Training Camp

[K92]

Thank you very much for the scrimmage reports. Unfortunately, I had to work and couldn't be there.

The good news about Zack Campbell is very encouraging. The kicking game was one of the Zips biggest liabilities last year. Jim Tressel could be correct. The punt may be the most important play.

Really looking forward to seeing Jalil Carter in game situation. Looks very promising to me.

I too, am stoked about seeing some smashmouth football from the Zips!

Sounds like the defensive line is going to be 2 deep good. Again, very encouraging.

I cannot wait until September 4th, getting my tailgate on, meeting some of you fine people in person and watching the Zips thrash the Orange.

[Captain Kangaroo]

And now for a slightly different take on the QB competition, courtesy of Tom Gaffney.

Link

Not so fast, Zips Nation.

''He does not have the job,'' coach Rob Ianello said afterward. ''I haven't made a decision yet.''

Why do I feel like we've been reprimanded? :lol:

iCoach translation: "The longer we keep Matt in the mix, the less chance he has to find another school and transfer (IUP, Cal Pa., YSU, etc.). We need an experienced back up."

If an ACL-repaired, primary-receiver-locking, Daisey One-Pump-armed Rodgers beats out Nicely, we are in a world of trouble in 2010.

[gozips19]

i'll try to touch on a few things that haven't been talked about too much.

1. bowers is legit! great foot work and vision. look for him to get more carries as the season progresses.

2. depth at de and lb worries me. was looking forward to seeing gilmer but he was out

3. happy with the secondary. seldon miller and holmes should get time. and richmond was all over the place.

4. pott's arm is weaker than rodgers....red flag to me

5. sconiers looks like a nice add at wr and could develop into a #1 in a year or two

6. like what they were trying to do with pride getting the ball to him in space but the execution was lacking

7. the pos coaches are much more engaged with the team than in years past.

8. o line needs to get healthy in a hurry or teams will just bleed akron to death

9. really liked what i saw out of hall at te

can't wait for the 4th...just hope the team is ready

[dreal1scout]

Thank you very much for the scrimmage reports. Unfortunately, I had to work and couldn't be there.

The good news about Zack Campbell is very encouraging. The kicking game was one of the Zips biggest liabilities last year. Jim Tressel could be correct. The punt may be the most important play.

Really looking forward to seeing Jalil Carter in game situation. Looks very promising to me.

I too, am stoked about seeing some smashmouth football from the Zips!

Sounds like the defensive line is going to be 2 deep good. Again, very encouraging.

I cannot wait until September 4th, getting my tailgate on, meeting some of you fine people in person and watching the Zips thrash the Orange.

I hear ya! I Cant wait. GO ZIPS!! 2010

[lk0834]

I caught part of the scrimmage and being an alumn of a local High School (St. Vincent St. Mary) and a current student at Akron I am very interested about the local talent playing for the Zips. Ben Bertsch a red shirt freshman was in on a few plays and Freshman FB Billy Harmon had a nice catch out of the back field and a few nice blocks (especially one on the touchdown and another on a stretch play where he got in two blocks - one a pancake). Bertsch was a great lineman for STVM - a little on the short side for a lineman but a great motor and emotional player. Billy Harmon was the most physcial/strongest player on STVM last year. If Akron is going to play smash mouth football - he is your guy.

Other local talent include Anthony Shrock from Wadsworth, Will Flemming from Hoban, Ryan Cohen form Firestone and Seth Cunningham from Medina. There may be others but these are the players I am familar with. Were are these guys on the depth chart (is there a current depth chart?) I would like to see Akron recruit more locally and get some of these players in the mix.

[ZachTheZip]

The most important question that hasn't been asked yet: Is this year's team better than last year's team?

[Jalapeño Zippy]

I would like to see Akron recruit more locally and get some of these players in the mix.

Akron recruits heavily in the local market. Unfortunately most of the time the students head elsewhere. Check the recruit thread and you will see what i am talking about.

[MaxZIP]

The most important question that hasn't been asked yet: Is this year's team better than last year's team?

