The Key to Beating K.e.n.t. State

[Captain Kangaroo]

The key to beating K.e.n.t. State this Saturday is obvious - It all lies in the hands of the AK-Rowdies.Last year the Rowdies obnoxious enthusiasm (and I mean that in a positive way) directly affected the outcome of the game when JD forced Ke.n.t. to drive into the teeth of the Rowdie-infested endzone. As expected, the Rowdies got inside the K.e.n.t. kicker's head and he shanked-away a game-tying 20-yarder.This season, both teams have a true Freshman QB. One will be playing at home, with the support of about 15,000 home fans. He can ride that wave of support, so long as the Rowdies provide it.Likewise, the 18-year old K.e.n.t. QB can really show his age if the Rowdies get into the game.JD needs to keep it close...and the AK-Rowdies can do the rest.Are the Rowdies up to the task?Will Igor Iveljic reveal his post-game party plans on live radio again?Who will have the best chili in the Lot #9 Chili Cook-off?Stay tuned Zips Fans...

[zippy_ua_00]

The key to beating K.e.n.t. State this Saturday is obvious - It all lies in the hands of the AK-Rowdies.Last year the Rowdies obnoxious enthusiasm (and I mean that in a positive way) directly affected the outcome of the game when JD forced Ke.n.t. to drive into the teeth of the Rowdie-infested endzone. As expected, the Rowdies got inside the K.e.n.t. kicker's head and he shanked-away a game-tying 20-yarder.This season, both teams have a true Freshman QB. One will be playing at home, with the support of about 15,000 home fans. He can ride that wave of support, so long as the Rowdies provide it.Likewise, the 18-year old K.e.n.t. QB can really show his age if the Rowdies get into the game.JD needs to keep it close...and the AK-Rowdies can do the rest.Are the Rowdies up to the task?Will Igor Iveljic reveal his post-game party plans on live radio again?Who will have the best chili in the Lot #9 Chili Cook-off?Stay tuned Zips Fans...

well the key in the past, with cribbs, edelman, and jarvis, was to run, run, pass. if we stopped that then we won. now without jarvis, edelman, or cribbs, we are gonna win by a landslide cuz all we have to do is stop the puff, puff, pass. they will be to hungry to worry about anyhing else.GO ZIPS

[zip37]

Cap'n Roo-- Here I was expecting something like 'get a coach', DANG

[ZachTheZip]

Hoping for a huge student turnout this game. The Rowdies will have to lead the way.Also hoping for a large Zips fan turnout in general.The real key to winning is to make less mistakes. Play like you want to win. If there's any game this season that the players should "wake up" for, it's this one.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Hoping for a huge student turnout this game. The Rowdies will have to lead the way.Also hoping for a large Zips fan turnout in general.The real key to winning is to make less mistakes. Play like you want to win. If there's any game this season that the players should "wake up" for, it's this one.

I think the crowd and the intensity will force the mistakes. And the crowd will be behind our Frosh, and against theirs.If K.e.n.t. was smart, they would get their students to InfoCision early and take over the grass end zone.But they aren't...so they won't.

[Dr Z]

If K.e.n.t. was smart, they would get their students to InfoCision early and take over the grass end zone. But they aren't...so they won't.

Don't underestimate a hippie when it comes to grass.

[ZachTheZip]

If K.e.n.t. was smart, they would get their students to InfoCision early and take over the grass end zone.But they aren't...so they won't.

You can't get onto the grass or student sections at the Info without showing a Zipcard, just like you can't get into the seats behind the basket in the JAR without both swiping a Zipcard and wearing an AK-Rowdies shirt. UA is very protective of their strategic seating.

[Dr Z]

You can't get onto the grass or student sections at the Info without showing a Zipcard

My two year old niece played on the hill most of the OU game.

[tbozeglav]

I will talk to the guys running the AK-Rowdies to see what is going to be allowed as far as noisemakers. I have some vuvuzelas and an air horn I plan on bringing.Im also interested to hear what advertising RLH has been doing to get residents to the game...

