Back from Oxford

[zipboy]

My thoughts on the game

Good showing by Zips fans, I put the crowd at maybe 500 including the band? First series D gets a 3 and out, walking with a swagger, mentally they look into it, they are playing fast. Zips go through Miami like swiss cheese. O Line sustains blocks and Biggs runs hard. Next series, Miami has a beautiful drive. Zips D still plays fast and make Miami work. They just kept making plays. We come back and move right through them. Next series Miami goes 3 and out. 17-7 early second qtr and all is right with the world. Miami goes down and scores a little easier, we get picked in the endzone, and then we fall apart. What happened?

1. The interception in the endzone was a huge momentum changer. Maybe we aren't strong enough mentally yet to recover from that.

2. Getsy is streaky. When he is on, he just seems to keep making plays. When he throws a couple bad ones, it takes him 2 or 3 series to recover. He also needs to protect the ball better. I also worry that he zeroes in on the primary receiver way too much. Can't fault the effort. He and everyone else laid it on the line.

3. At halftime it seemed that Miami changed their D to stop Biggs and started shooting LBs in the gap better. In the first half, he would sidestep a guy or 2 and no one would be near him for another 10 yards. In the 2nd half, there was always someone in the hole 2 yards past the line of scrimmage. One big difference was Miami's running game picked up in the 2nd half which helped Betts alot.

4. Downfield blocking was outstanding in the 1st half.

5. After the first 3-4 series, the D seemed to lose their aggressiveness and playing fast. We were on our heels most the rest of the game. You know that feeling in the past when you are praying for gains less than 7 yards or a turnover or just 1 punt. That's what I felt like for the last 2 and a half quarters. Not sure what happened but the D was like night and day.

6. Kudos to Betts. I never liked him much. He took 5-6 hard hits and nailed passess every time.

7. Disappointed in the personal fouls on both sides near the end. We lost our composure and started to unravel pretty quick.

8. Effort was there all game and the whole sideline was into the game as much as the fans. These guys really wanted this one. Don't be deceived by the score. Miami was clearly the better team same as last year, about 2 TDs better. I had hoped that we had closed the gap on the MAC elite from last year, but that does not appear to be the case. NIU game looks to be more the abberation. Unless we play perfect, I don't see us beating BG. I do see us winning the rest of the games by playing solid, smart football. 7-4 would still be a solid season and continuing to lay the foundation.

9. Hard to find good stuff in a 51-23 game, but Biggs was awesome in the first half and never stopped working in the 2nd half. The O Line gave Getsy good protection. Arthur finally looked somewhat comfortable at receiver. Mackey continues to really impress me.

10. We miss Dion Elie

11. So where do we go from here? Things are never quite as bad or quite as good the day after the game. I gave Lee Owens a 4 year honeymoon before I started wondering what was going on. Not ready to throw in the towel a year and a half into the JD regime by any means. But this is the first time in the last year and a half that I don't feel as good about the program as I did the week before. A win over Army and a strong showing at BG changes that. If we win out, there is still a realistic chance to win the East. BG still plays us, Miami, and Toledo. Miami still plays BG. I could easily see Miami with 3 losses and BG with 2-3 losses. At the same time, I don't see us beating BG. Last year we got better as the year went on. This year, I worry that we played our best football in the first 3 games of the year. Still looking forward to next week and planning to go up to BG. I am still convinced good times are ahead, albeit a year or 2 down the road rather than this year. As always, Go Zips and keep the faith

One final note, UAM I thought they did a good job utilizing their version of Zipsvision before and throughout the game. flushbacks from other victories, pimping the basketball and hockey tickets all game long, showing highlights of reunion weekend. I hope for basketball Zipsvision continues to me used more than just showing the game. Thanks for all you do.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I saw JD in the hotel hallway before the MTSU game and asked him how he thought we'd do. He said "If we play like 18 year olds, we'll lose. If we play the way were capable of playing, we'll be fine."

It seems like we get the 18 year old Zips for at least 2 quarters every game?

Mental toughness is sorely lacking on our team. The ability to put someone away when you're ahead is lacking. To overcome mistakes and not dwell on them is lacking.

There were several player quotes after the Buffalo game describing when the offense came off the field dejected after a bad series, the defense said "No problem...we got your back" and went out and stuffed Buffalo.

