on, protect us, protect yourself from the standpoint that you want to be able to play from as advantageous down and distance as possible.’ So having an idea of when to find the checkdown, when to throw it away, having a plan on those things.”

On Saturday, the Blazers are facing a Samford defense that has 10 sacks in four games, which is 24th best in FCS. The Bulldogs also allowed a pair of big play touchdown passes against an explosive Tennessee Tech team and a 95-yard touchdown pass in the opening game loss to UNA. Overall, though, the Bulldogs are 21st in FCS in passing yards allowed per game (168).

It will be the next opportunity for UAB to get the passing game working and the offense rolling.

“We have so much more to offer,” said wide receiver CJ Smith. “We’re kind of just scratching the surface, as Coach Mort says, with all the players that we have. There’s a lot more to come.”