[skip-zip]

Ummm...the team that plays the best will win. But, nice attempt to try to light a fire under the students. I love it.

[Dave in Green]

Ummm...the team that plays the best will win. But, nice attempt to try to light a fire under the students. I love it.

The team that scores the most points always wins. The team that plays the best overall game usually scores the most points, but not always.Home field advantage is a statistical reality, and it's partially based on fan support. In a close game, it can make a difference.

[Zipmeister]

I will talk to the guys running the AK-Rowdies to see what is going to be allowed as far as noisemakers. I have some vuvuzelas and an air horn I plan on bringing.Im also interested to hear what advertising RLH has been doing to get residents to the game...

Try a hot compress to reduce the swelling.

[tbozeglav]

Try a hot compress to reduce the swelling.

How about a search before trying to crack a joke?just a suggestion

[Big Zip]

Cap'n are you suggesting there will be 15,000 Akron fans there? I'm guessing the attendance for this one is going to be 25,000 and I'm guessing the flushes are going to bring a pretty large contingent. The only thing that is going to bring home a Zips win is a controlled running and passing game. A time eating offensive game plan to take the pressure off the defense. The defense played well last week through three quarters and if they can actually get some rest this week we could see a win.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Cap'n are you suggesting there will be 15,000 Akron fans there? I'm guessing the attendance for this one is going to be 25,000 and I'm guessing the flushes are going to bring a pretty large contingent. The only thing that is going to bring home a Zips win is a controlled running and passing game. A time eating offensive game plan to take the pressure off the defense. The defense played well last week through three quarters and if they can actually get some rest this week we could see a win.

The weather looks pretty good. I think 15k UA fans and 8k+ K.e.n.t. fans is pretty realistic. As far as a time-eating offense goes...we didn't convert a single third down against a very pedestrian NIU team. ZERO third down conversions?! That doesn't bode well for this week.I think it comes down to mistakes. It always does. K.e.n.t. doesn't know how to win. They'll screw up plenty. It's just a matter of whether or not the Zips can take advantage of it. And if we don't screw up more than K.e.n.t.

[jaycevs]

They have to be thinking they can stuff our run game and beat us up on the lines. They have had 7,4,4, and 5 sacks the last 4 games, and held Western Michigan and BG to about 40 yards rushing, OU to -9, EMU did well running the ball however (not sure how really). On offense, they have run the ball well against everyone in the MAC, and the passing game has gotten better. They are not as weak as some would have us believe, I think they are are a significant challenge and the D has gotten better recently after the debacle against BG. So, I don't think the game plan from last week is going to cut it (as if it did last week). I know they will shut the run until we prove we can throw the ball, and Nicely cant have 3rd and long or that pass rush will be coming. So running twice into the line and passing on 3rd down like last week is asking for trouble, and they are not one dimensional on offense like Northern Illinois. This game is on our line, QB, and WR to win, and to this point we have not been good in any area. If the defense is on the field the whole first half, we may be in the game but it will end badly. Their kickers are 7 of 12, one bright spot (we are 4/13).I will be there early, and be as loud as I can, we just need our defense to keep us in this game, and the offense to make some plays and run some clock. If we can get into the second half with them we have a good chance. They don't put up a lot of points on anyone, which will keep us close hopefully. Last, I would like to see Akron treat Nicely the same way Can't has treated their Freshman. Put the ball in his hands and let him make plays, thats the only chance we have to win some games, the flushes have had no problems letting Keith throw it 30+ times a game...

[zippy_ua_00]