Last year's team at this time was probably a little better. Last year team at the midpoint of the season was worse.

[johnnyzip84]

I had wondered about who was playing center. Rasor answered this in his latest blog.

Link

Zips name Nicely as starting quarterback

by MRASOR on AUGUST 25, 2010

in FOOTBALL

Football

As I've been writing since the spring, Rob Ianello's offense is ideal for sophomore quarterback Patrick Nicely.

Combine that fact with Nicely's strong camp and it wasn't a difficult decision for the coaches, who named Nicely the starter today over junior Matt Rodgers.

"As we evaluated the body of work, (Nicely) got far ahead of Matt," Ianello said. "We believe in both of them, but the team needs one quarterback."

Ianello has been silent about his passers until today, when he repeatedly stressed the ability of Nicely to make all of the throws in the Zips' new pro-style offense.

"I think the offense really fits Patrick very well," Ianello said.

Nicely responded by telling reporters that he is thrilled to be one of only 120 starting quarterbacks in Division I football. Ianello said he also noticed Nicely picking up a better comfort level.

"Obviously, he feels more comfortable now that he's been named the starter," the coach said. "He can say it's his huddle."

Rodgers is a solid player. Akron is lucky to have a backup with game experience, present ability and upside.

Still, this isn't really "news" to Zips fans. Nicely's selection was such a foregone conclusion that a joker on ZipsNation.org posted a headline stating that Rodgers won the job — a practical joke.

The greater question might be: Who is blocking for them?

Tonight, Ianello listed his starting offensive line. Jake Anderson will start at right tackle; Zac Kasparek at right guard; Mike Ward at center; Mitch Straight at left guard; Corey Woods at left tackle.

So are you comfortable, coach?

"Comfortable with the depth? No. Comfortable with the guys who will play? Yes."

Fortunately, offensive line injuries are relatively rare. Akron will get Paul Simkovich back from his injury soon. Pat McCloskey is a junior who can contribute.

The cornerstones of the line are Woods and Ward. They have been best friends since freshman year — when the two roomed together at the Brown Street Dormitory. That building, since demolished, sat on the current site of the FirstMerit Press Tower at InfoCision Stadium.

Their bond is likely to strengthen the line as a whole.

"It's the culture of the offensive line," Ward said. "They're always a tightly knit group. We rely on each other. If one guy screws up, the whole play gets blown up."

Woods and Ward have played every single game after sitting out their true freshman year — 36 games in all. Kris Kasparek — brother of Zac — currently holds Akron's record for games played in a career with 50. Woods and Ward could tie that mark by taking Akron to the MAC Championship and a bowl game.

While today was all about the quarterback, it is the five guys in front of him who need to be at their best for Akron to have a chance at putting Woods and Ward in the Zips' history books.

Other notes…

I watched about an hour of practice today. A bulk of it was dedicated to special teams. One thing I found unusual was that two true freshman quarterbacks — Dylan Potts and Adam Charles — were on the kick return teams.

Diamond Weaver looked explosive returning kicks. I couldn't really get a feel for Jeremy LaFrance because the senior didn't seem to exert his best motor. Ironically, LaFrance put a lick on Weaver once the team moved into 11-on-11 drills. LaFrance caught a pass and trucked over Weaver, a cornerback.

Nicely found freshman receiver Keith Sconiers for a couple long gains. They seem to have nice chemistry. I'll bet you'll see at least 2000 passing yards from Nicely to Sconiers before their careers are over.

On the post-practice sprints, freshman receiver Antoine Russell again made an effort to be the fastest player. Akron lacks proven talent at receiver, but the future looks bright.

[skip-zip]

Johnny....you wake up too early

Thanks for posting this. I think we've been left to speculate about some individual situations up to this point, and the coach's opinions about those players. It just seems like most of what we've heard to this point has been, "The offense...." or "The defense....."

[ZachTheZip]

Graduate back for a sixth year: Oft-injured Allen is healed up and eager to win

Allen staying healthy is a huge key towards the season being successful. He has the potential to be great.