Buckzip

I don't feel that any coach is on the hot seat his first year. That is probably more true at a smaller budget school like Akron that can't afford to eat contracts.

His would say Can't read, Can't write Can't coach....

http://www.thetaphouseakron.com/ He's a businessman who needs to eat and pay the bills. Few Zips show up for the shows. He's a Zip fan. What would you have the guy do? I get it. I'm not saying the guy should not paint his bar whatever color he wants. I'm just embarrassed that WE are doing an AKRON ZIPS coaches show from a bar painted in Ohio State colors. Is it really? That is weak as hell. Why is the UA coaches show done there? Just more lousy thinking by the UA aports and marketing depts.

http://www.thetaphouseakron.com/ He's a businessman who needs to eat and pay the bills. Few Zips show up for the shows. He's a Zip fan. What would you have the guy do? I get it. I'm not saying the guy should not paint his bar whatever color he wants. I'm just embarrassed that WE are doing an AKRON ZIPS coaches show from a bar painted in Ohio State colors. Is it really? That is weak as hell. Why is the UA coaches show done there? Just more lousy thinking by the UA aports and marketing depts.

No, we wouldn't be 5-0, but if I had to bet, I would say we have at last 2 wins and were competitive on the other 3. Not only has this team lost, they haven't even been competitive with the exception of a DIAA team.

How many coaches go with a scheme they don't know and continue with the current/former one? Give me an example. I can give one, it turned out to be the correct move, but at the time it was highly controversial among the fans. None. I know a defensive coordinator who got hired as a head coach with no previous head coaching experience. He decided to go with the previous coaches defense scheme instead of the one that he was taught. He won the highest honor doing so. This team continues using this scheme 4 years later. He was a defensive backs coach at 3 different Universities and then became a defensive backs coach in the NFL before his HC job. Point is, I think it is very rare, but it happens. I was hoping someone else knew of more examples. Perhaps his d-coordinator was familiar with that system also. That is a huge help.

How many coaches go with a scheme they don't know and continue with the current/former one? Give me an example. I can give one, it turned out to be the correct move, but at the time it was highly controversial among the fans. None. I never said any did. However, if they are a coach that knows multiple schemes, they will adjust their schemes to match their talent. I could mention 1 right now but I would be attacked for it. Again, that is why I mentioned that it was the AD fault also. He hired a coach that would put in a system that this team wasn't built for. I am sure that happens quite a bit.

The guy came from a losing program at Notre Dame. Easily in excess of a million fans "down" on the program and staff. Every loss was nationally televised. Now he's facing 3 Zips fans on Waterloo Road, and they're more interested in free wings than football. While I appreciate his availability, it is as gutsy as walking a foot-high tightrope over a tupperware container full of minnows. I think he'll survive. Excitement regarding Zips football is at an all-time low. And that's really saying something. My question for the guy - "After witnessing what has been on display the first 3 home games of the season, why should I come back for game 4? What is going to change?" Question #2: "Will you beat K.e.n.t. State?" Perfect! One Correction: There might be 3 true Zips fans, and they will pay attention. The other 20 people in there don't care about the Zips, and will be eating their free wings, not paying any attention at all, and will be talking to each other about Cowlumbus State and the Browns and complaining that they can't hear the TV over Coach I's interview. The Browns won yesterday so fans will probably be easier on the Coach. I would just love to get straight to the point. Hey Coach this team sucks. Will you resign if you don't win a game this season?

The guy came from a losing program at Notre Dame. Easily in excess of a million fans "down" on the program and staff. Every loss was nationally televised. Now he's facing 3 Zips fans on Waterloo Road, and they're more interested in free wings than football. While I appreciate his availability, it is as gutsy as walking a foot-high tightrope over a tupperware container full of minnows. I think he'll survive. Excitement regarding Zips football is at an all-time low. And that's really saying something. My question for the guy - "After witnessing what has been on display the first 3 home games of the season, why should I come back for game 4? What is going to change?" Question #2: "Will you beat K.e.n.t. State?" That was rough.

I'll guess no. I Would have loved to be a fly on the wall during that interview. I think when making these points that some of us are assuming that the staff knows how to run the different offenses and are comfortable running them. If Coach I doesn't know, or isn't comfortable, with the spread he isn't going to utilize it. There are some coaches that design their schemes according to their talent and others that try to make their talent fit their schemes. Coach I appears to be trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Coach I came from a pro style offense. That is probably what he knows. This appears to go back to the AD. The AD should have been sure that whomever he was hiring as a coach was going to be able to use the existing players. Every new coach takes a few years to fully get his schemes and plays in. However, this may be more than that because of the complete 180 in schemes along with not having top tier talent in the first place. When he was first hired a lot of people were happy as soon as he mentioned he was going to the 4-3. For once Akron had enough d-lineman to run a 4-3. I feel that even if we only had 4 d-lineman on scholly and 4 All Mac linebackers, he was still going to run the 4-3. Obviously the 3-3-5 had to go. But to just straight out say what you are switching to before even knowing your roster put up a red flag for me.