They have to be thinking they can stuff our run game and beat us up on the lines. They have had 7,4,4, and 5 sacks the last 4 games, and held Western Michigan and BG to about 40 yards rushing, OU to -9, EMU did well running the ball however (not sure how really). On offense, they have run the ball well against everyone in the MAC, and the passing game has gotten better. They are not as weak as some would have us believe, I think they are are a significant challenge and the D has gotten better recently after the debacle against BG. So, I don't think the game plan from last week is going to cut it (as if it did last week). I know they will shut the run until we prove we can throw the ball, and Nicely cant have 3rd and long or that pass rush will be coming. So running twice into the line and passing on 3rd down like last week is asking for trouble, and they are not one dimensional on offense like Northern Illinois. This game is on our line, QB, and WR to win, and to this point we have not been good in any area. If the defense is on the field the whole first half, we may be in the game but it will end badly. Their kickers are 7 of 12, one bright spot (we are 4/13).I will be there early, and be as loud as I can, we just need our defense to keep us in this game, and the offense to make some plays and run some clock. If we can get into the second half with them we have a good chance. They don't put up a lot of points on anyone, which will keep us close hopefully. Last, I would like to see Akron treat Nicely the same way Can't has treated their Freshman. Put the ball in his hands and let him make plays, thats the only chance we have to win some games, the flushes have had no problems letting Keith throw it 30+ times a game...

all i gotta say is, has it really gotten so bad that we have to play our best game and basically mistake free to even compete and stay in the game vs K.E.N.T? ugh

[Captain Kangaroo]

all i gotta say is, has it really gotten so bad that we have to play our best game and basically mistake free to even compete and stay in the game vs K.E.N.T? ugh

K.e.n.t is 4-1 in the MAC. Their only blemish is the BG loss on the game's final play.I look at K.e.n.t's talent, and I don't see it being any better than Akron's. Am I wrong? JD cries about his injuries...K.e.n.t. lost their Eugene Jarvis for the season in game #1...they are relying on a 3rd string, true Freshman QB...yet somehow they are 4-1 in the MAC. Who are these 14 key players we lost for the season?Jacquemain? Please. It is a miracle he lasted as long as he did. His "leadership" capabilities were on display as early as 2006.Excerpt for the 2006 Post:

When Toledo scored their 3rd TD I looked at the Zips bench. Jacqumaine and DeAndre Scott were getting a good laugh out of something. Maybe they were discussing the ZipsNation posters who believed JD is bolting for Colorado State? Anyhow…the last thing I want to see on our sidelines is players yukking it up as we go down 21-0. To me, that speaks volumes for why Carlton Jackson has become the solid #2. Jacqumaine should get ready to play WR if he ever wants to see the field as a Zip. QB’s don’t act that way.

Bowser - Legit loss. But no worse than K.e.n.t losing Jarvis.Is Bain a loss? The guy never played!Is Dale Martin a loss? He's been hurt since he was at Louisville. Matt Rodgers? He was getting pulled in favor of Nicely on the next series anyhow.Aaron Williams? Tough kid. I feel terrible for him. But 200lb linebackers tend to get banged up in Division 1-A football.We are losing at near-record pace because our special teams are atrocious and our offensive line is grossly under performing.If the Zips punted effectively, made a decent share of their field goals and got any sort of an offensive line push...we would be 5-3.

[jaycevs]

In Phil Steeles college reviews, he has talked about the Can't lines for the last few years and tried to pick them as a sleeper the last few years. We have the position talent, I think everyone here knows that, but the offensive line has to protect and open holes. We only had one decent game running the ball (Buffalo), and that is the real problem. I think the defense is fine as long as they are not always on the field, but special teams give Akron no help. If Im the offense or coaches, I put no faith in those guys besides on an extra point. Also, if anyone else saw Spencer Keith's stats from last year in high school, I would love to see the teams they were playing against. 5300 yards passing, 70 TD last year, 63% completions, and no one else wanted him besides the Ivy league? Were they playing middle school teams and JV teams in Arkansas. He threw for 378 ypg, I thought those were career numbers when I saw them.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

