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Chrisball96

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Posts posted by Chrisball96

  8. Wagon Wheel Game 2023 - Game Thread

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    8 hours ago, LZIp said:

    I mean, context is important. We lost our best shot at winning games by losing our top option at the most important position in football. The real failure this season is the staff's apparent failure to have even a playable back up. We currently have 5 playable scholarship QBs and the 2 the staff have played so far have been horrid.

     

    Very interested to see what the staff does with the position next season. A high profile transfer (for MAC standards) is a must, and we should probably send a few packing if they can't get on the field considering what those above them on the depth chart have done. Overhaul is needed. 


    I know that people disagree but this is why I would at least like to maybe try our young quarterbacks for the rest of the season or at least part of it. We need to know the future of the QB position going forward through game action with meaningful snaps. 
     

    We know what we are getting from Undercuffler and Bullock and so it’s time to see what our other options are. We can’t just try to keep doing the same things we’ve been doing with the same terrible results. If our backups (who were recruited in many cases specifically by JM) are not good then we have way deeper problems that aren’t going to be fixed anytime soon. 

    • Like 2

  9. Wagon Wheel Game 2023 - Game Thread

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    3 hours ago, GoZips86 said:

     

    No. Pass on Bullock. Time to see Jennings or Wasel. JM himself visited each of them at their houses multiple times to recruit them. I'd like to see what they have since he went after them. Bullock has looked bad thus far and wasn't exactly a guy Akron was desperately trying to get. His old college was happy to see him leave in the portal. This season is over, why not see what one of the high school recruits have to offer? Literally the Zips have nothing to lose seeing what one of the young guys has to offer. 

     

    But sure, Bullock, we can start him. Yawn. 


    At this point what do we have to lose by seeing what our young guys can do? From what I have seen we can still preserve their redshirt years if that’s what we are concerned about. We have to evaluate what we have at the QB position for the long term future and what better time than now to do it? 
     

    At least then we’d at least be getting our future guys some meaningful snaps/experience versus bashing our heads against the wall trying to do the same thing each week and getting nowhere. 

    • Like 4

  10. Week 8 (BG) Thoughts

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    46 minutes ago, Ham said:

    That didn't work out too well when we tried TB.  I know that a win over Cant is top priority, but l think our best chance is to give our young QB's a chance.  They will have a few extra days to work with the No one's, and remember they have been leading our scout team against a D that is probably much better than Cants. If l see JU or TB start next Wednessday, I'll go straight to the hard stuff to ease my pain.  Remember JU is rated 159 out of 160!  I don't think TB has enough attemps to be rated.


    I don’t mind at all trying out young QBs out. Heck I’d welcome it. But I’m not trying to go the Irons route with TB because that didn’t work at all. What I am suggesting is leaning on Lingard and seeing if he can be a workhorse and the focal point of the offense. 
     

    Honestly don’t know what the best option is going forward but just seems like Lingard is a good back and we haven’t tried this yet (but I could be wrong there). 

    • Like 1

  11. Week 8 (BG) Thoughts

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    5 hours ago, catdaddyp said:

    Agree the offense has been a major disappointment. Part of the problem against most teams has been the offense’s inability to stay on the field and in turn cause the defense to play more snaps. They’ve also been put in poor situations numerous times. Even with the aberration against NIU, the defense is still on pace to be ahead of last year and especially vs Arth’s last season.  I added the stats below.
     

    Total Defense:

    2023 = 342.0 YPG

    2022 = 406.2 YPG

    2021 = 457.0 YPG

     

    Scoring Defense:

    2023 = 29.4

    2022 = 33.5

    2021 = 38.6

     

    Rush Defense:

    2023 = 148.8

    2022 = 162.4

    2021 = 246.0

     

    Pass Defense:

    2023 = 193.3 YPG

    2022 = 243.8 YPG

    2021 = 211.0 YPG

     

    Sacks:

    2023 = 15

    2022 = 19

    2021 = 14

     

    QB Pressures:

    2023 = 104

    2022 = 167

    2021 = 104

     

    Interceptions:

    2023 = 6

    2022 = 6

    2021 = 6

     


    If the offense could even be average and protect the football, we’d be fielding a pretty good team this year. Instead, we’re dead last in the MAC in rushing for the second straight season and averaging almost 100 yards less through the air.

