Dr Z

It's hard being a Zips football fan now a days. As a fan, I now have everything I always wanted in a new stadium, so I'm just ready to explode with excitement, but this season seems to be spinning out of control. I always thought CJ was a good enough QB to win the MAC if he got a little help on the defensive side...bam, CJ gets suspended for the season. I pretty much knew the ability of the backup QB before he started his first game so I haven't been that hopeful that we will turn around this season. As it sits today, I'll still be at every home game like I always have, but my hope now turns to...just beat Can't. Anyway here are my observations from yesterday:Matt has taken plenty of abuse on this board already, so I will keep my criticism short; I think the one thing that can make Matt a better QB is to work on his pocket presence. He doesn't keep his eyes down field long enough before he abandons the pocket. I think the fact that he is a good runner outside of the pocket hurts his passing ability, he doesn't give his targets enough time to complete their routes. If I had to pick another thing he needs to work on, it would be the swing pass. Have you ever seen a bigger disparity in two QB's throwing the swing pass as you did in yesterday's game?I have been plenty critical of our defensive scheme. I hate it, but I actually saw some QB pressure yesterday for the first time in a while. We got Dan to throw a few balls away. I wonder how much of it has to do with Wagner? He is fun to watch. It's obvious to me that he has a nose for the ball. Sky is the limit for that guy.Jeff Phelps had one interesting thing to say yesterday (he's terrible btw). He mentioned that he talked to JD about the running backs and asked why he rotates so much. JD's response was because they all have different skill sets. Was it me or did Tuzze look like he had the skill set that I'm looking for in my running back yesterday? Every time he got hit yesterday he fell forward. He looked like he always wanted one more yard. I would like to see him get more carries. He looks like he can get us some first downs and help to win time of possession.It's hard enough to watch the Zips play, but that gd spinning mac logo for EVERY transition was making me coo-coo. Please limit the use of that thing. I can't believe I have to type that.I'm going to keep it short. I have a lot of terrible stats written down in my notes, but Zip fans can only take so much abuse. Even though the season seems like it has spun out of control keep in mind that football seasons are crazy, if you watch enough of them you are bound to be surprised by something. I wonder what surprise the Zips have in store for us fans next?

I started this poll anticipating this weeks poll. After you vote please explain your vote.

Now that is a good point. I agree, except I don't trust #5 passing the ball further than the "box"

Nope, I still agree with me.

Just when I thought I read all the angles on Rodgers bad play, Zeke gets entered into the train wreck...Wow. :blink: I thought for sure it was going to be a funny post about Zeke playing WR, and just throw it up to him.

You are not going to convince me that Tuzze, Bowser or Wagner have "given up" I HATE that term...the team has given up.

Why? Best way to learn is to get in the game and play. The nice thing about our offense if you put Patrick in at QB, you get rid of the turnover machine that is Matt Rodgers, that should help the offense right there. I'm sure Patrick can throw a swing pass to the sidelines that isn't at the receivers feet every time. I bet he can throw a 25 yard pass over the middle that doesn't look like a wounded duck too. Looks like a full week of snaps for Matt didn't improve his QB skills. Wasn't there a JD quote in the spring that went something like this...Matt is really improving and coming along!?!? I watched the spring game this year and saw EXACTLY what I saw yesterday. I realize he is young and will get better, but if he is a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10, is he going to ever get to a 6 or a 7...maybe, but I want a QB who is a 7 that has 9 or 10 potential.

Count me in the BFC (Bowser Fan Club). When we went to PSU this year, he was the one of the first ones out of the locker room practicing running routes and catching. He worked in PSU's half of the field until PSU come out. Not fooling around warming up, his warm ups were serious, if you know what I mean. Seems like he is working hard at his craft...and I am seeing the results on the field. I hope he is able to make lemonade out of our current lemon situation.

If any prediction would change the attitude of ZN, that one would.

+1

I think it would be fun to put DeVoe into a run oriented offense and put Rodgers under center. Wouldn't now be a good time to do that?PS I'll scrap this offensive idea and come up with a new one tomorrow.