Cap'n you asked about the talent in your last post. I am no talent evaluation guy but at what point do we as fans start to wonder about not only the coaching but also the players that have been recruited and are on the field? Now don't get me wrong. I'm not in any way asserting that we don't have talented players on this roster (or don't we?), but at this point I have to wonder whether we are recruiting the right mix of players, or whether the talent that has been recruited is right for schemes being played, or whether the talent just isn't receiving, or accepting, the coaching that is being provided. The problem for most of us is that not being talent evaluators we can't know whether the current roster is loaded with future NFLers (exaggeration) that is poorly coached, or whether the staff has lost the team, or whether the players that have been recruited just aren't as good as we all hoped for. I also don't know whether if we had, say, Pete Carrell coaching the team he would find a way to win with inferior talent. So, are there any high school coaches on board here, or former players who will comment on the state of the talent on the roster? I would love to know what the informed opinions are regarding the generic talent level of the Zips versus other MAC programs. Is part of the problem here bad recruiting by the staff? Are they recruiting talented kids who aren't then being coached well, or are the coaches not fitting the schemes to the players' abilities? Will a new staff be able to come in and make something of this team or are we about to be told about another 4-6 year process of bringing in kids to fit a new system? So many questions, so little beer....

[tbozeglav]

STZ, I want to believe this is all on the coaching. I can't see us NOT having talent here. Hell, as Nicely has shown us, we do have talent. Its the coaches that seem to be lacking the ability to tap into all of the talent each of our players have. I also want to think that our coaching staff continually chooses the wrong player for the position as we were forced to witness through Jaq. I hate to say it, but some coaches would rather play a favorite than who's most qualified.Would a coach like Pete Carroll immediately start winning here? It's hard to say, but I would think he would have won a lot more games this season with our current team than JD has. JD has made a lot of poor coaching decisions, sometimes making none at all, and its shown with our abysmal record this year. Good coaches are able to put the best men on the field and win games with whatever talent they have. JD is not one of those coaches.

[ZachTheZip]

Will a new staff be able to come in and make something of this team or are we about to be told about another 4-6 year process of bringing in kids to fit a new system?

A good coach would find a way to have at least moderate success with the talent he is given to start with. Then, over time, he would gradually adjust the schemes as he gets more of the kind of players that he prefers and that should produce an improvement.

[GP1]

Will a new staff be able to come in and make something of this team or are we about to be told about another 4-6 year process of bringing in kids to fit a new system?

Will they?....Time will tell. Should they?, YES.If I hear one single peep out of the new coach or AD pertaining to another "building" process, I'll barf. If they want four years to build, they should let all of us know so we can stop paying attention for four years. I know I've seen enough building over the past 20+ years. I want some winning.

[uafan]

Will they?....Time will tell. Should they?, YES.If I hear one single peep out of the new coach or AD pertaining to another "building" process, I'll barf. If they want four years to build, they should let all of us know so we can stop paying attention for four years. I know I've seen enough building over the past 20+ years. I want some winning.

EXACTLY! I think the talent is here, at least as much as most other MAC teams, but if you look at my past posts, I've pointed out many examples of poor coaching. A new coach needs to light a fire under some butts and have the players show some enthusiasm. Like Captains previous example, the kids don't seem to care!

[scottditzen]

I'll have to disagree though uafan... I think a lot of the players care. For the most part I've witnessed the team playing pretty hard, Matt Rogers and D. Bowser come to mind. Many others consistently seem to be going all out on every play. I will say that for years the defense, as a whole, has looked bewildered and confused in giving up big plays. This is not new. I distinctly remember the Buffalo game in particular where the Defense played really tough, coming straight at the Bulls, hard tackling etc. But they still gave up 43 points in the OT loss!!!! Now it's the offense that looks absolutely and inexplicably out of sorts, but this isn't new either. Remember Getsy's senior year? Awful. And this year the offense is worse than awful. Maybe it's the O-line we can blame, I don't know, but my point is I've witnessed many Zips players giving it their all this season. I simply can't explain all the losing we've witnessed in the last few years...

Will they?....Time will tell. Should they?, YES.If I hear one single peep out of the new coach or AD pertaining to another "building" process, I'll barf. If they want four years to build, they should let all of us know so we can stop paying attention for four years. I know I've seen enough building over the past 20+ years. I want some winning.

EXACTLY! I think the talent is here, at least as much as most other MAC teams, but if you look at my past posts, I've pointed out many examples of poor coaching. A new coach needs to light a fire under some butts and have the players show some enthusiasm. Like Captains previous example, the kids don't seem to care!