     

     


    I know it seems simplistic but in this day and age so much of our offense is dictated by QB play. And if you have terrible QB play as we have then there is little you can do on offense to help out the defense even if they are playing well. 
     

    It's to the point where the QB play is dearly costing us points through interceptions and fumbles such that you have to wonder how much we should drop back at all. I am not saying we turn into a single wing or triple option team but at the same time we seriously have to consider just pounding it away with a run-first offense and see if we can make something happen. 

  12. The State of Athletics

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

     

    The answer to that didn't change based on the BG game but it very well could hinge on these last 4 games depending on who does or doesn't play.

     


    Maybe it’s too simplistic but I am hoping for something to be positive about in these next few games. Someone to step up and show flashes of potential or talent that we can somehow build off of in the next few years. Maybe just a general bump in our ability to fight and keep games close. Something, anything, to show there’s hope for the future. 

    • Like 3

  13. Game 8- BGSU

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    11 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

    They've won one game this year and it was a gift from an FCS team.  I don't think they have the talent some of you believe them to have.  They are losing to average and bad teams in what some believe to be the worst conference in the FBS.  Talent could occasionally overcome some of this misery.  To be this bad, it can't just be coaching, talent or bad luck, it has to be a fatal combination of talent and coaching issues.


    To a certain extent the the question is: what do you try to fix fix first when everything seems broken? If I am way off base here please smack me down. But without any semblance of improvement as a program how do you recruit a semi competent QB? I don’t think you can. That leaves another option, get a line that can block, a few RBs that can get tough yards and a defense that can keep things competitive. Try to establish some sort of running game with multiple backs and go back to square one. 
     

    To be honest I don’t know what the solution is but we aren’t winning anything relying on a QB but we have serviceable backs, maybe they might provide some sort of workable solution?

  21. Game 7- CMU

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, GP1 said:

    When I watch high school football, I wonder how a D1 program gets enough players to field a team. Heck, half the kickers can barely get the ball over the line in HS Most high school starters aren't D3 material, let alone D1. A kid can look like a superstar because everyone else is so bad. 

     

    Fans have been duped into believing the star rating system means something. I think at the highest level it does, but the rest appears to be throwing darts blindfolded. Coaches are still heavily reliant on word of mouth from trusted high school coaches in regions. 

     

    How bad of a job do coaches do at recruiting and how bad are decisions HS kids making? The massive numbers in the TP are a good indicator. Half of those will never play again. In reality, D1 programs could get away with around 65 scholarships and the average fan would never see a difference in the quality of play. https://www.axios.com/2023/05/11/ncaa-football-transfer-portal-record

     

     


    Any time you distill talent down from one level (HS) to another (college) you are going to get some washouts. Same as with the transition from colleges to the pros. It takes a completely different level of focus, attention, and ability to succeed even at a mediocre college program. You point out kicking and you’re right it does seem wildly inconsistent but that’s true even for some big programs, because it’s a skill that most HS football players don’t intentionally develop. 
     

    As to the transfer portal I don’t see it as the result of some sort of flaw in rankings or the system overall. It’s just a way to allow players to get on the field and exercise their talent. The fact that it’s so full is just the reality that scouting kids out of high school is tough both because they are still growing and developing. It won’t always work out but I don’t think that’s anything of a new phenomenon. 
     

    And I think the star system isn’t any sort of crystal ball and I think most coaches will admit that even if most fans put a lot more faith into it. That’s what these services are counting on by doing it because it generates hype, revenue, and to a certain extent, NIL. 
     

    Again I’m not an expert on Akron football but just seems like the measuring stick should be how well we develop guys that we get regardless of star level. Just see some improvement in their play, get them to play above their perceived ranking, whatever that may be. And go from there. 

  23. Game 7- CMU

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, Zippyroo said:

    Technically, you are correct but generally speaking most teams will honor their commitment to the players that have earned a scholarship unless the player defaults on his commitment to keep the scholarship or if there is a coaching change…


    Yes and with all due respect I’m not sure that revoking scholarships for playing poorly is going to have a positive impact on recruiting. 

  25. Game 7- CMU

    in Akron Zips Football

    Posted

    Again, sort of a newbie here, but any chance we could lean on Lingard a bit more, if we aren’t super behind that is? He’s got a decent YPC but he doesn’t seem to be asked to be that involved. Maybe establish the run to set up the pass if we don’t have as reliable a QB?

     

    Or am I way off base?

    • Like 1
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