Our DB's aren't that great of athletes. They may have straight ahead speed but don't play with their hips on a swivel. They are either looking back for the ball and getting burned or they are playing the receiver and ignoring the ball. They fail to do both and react with instincts. Size isn't the biggest thing here. There are quite a few small CB's in the nfl. Yes, there are certain situations that the size will kill you, endzone fades and jump balls, but overall size isn't that big of an issue. Our DB's are horribly coached. Not a lot of technique in our secondary. If you look at recruiting rankings,not that they mean a lot, we have actually signed some pretty good CB's over the past few years. Larty, Alexander, Byrd, Waller were all 2-3*. For the MAC that is pretty good. Again, the ratings don't mean alot, but these aren't all unrated or 1* guys back there.

Outstanding....

I have wondered the same thing. I thought when Torrence left that would open it up for Martin. Even the true freshman Bowers is ahead of him. It seems like whenever we get a highly rated transfer they don't play for one reason or another. The list is long.

Wow, that was certainly a different day for Zips football. What that team lacked in ability, it certainly made up in desire and heart. Starters on that team like Jay Rohr, Brian White, Dion Elie, Luke Getsy, Brett Biggs, Mike Donaldson, Jason Montgomery, etc. certainly weren't elite talents, but they played each and every week ABOVE their abilities, and you could just tell they took pride in their school and what they were playing for. This team is the exact opposite. It has a lot of talent, b,ut just doesn't give a damn. Outside of Alex Allen (who coincidently, or not so coincidently, was on that team), the guys now could care less about Akron, winning, or accomplishing anything above themselves.... they just collect their paychecks (scholarships) and show up on Saturday. The best thing RI could do right now would be to bring a few of those old guys in and tell them what it means to put on the Blue and Gold and represent your school and your alumni. I really wish Brett Biggs was still here and working in the strength staff, he knew what I'm talking about better than anyone. Biggs came to play. I miss having a tough SOB like that in the backfield.

They really beat some big time programs on their way to that 2-1 start. I have a tv just like you and it shows me the same thing it shows you. Illinois is a bad team and if that is the best they can do after two weeks to prepare, they are worse than what they showed yesterday. BZ, saying you understand football isn't the same thing as understanding football regardless of how much Tressel Punch you drink. I hope you don't take this too personally, but I don't think you know much about the game, what makes a good player, what good play calling is or what a good coach is. I read your posts...there is nothing there. Have a nice evening. I agree Illi is not a good team. However, 2-1 isn't hapless. Don't worry GP1 I don't take anything you say personally. I think you are a fool that comes on here and tries to act like you know what you are talking about. Those of us that played the game and understand it can see right through you. You are vague, you use certain buzz words and you are clueless. You continue to prove it over and over and over. The SPS and hatred has just completely eaten up your ability to be rational. I drink the Tressel punch ROFLMAO. Folks on OSU boards would laugh at you for saying that about me. Most of them think I hate the guy because I am so critical of the way he calls games and the piss poor high school offensive schemes he uses. As usual you have turned this into an OSU thread. I was merely pointing out that you were wrong, as usual, and now instead of trying to find out why you are wrong you have to do the Tressel/OSU BS. I would love for you to come to another board and really discuss football. You would get so schooled you would run back here where there are only a few posters that think you have a clue. Keep it up. You are always good for a laugh. Carry on.

