Dr Z

PFF has their own grading system. There is definitely a love hate relationship between folks that I discuss football with. I lean toward love. One of the few pay sites I would recommend for people that really love football.

Pay Attention To BG QB Matt Johnson by Gordon McGuiness Don’t look now, but Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson (+35.0) currently has the second-highest passing grade in the nation behind only Trevone Boykin. With the Falcons’ only losses of the year coming against Tennessee and Memphis, Bowling Green has scored 62, 59, 48 and 62 points in each of the past four games, and suddenly looks like one of the best non-Power-5 teams in all of college football.

Looking forward to watching Pat work the paint Saturday night. Hey, he changed his number this year. Jake Kretzer passes to Pat Forsythe at last year's MAC Tournament. —©Photo by Dr Z

I'll go with little Bull, since he has developed beyond recognition.

Mack Rhoadeds explains Missouri football player's protest. Illinois fires Mike Thomas after athlete allegations.

3:30 kickoff (just announced) should be perfect for the Poutine cook off. CBS Sports Network will televise the game.

I was so sure that the Zips would be playing in the Boca Raton bowl, I booked a flight to Miami a month ago. Not really, but it would really work out for me if the Zips played in that bowl.

I'm not sure many of you follow pro football focus, but this is pretty telling.

Doesn't look like CBS Sports Network replays games like ESPN3 does. Gotta get a DVR. Akron golf sign does it again. Go Zips dot com photo gallery.

My random thoughts on the game: • I have to admit, I thought we would kill UMass, when I saw the line I thought it was a mistake. • Our defense played awesome. Great game plan. I was a tad concerned we were over defending the pass early, but as more often than not, the staff adjusted. Kudos to everyone on the defense, line, backers and secondary came to play yesterday. • I'm not sure how to fix the offense, but it needs attention. The program has a great opportunity right now, and the offensive efficiency is the only thing that may keep us out of a bowl game. Jay Feeley pointing out that TW should be holding onto the ball during all the zone reads was an excellent point. I can't say that all those zone reads seem the best use of the talent on the field. That td run by TW was pretty awesome though. • Extremely nice to watch the game in HD and have professionals announce the game. They added to my experience instead of annoying me. • Great to see Jerome Lane on the field the majority of the time yesterday. Someone listened to ZN. I like Feeley explaining the staff told him that they want to get JL7 more involved in the offense. Hallelujah! Time out from this post...we have an injury timeout on the field as another UMass defensive player is down on the field while the staff gets a play in on third down. • Can we please practice getting the snap to the holder? This seems like an easy task, but was a real challenge again. • I love Grice. I love the little interview they did aired with him during the game. Nothing against 36, but we have GOT to be more creative on short yardage than bringing 36 in the game and jamming him into the back of the line every time. • Jordan George is going to be a player. He had a nice game yesterday. If he continues to progress his game....(insert favorite saying here) • Please cross off the play on the offensive sheet that has three receivers nine yards from the line of scrimmage in the same place...it could result in an interception since there will be five defenders around the ball. • Coe continues to disrupt. I have to think he gets a look in someones camp. • If I'm a UMass fan, I'm upset by the way the end of the game was managed.

Congratulations to zippy5, pdt1420 and liberty61.

Anyone catch this on College Gameday this morning? From Tuscaloosa.

Right. How many times have you heard coach Bowden say "we need to find a way to win at Akron?" Luckily he is still trying different personnel and schemes to find the right formula. Hopefully he finds it sooner, rather than later. Can't wait for the game today!

I checked my guide, it is listed, and is listed in HD. George writes the Zips need to be prepared for another aerial attack. ...The Zips should be prepared for what Frohnapfel brings to the table given their last two games — both losses. Bowling Green’s Matt Johnson lit them up like he has almost everyone this season. But in last week’s loss to Central Michigan, the UA secondary, consisting of Kris Givens, Zach Guiser, Bryce Cheek, DeAndre Scott and John Senter in various combinations, went to work against Cooper Rush, holding him to 226 passing yards when he came into the game averaging better than 300 per game.The Zips will have to be on their guard. Frohnapfel loves to hit senior wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, who has already caught 88 passes for 980 yards and four touchdowns...

MassLive: UMass vs. Akron game preview: After separating his shoulder late last week against Ball State, Kelton Brackett is questionable to play (he was in a sling all week). And if he does play, it'll be in limited snaps with limited effectiveness. Marken Michel and Trey Seals, have both missed extended time and don't figure to suit up. Whipple gushed over the senior linebacker earlier in the week, calling him the best linebacker UMass has seen in the MAC. And for good reason. Brown, despite size limitations, is second in the MAC in sacks. He's the heart and soul of a good Akron defense, one that stops the run as well as anyone in the nation.

Might have to do with the funny things that happen at Gillette stadium. Odds are still holding at two and a half.

George had this story (about the game) up at 10 pm last night with nine photos from Ed Suba Jr.

Can someone periscope it?

I wish the Zips had the coaches All-22 film so I could study all his routes compared to his replacement at the "X" or split end position when he isn't on the field. He should be running mostly long routes. From the X position, I see the majority of routes run to the sideline; outs, corners and ups. From his position I don't see many "in the middle of the field routes"; hitch, slant, or hooks. I have seen some posts. He has about nine routes to run, most of which our offense rarely run from his SE position. I would need some solid proof to the above statement to convince me of it. I could buy that he runs a lot of long routes and comes off the field for a breather, but that should only take him off the field occasionally, not mostly. I haven't studied his blocking on runs plays enough to know if that is a strength or weakness, but you would have a hard time convincing me that someone is so much better, that he would not see the field because of it. With the quality of our opponents left on our schedule, I would hope that Jerome gets a lot of route running practice during game time. My critic of the offense so far would be to let TW use the middle of the field more at this juncture of the season. I think because of the mistakes he made last year over the middle, the play calling is limiting him this year. Seems too conservative to me. Personally, I think it's too easy to defend all our sideline routes. TW should be comfortable enough now to command an expanded passing attack, and JL should be involved more.

It will be interesting to see if anyone takes the home favorite?

Oddsshark predicts Akron 28 Umass 25. Whipple Loves the Akron Defense. After eight games, they're the only unit in the MAC that has allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards per game. They're 97.6-yard average ranks eighth nationally behind power programs like Alabama, LSU and Michigan. Whipple praised defensive coordinator Chuck Amato and his penchant for using multiple, varied looks in the front seven. "They play three different fronts, so they force you to have some issues schematically in blocking schemes and pass protection. They'll mix it up, Chuck always has," he said. 'They can rush the passer with four down or rush with three and the blitz game in the weak, strong or overloads.

Nice article. I would hope to see JL7's snaps and targets increase. If somebody wants a project at the game, count his snaps. I'm guessing it's been less than fifty percent. I could be wrong, just a guess. Turn he and TW loose one game this year.

They play like they did against the Zips, I don't see them losing to another team. I'm looking forward to seeing how Toledo defends BG's offense on 11/17.

Feel free to discuss your answers. Members that answer all three correctly will be recognized Sunday morning. Last weeks winners were; Johnnyzip84, Captain Kangaroo, KentZip, ZippyRulz, Zipgrad01, and MDZip.

Boy is this the truth. This is why I really hope we get to a bowl game. I hope by getting the extra practices/reps, stuff like this starts to go away.