Players that Need to Step Up in 2005

[InTheZone]

Here's a list of players which I feel are really going to have to step up in order for the Zips to have any success in 2005. Feel free to add to the list if you would like.

1. Luke Getsy- Goes without saying. He's filling the biggest shoes ever left here at the University of Akron. JD's system doesn't require a superstar at quarterback, but it does require someone who can read defenses and be smart with the football. Getsy has been in this system for three years so he has no excuse not to perform at a similar level to Charlie Frye, who though much more talented, had about 6 months to learn a very complex system.

2. Jay Rohr- On a defense left without leaders due to graduation, this guy needs to step up and be one. The defense is extremely young, and needs direction and guidance. Rohr as a senior linebacker's gotta be the one to provide it, and he's gotta step up big on the field and make tackles when other guys inevitably miss them.

3. Jabari Arthur- Ok, you lost the quarterback battle....you're still one of the most talented players on the team. Arthur needs a huge year recieving and needs to develop into a serious threat to take some of opposing defenses' attention off Domenik Hixon.

4. The O-line- Four new faces in starting roles, they must gel quickly if this offense which ranked 88th in the nation last year is going to have any success at all. Getsy's rusty and hasn't seen that much time on the field in college altogether, so as he takes his time to adapt he's going to need a strong running game. Biggs is a stud, but no running back can gain yards if he doesn't have holes. Alleman has all the tools to be good, and he needs to develop fast. If we can't run the ball effectively, it's going to be a long year, period.

5. Reggie Corner- Showed alot of promise last year but has got to be a shut down corner this year. With Bowling Green coming over and Josh Betts returning at Miami, if the Zips hope to have any success in the MAC East they've got to be able to stop the pass. If Corner can shut down the opponents top reciever each and every week that'll go a long way towards making that happen.

6. The back-up D-line- As of Spring, the rotation of Jared Cechetti, Brandon Butler, and Doug Williams comprised the second unit of a position that has to rotate heavily throughout the course of a game. Cechetti is the only one of those who saw minimal snaps last season, so this is a very inexperienced group. The starters Reid, Gonzales, and White are all solid and proven contributors, but they can't play the whole game. The second unit is going to have to be able to come in and play at a similar level, and provide a pass rush.

7. Kris Kasparek- He's big, he's fast, he's got great hands. All we need to see now is some production. JD's system likes to throw the ball to the tight end, and if the Zips can loosen up the middle of the field with Kasparek as a threat that's going to help the running game tremendously and also keep the safeties away from Hixon and Arthur, opening the door for one on one coverage and deep balls. He's got to fulfill his potential.

8. Jason Swiger- He's been clutch in some tight situations, but he's also cost the Zips some games (think UConn 2003). With a stronger reliance on the run which will lead to some very close games this season, every point is going to become utterly important, and if we're in field goal range, the Zips have to come away with points. Simply put, Swiger's gonna need to be perfect inside the 30 for the Zips to compete for a title.

[Zipsrifle]

I don't remember exactly what Swiger said after the Marshall game but it was something to the effect of "God, please don't make me have to kick the game winning fieldgoal!" near the end of the game. That isn't the mindset we need in that position.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Simply put, Swiger's gonna need to be perfect inside the 30 for the Zips to compete for a title.

'Zone, I pretty much agreed with everything you said up until the last sentence. I just don't see this Zips' squad competing for a MAC championship. Frye's gone. Owens' two recruiting classes that constitute our Junior and Senior classes were soooo bad I can't see any level of coaching or contributions from the new guys overcoming it. We need solid Junior and Senior classes to win championships. The MAC is simply too good to win without that.

And, Swiger will be solid this season. He worked very hard in the spring. He's a tough kid. I think the UCONN game is far behind him.

BTW: I hear that Dennis Basch is one step away from being cleared to play this fall? Beyond the fact that he's a solid TE...probably a backup to Kasparek, but solid...it would likely allow us to redshirt someone like Cruz, who has All-MAC written all over him.

[zip37]

I agree w/Cap'n Roo, too many holes to fill and too many "leftovers" to compete this upcoming season, #5 was heart & soul of last year's team and kept them together and playing hard--can't see that for the upcoming---but the year after that........

With ball ammunition, lock nd load.