I'm not here to defend the coaches. Their pro style offense will never work here and the sooner they are gone the better...along with the guy who hired them, but the players need to show some pride in themselves. Move the freaking ball and stop the other guys every now and then. Why do you say that? Teams that win with pro style offenses have a lot of future pros on their team....Alabama is loaded and runs a pro style offense. They are loaded with future NFL stars. In the MAC, you get MAC talent. I don't think it takes much to make a bad team average or an average team good in college football. Success in the MAC can come from scoring a bunch of points and not shooting yourself in the foot on defense. If you can hang around long enough in a mac game, the other team will hand you the game. How do you get those points?...... CMU was very successful with the spread offense and a great QB the past four years. Cincy did the same thing in the Big East. Score a bunch of points and make teams in bad conferences try to match your point output. It's easier to do in the MAC and Big East than the major BCS conferences. CMU was unsuccessful in bowl games but beat the crap out of the MAC because the moved the ball in a spread offense. Cincy was exposed for being a fraud in the Sugar Bowl last year, but they killed a terrible Big East with the spread. I've said this before, Texas almost beat Alabama last year in the BCS Championship with an off the bench freshman QB. I see average teams win too much with the spread to think that it doesn't work. There are real reasons for the success as well....For example, it makes pass blocking schemes easier for linemen because it moves potential rushers away from the line. Same with the running game. If one OLineman makes a mistake, the whole line breaks down. Make an average line good by moving defenders away and eliminate confusion. The spread is actually a very simple offense that looks complicated. If there was a book about explaining the spread, it would be called, "Offense for Dummies". The Zips don't have time to assemble a team that would be able to run a pro offense and finish any higher than second place in the MAC East. It will take years and by then the coach will have turned over twice already. It just isn't a reality. The reality is, the spread offense turns programs around fast because it doesn't take as many pieces and parts to be successful. A pro style offense takes a lot of good players. The Zips need to win now, not 8 years from now. If we look around at teams that run pro style offenses in the midwest, how successful are they? Wisconsin?....Nice team, but the saying, "Always a bridesmaid and never a bride" comes to mind. Chronic second and third place Big Ten team. Pitt?....Third place Big East. Iowa?....Lost to Arizona who if my memory is correct, is an average team that has become good by running a spread offense. Notre Dame under Weiss?...Hello Kansas City. Stanford is having success with a pro style offense out west, but I'm not sure if they will fall into the Wisconsin and Pitt trap or not. Time will tell with them and they already play in a league with pro style offenses being played around them such as at USC. They crushed Oregon today, but I suspect Oregon will lose more by the end of the year. The spread offense isn't for everyone, but if you want to go from being poor to at least average (we would probably take that right now) or average to good, the spread has been shown to work in the MAC. We are a MAC team and we need to do what works in the MAC. I'm sold...you're hired. (dead serious) Send in your resume, you can be my #1 assistant. I'd like to add more evidence to how effective the spread is with a QB that can run. Please do not take this as an opportunity to start the UofA vs. tOSU argument. It really makes a good point about how the spread offense takes average-good players and makes them good-great. If you are offended and want to continue to read, insert Team X for tosu and you will feel better. Insert "Joe Smith" for Pryor. Pryor was churning out a ton of yards yesterday and tosu was on their way to a blowout of a hapless Illinois team. His yards were gained out of a spread formation running the read option, not from under center. Then Pryor gets hurt and really couldn't run...same guy, no wheels. It was shocking how fast tosu changed into a very average offense at that point. All of the sudden, their RBs couldn't get yards...the Oline didn't look as good.....Pryor wasn't quite as good of a passer as he is when the threat of running is there....their WRs became EXTREMELY average. Pryor is the difference between tosu finishing first in the Big Ten or third. Without Pryor, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and maybe MSU are all better teams than tosu. College football is a team sport, but if you can just find a couple of the right pieces, you can be very good very fast. Bad analogy. You are wrong on many fronts here. I will not point them out, because I don't want to start that argument, but you would be better to use a DickRod coached team without Denard Robinson as your example. Actually, I am exactly right and anyone who saw the game yesterday who knew anything at all about college football would agree. A lot was exposed for tosu yesterday. With that said, Michigan is the other team that would be a good example. I would agree. Michigan is .500 without Robinson....at best. Nope, you are wrong. I would explain it to you, but I think you are too hard headed to understand it. Your calling a 2-1 home team that had 2 weeks to prepare hapless was your first mistake. After that it went down hill. If you knew how Tressel coaches you would understand it a little better. And for the record I hate when he gets ultra conservative, but he wins and that is all that is important. Back to Akron, I agree we should be more of a spread offense, but we didn't win with that either.

Hey there is improvement. We are increasing our average margin of defeat. That's improvement..