Agreed but they allowed IU to go 10 - 15 on 3rd down.Good offenses can convert third downs, good defenses can stop teams from converting third downs. We are not a good team right now.

Wheels are coming off 42-13 Chips.

Here is where I put 100% of my concern35% Defensive Scheme31% QB Situation15% Effect of QB Situation on the rest of the team10% Lack of halftime adjustments5% Running game4% Alcohol Agents busting people tailgating

He can beat you both ways. He'll take what you give him. With our awesome pass rush Look for another Julian-esk performance.PS I did see Wagner rush late up the middle applying pressure a few times last week. That is scratching the surface with him.

The Chief of University Police rode by on a Segway and stopped to talk in our lot as people were drinking while speaking with him. Nobody was out of control and his demeanor seemed pleasant. My wife told me that she saw some underage drinkers getting ticketed in another lot before the game, they had a big beer bong (not the one previously posted on ZN). Keep your alcohol on the DL and don't act like a fool.I agree with Z-P, bring back the beer tent. I would hope that the new AD is aware of this issue.

Akron coach J.D. Brookhart had nothing but praise for sophomore quarterback Matt Rodgers, who started in place of suspended senior Chris Jacquemain, against Indiana last week.The Zips lost 38-21, but Brookhart said he saw a lot of promise in his young quarterback especially since he didn’t get first-team reps until Thursday.“He’s a real ‘want to’ guy,” Brookhart said. “You want that in a quarterback and he's got that so he's gonna be a good player. He did some good things and he's going to continue to progress. This is really, really important to him. He's got pretty good speed. His arm has gotten a lot better in the last year. You've really seen him physically mature.”The way Brookhart spoke about Rodgers on Monday gave a sense that Akron was ready to move on from Jacquemain, a senior who had one of the best quarterbacking seasons in Akron history a year ago. The school announced Jacquemain’s suspension on Friday, but didn’t specify a reason.Brookhart said Monday that there was timetable for Jacquemain to return.True freshman Patrick Nicely will come off the scout team to be the backup quarterback and redshirt freshman Jared Wackerly will be third string. Brookhart said he wasn’t sure how both players would be used.Rodgers completed 14-of-23 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw four interceptions.The Zips open Mid-American Conference play this week at Central Michigan.“He will continue to grow,” Brookhart said of Rodgers. “Matt will be a good quarterback. … Full time reps of a starter will certainly clean things up for him. He threw for a 60 percent clip. He had his interceptions, I understand that, and trying to do too much as young guys do, that’s where we’ve got to corral him in a little bit. He’ll be fine.”source

I thought so!!!! He couldn't throw a spiral in the second half to save his life and that took us right out of the game.Must have been bothering him in the spring game too.

Any of those people happen to be high school football fans who root for Ohio State? I used to have a lot of OSU fans tell me that Frye was no good, because if he was he would be at OSU. Then he got drafted by the Browns, then those same guys told me he was good, then those guys told me he was bad later. The same OSU fans told me Zwich (sp?) was going to be great. The same OSU fans told me they didn't want OSU to get Pryor, then when they got him, he was the greatest, now they aren't sure again. OSU fans are funny.

You do know you play in the "Big" Ten right? Make sure you stop back Sunday win or lose.OK. I'm here. What do you need?HOO HOO HOOSIERS!Congratulations, your team & program is more advanced than ours. Good luck in B10 play, your gunna need it! Now bow to your futbol gawdz!

It's too bad the Zips can't put it together this year, with the state of the Browns, if the Zips were playing well, they could attract more football fans to the Info later in the year. Probably more press too.

The great thing about ZN is that if you want to talk about future games, you can, if you want to talk about past games you can. If you don't want to read about a topic, don't click on the thread.

Is he switching back to offense?Mike makes that suggestion in last week's morning after blog I think it might be an appropriate move now with Rodgers starting. I would like to have more experience around Matt and I like AJ's RAC potential. I also like his potential to stretch the field to open the underneath stuff up.