[RACER]

i have to agree with the c k. new -o line , losing the best qb akron ever had,and

our defense is really going to be young in some spots. sounds like a plan for disaster. that doesn't mean we can't win 5 to 6 games ,but i am realistic. just way to many holes to fill. what really scares me is the depth at some postions. the d line could be in real trouble if one of the starters goes down. who knows about the o-line because they are almost all new starters. the good thing is i don't think the defense could be any worse than they have been over the last few years. i think there is a big upside for the defense after a few games.go akron.

[InTheZone]

I think some of you need to show a little more appreciation and respect for Owens "leftovers" which are going to constitute the Junior and Senior classes and much of the Sophomore class. Those "leftovers" are the stars of our team, and some of them are a caliber of player that none of JD's recruits have shown that they are yet.

Some of Owen's "Leftovers"

Domenik Hixon

Chevin Pace

Reggie Corner

Dion Elie

Kiki Gonzales

Jabari Arthur

Jay Rohr

Jason Montgomery

Brian Howe

Kris Kasparek

Brian White

Jermaine Reid

John Mackey

Just to name a few. Of the guy's on that list, I don't think one of players in the Class of '04 has yet shown that they are better players. I don't think JD looks at his players as "his guys" and "leftovers" and I think those on this board need to stop doing that as well. Lee Owens wasn't that great of a coach, but he did bring in some very high quality football players which I have full faith can lead us to a MAC Championship.

[GP1]

That's the style ITZ. If I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times on this board. There is no reason to believe the Zips will not be as competitive as they were last year if not better. I have every faith in JD to prepare a team and get the best out of the team. While I was glad to see LO go, his players did play hard with the talent they had. Good coaching and hard play will be a theme revisited several times on this board next year. I have a sneaky feeling the Zips are going to play real good next year.

[RACER]

your right .brett biggs is a terrible running back. im trying to be realistic though.

not many teams could lose four starting lineman,fb and the schools best ever qb ,and recover. it has nothing to do with owens. just the fact we lost a bunch of starters on offense. as for owens i think he did recriut some quality offensive players. his defense

was never any good. you could probabaly count on two hands the quality defensive players he had in ten years.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Some of Owen's "Leftovers"

Domenik Hixon

Chevin Pace

Reggie Corner

Dion Elie

Kiki Gonzales

Jabari Arthur

Jay Rohr

Jason Montgomery

Brian Howe

Kris Kasparek

Brian White

Jermaine Reid

John Mackey

Just to name a few.  Of the guy's on that list, I don't think one of players in the Class of '04 has yet shown that they are better players.  I don't think JD looks at his players as "his guys" and "leftovers" and I think those on this board need to stop doing that as well.  Lee Owens wasn't that great of a coach, but he did bring in some very high quality football players which I have full faith can lead us to a MAC Championship.

Domenik Hixon - Awesome. Love him.

Chevin Pace - Seems like a real "find".

Reggie Corner - Potential. Not much on the field yet.

Dion Elie - A senior with few eye-popping stats thusfar.

Kiki Gonzales - Glimpses of brilliance...but only glimpses.

Jabari Arthur - Lost the QB job. No real "numbers" at WR thusfar. Great athlete...I like him a lot. But, he's done little on the field to-date.

Jay Rohr - Tough as nails. Has been a #3 or #4 lb to-date, however.

Jason Montgomery - I'll be forever grateful for the catch in the Marshall game, but he ain't no Cherry, Schifino, Bailey, etc.

Brian Howe - Has he done anything on the field?

Kris Kasparek - Loads of potential. Expect a breakout year.

Brian White - Good player, but not dominant by any stretch.

Jermaine Reid - Has he done anything on the field?

John Mackey- Has he done anything on the field?

Of all those listed, only Hixson as any All-MAC accolades.

I like all of the "Owens guys." But I see what it takes to win MAC championships and I don't think I can expect one with what we have coming back. I hope I'm proven wrong, but there's a reason Owens was fired, and it wasn't because he was recruiting too many blue chippers.

Keep in mind many of the complaints regarding Owens' latter recruiting classes aren't regarding the players that stayed, they're regarding the players that are no longer with the program. I posted some of his player retention rates in the past. A couple were absolutely crippling.

[InTheZone]

Domenik Hixon - Awesome. Love him.

Chevin Pace - Seems like a real "find".

Reggie Corner - Potential. Not much on the field yet.

Dion Elie - A senior with few eye-popping stats thusfar.

Kiki Gonzales - Glimpses of brilliance...but only glimpses.