LOL

I'm not here to defend the coaches. Their pro style offense will never work here and the sooner they are gone the better...along with the guy who hired them, but the players need to show some pride in themselves. Move the freaking ball and stop the other guys every now and then. Why do you say that? Teams that win with pro style offenses have a lot of future pros on their team....Alabama is loaded and runs a pro style offense. They are loaded with future NFL stars. In the MAC, you get MAC talent. I don't think it takes much to make a bad team average or an average team good in college football. Success in the MAC can come from scoring a bunch of points and not shooting yourself in the foot on defense. If you can hang around long enough in a mac game, the other team will hand you the game. How do you get those points?...... CMU was very successful with the spread offense and a great QB the past four years. Cincy did the same thing in the Big East. Score a bunch of points and make teams in bad conferences try to match your point output. It's easier to do in the MAC and Big East than the major BCS conferences. CMU was unsuccessful in bowl games but beat the crap out of the MAC because the moved the ball in a spread offense. Cincy was exposed for being a fraud in the Sugar Bowl last year, but they killed a terrible Big East with the spread. I've said this before, Texas almost beat Alabama last year in the BCS Championship with an off the bench freshman QB. I see average teams win too much with the spread to think that it doesn't work. There are real reasons for the success as well....For example, it makes pass blocking schemes easier for linemen because it moves potential rushers away from the line. Same with the running game. If one OLineman makes a mistake, the whole line breaks down. Make an average line good by moving defenders away and eliminate confusion. The spread is actually a very simple offense that looks complicated. If there was a book about explaining the spread, it would be called, "Offense for Dummies". The Zips don't have time to assemble a team that would be able to run a pro offense and finish any higher than second place in the MAC East. It will take years and by then the coach will have turned over twice already. It just isn't a reality. The reality is, the spread offense turns programs around fast because it doesn't take as many pieces and parts to be successful. A pro style offense takes a lot of good players. The Zips need to win now, not 8 years from now. If we look around at teams that run pro style offenses in the midwest, how successful are they? Wisconsin?....Nice team, but the saying, "Always a bridesmaid and never a bride" comes to mind. Chronic second and third place Big Ten team. Pitt?....Third place Big East. Iowa?....Lost to Arizona who if my memory is correct, is an average team that has become good by running a spread offense. Notre Dame under Weiss?...Hello Kansas City. Stanford is having success with a pro style offense out west, but I'm not sure if they will fall into the Wisconsin and Pitt trap or not. Time will tell with them and they already play in a league with pro style offenses being played around them such as at USC. They crushed Oregon today, but I suspect Oregon will lose more by the end of the year. The spread offense isn't for everyone, but if you want to go from being poor to at least average (we would probably take that right now) or average to good, the spread has been shown to work in the MAC. We are a MAC team and we need to do what works in the MAC. I'm sold...you're hired. (dead serious) Send in your resume, you can be my #1 assistant. I'd like to add more evidence to how effective the spread is with a QB that can run. Please do not take this as an opportunity to start the UofA vs. tOSU argument. It really makes a good point about how the spread offense takes average-good players and makes them good-great. If you are offended and want to continue to read, insert Team X for tosu and you will feel better. Insert "Joe Smith" for Pryor. Pryor was churning out a ton of yards yesterday and tosu was on their way to a blowout of a hapless Illinois team. His yards were gained out of a spread formation running the read option, not from under center. Then Pryor gets hurt and really couldn't run...same guy, no wheels. It was shocking how fast tosu changed into a very average offense at that point. All of the sudden, their RBs couldn't get yards...the Oline didn't look as good.....Pryor wasn't quite as good of a passer as he is when the threat of running is there....their WRs became EXTREMELY average. Pryor is the difference between tosu finishing first in the Big Ten or third. Without Pryor, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and maybe MSU are all better teams than tosu. College football is a team sport, but if you can just find a couple of the right pieces, you can be very good very fast. Bad analogy. You are wrong on many fronts here. I will not point them out, because I don't want to start that argument, but you would be better to use a DickRod coached team without Denard Robinson as your example.

True.

In response to the first question, which is normally said, "the coach has lost the team". That is impossible to know unless every player is asked and then it is up for debate. Sort of an old sports cliche that really sounds good to say but nobody knows what it really means. The real question is, do these players have any pride in themselves? 25% (4 in 12) of their drives were three and out. One drive lasted one play and resulted in an INT. 50% of the drives were 5 plays or less. I'm not here to defend the coaches. Their pro style offense will never work here and the sooner they are gone the better...along with the guy who hired them, but the players need to show some pride in themselves. Move the freaking ball and stop the other guys every now and then. Why do you say that?

The trolls appear after they win. They would be absent had they lost. That's the way trolls operate.

You know, I know this won't go over well and it isn't very productive or analytical. But this team flat out SUCKS.

NIU 38 Akron 17

This thread is so full of irony it is amazing. :lol IMHO I think this is great. Yeah we tied, but we learned and got some great experience from it. The thing that makes this so different than football is that in football we are happy to just be competitive. In soccer we are pissed off for tying a top 20 team on the road. To me, that's awesome.