Jabari Arthur - Lost the QB job. No real "numbers" at WR thusfar. Great athlete...I like him a lot. But, he's done little on the field to-date.

Jay Rohr - Tough as nails. Has been a #3 or #4 lb to-date, however.

Jason Montgomery - I'll be forever grateful for the catch in the Marshall game, but he ain't no Cherry, Schifino, Bailey, etc.

Brian Howe - Has he done anything on the field?

Kris Kasparek - Loads of potential. Expect a breakout year.

Brian White - Good player, but not dominant by any stretch.

Jermaine Reid - Has he done anything on the field?

John Mackey- Has he done anything on the field?

Of all those listed, only Hixson as any All-MAC accolades.

I like all of the "Owens guys." But I see what it takes to win MAC championships and I don't think I can expect one with what we have coming back. I hope I'm proven wrong, but there's a reason Owens was fired, and it wasn't because he was recruiting too many blue chippers.

Keep in mind many of the complaints regarding Owens' latter recruiting classes aren't regarding the players that stayed, they're regarding the players that are no longer with the program. I posted some of his player retention rates in the past. A couple were absolutely crippling.

Reggie Corner was a freshman last season. He's our #1 corner, over two JD recruits and a West Virginia transfer. I think that says something.

Dion Elie battle injuries last season, his first season not sharing time with Hixon. Expect a breakout year, because he's a player.

Kiki Gonzales doesn't put up eye popping stats because he's a noseguard. But he's very good at what he does. Some coaches in the MAC think he's the best D-lineman in the league, and that's not an exaggeration.

Jabari Arthur is the best athlete on the Zips team, hands down. No one JD has recruited yet even compares.

Jay Rohr- Only started half the season sharing time with the #2 Canadian player, and still was 3rd on the team in tackles. Will be the #1 linebacker this year.

Jason Montgomery- Last year was his first chance to really show what he could do, and he spent much of the year injured and not at 100%. I think he'll prove you wrong this year.

Brian Howe- Stuck behind an established starter when he got here. Still good enough to beat out Brion Stokes, who was supposed to be one of JD's "studs".

Brian White- Solid player, brings a lot of heart to the table. Good leader, and that's hard to find.

Jermaine Reid- He will.

John Mackey- Fastest player on team, shattered a few all-time Zips speed records.

Of all those listed, All-MAC potential:

Hixon

Pace

Corner

Elie

GONZALES

Arthur

You make think that's an exaggeration or wishful thinking, but we will see.

[Zipsrifle]

I'm not a player expert like some others here, but here is the way I view things:

1) LO is gone.

2) We need to put the best players we have on the field.

JD will determine who the "Best" players are. I don't care who recruited them, as long as they are the best we've got! I'm not worried about the players coming over to this site and being insulted. I sure wouldn't worry about what a bunch of guys punching keys on their computer night in and night out think of my performance.

My personal take on where we stand going into this year when compared to last year is this. I feel we are in worse shape this year starting the season. If we are, as it appears, a young team, we will not have the size or experience of the schools we will be playing against early on. We'll make mistakes and get pushed around till people get accustomed to this level of play.

Two areas, IMO, that will make a huge impact on how we come out of the gate are player dedication over the summer and coaching. Seemed to me that Charlie and company were always practicing over the summer honing their skills on their own. This group needs to be doing the same thing. Early on this next season, JD will not be able to hide behind the fact that he installed an entirely new system. Though I was very impressed with what happened after the middle of last season, the beginning of the year was a big disappointment. A great coach will have these kids a step or two above similar competition and that should make us at least competitive early on. I put a lot on momentum so at least one win in the first 3 games is key in my book.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You make think that's an exaggeration or wishful thinking, but we will see.

I sincerely hope you are right. You're one of the more knowledgeable guys on the board...if you see that much hope for some sort of 2005 championship run, I'm heartened.

[InTheZone]

You make think that's an exaggeration or wishful thinking, but we will see.

I sincerely hope you are right. You're one of the more knowledgeable guys on the board...if you see that much hope for some sort of 2005 championship run, I'm heartened.

Well I understand the points you've made Cap, and I agree with a lot of what you said, but from what I've seen and heard I think we do have quite a bit of talent in the upper classes, though as you've pointed out from the guys who've fallen out of the program, we don't have a lot of depth. That's where the young guys have to come in. I think the season can really go one of two ways for us, and the line between them is paper thin. I trust that with JD at the helm things are going to go the right way.