This week when the offense struggled, the defense rolled over with uncanny predictability. Zips turnovers were immediately met with Miami TD's. 21 points in one minute? Holy hell.

Army only lost to CMU 14-10. I guarantee they'll play with poise. If we don't, we'll have a 3 game losing streak on our hands.

[GP1]

Just got back from Cincinnati this morning after staying the night and eating some ribs. Great feedback about the game zipboy and CK.

The only thing I could add is you guys are downplaying how badly the Zips played after the interception the first half. I've never seen a program fall apart the way the Zips do after a bad play. This just isn't this season, it goes back years.

With the exception of Biggs and Kiki, I can't think of another position where the Zips are better than Miami. Yesterday should be a awakening for the coaches and the players concerning how far they need to go to be a top level team in the MAC. I don't know if the team could have won the game, but the effort was there most of the time.

I mentioned last week that they are calling too many plays to try to win the lottery. We saw it again this week in the second half. First play of the second half after a good return they called a long pass play and it ended in an incomplete pass. Second and ten for this team my as well be second and fifty the way they have played the past three games. Even if they complete the pass and score, they go up by one with about twenty nine minutes and thirty seconds to go in the second half. I was watching the second half of the ND/USC game, and if they can throw short pass after short pass and move the chains, why can't we? Even at the end of the ND/USC game when USC was driving, they were still throwing short timing patterns.

Much better job of getting 81 the ball yesterday. The guy can play if given a chance. He can also make it easier for Hixson to get the ball.

I think another thing that hurt us prior to the important first half interception was Biggs being hurt that drive. Kennedy is not ready to be a go to guy and they could have used Biggs in the red zone. I told everyone last week Biggs would have a huge game this week and he did not disappoint. he had some long runs, but they were not easy runs, thus showing why he has been the best player on the team the past two seasons. I'm sure he has that average up over four yards a carry for the season now. I just wish he was faster.

I'm also losing patience with Getsy's stupidity. People can say whatever they want about football being a team sport, and it is, but let's not pretend every position has the same level of importance. The QB has the ball in his hands every play and is the one person most able to impact the outcome of a game. Getsy MUST start playing better. There is no excuse for that first half interception at that time of the game. Getsy is a good player, he just needs to stop being so stupid.

As far as the defense, I thought they were a huge disappointment as well. You can't excuse away 51 points and with the exception of the first couple of drives, Miami moved the ball at will. The Zips scored 23 points and that is ALMOST enough to win a Division 1-A football game. I predicted a 42-10 game against Miami (32 point loss). We lost by 28. If the defense keeps Miami to fewer long drives, Akron has more chances to score and maybe push the score up around 30, which IS enought to win a Division I-A game.

Most of you know my posts well enough to know I am not prone to hysteria, so take this in all seriousness. This team is teetering on the brink of disaster if they don't play better this week. Army is a horrible team and if they lost to them at home, they stand the chance of not winning another game. They are too emotionally fragile to bounce back from an Army loss. Let's hope it doesn't get to that point.

[RACER]

nice post gp.it's hard to tell from the radio how the game is played on the feild.

i just don't understand how the defense gave up so many yards.the big play was getsy int in the end zone.then the defense lets them go 80 yards. that's a big swing of probabaly 14 points.we needed the defense to step up ,and they didn't on that series.

the good thing is the last three games are against teams that are not playing well either.

there is absolutely no reason we can't win those last three. no excuses that ou,ball state,and Can't have more talent than we do.

[zip37]

I posted last week that the "A"game has to be brought every game-- now I will add every second of every game. Unless injury prevents it, you must perform all the time. Although after watching Salley from OSU outrun State w/a painful injury, maybe an injury is not that much of an excuse. I know that everybody has differnt levels of pain threshold, but dang it you play or sit. Mental toughness will always make uo for some lack of talent so the Zipd need 1. Meental toughness 2. Killer instinct and maybe 3. More conditioning?? In any case something is serously wrong with the program.

With ball ammunition lock and load.

[GP1]

Here is what I think is wrong with the program......right now anyhow. I certainly don't think the program is in serious trouble, but the season is in serious trouble.

1. History of losing is hard to break. One shared MAC east championship is the only thing the program has won since 1987.

2. We play with an undersized team. When speed is equal, size will win out. We need an offensive line at least as big as Miami's and NIU's. We need receivers as tall and lanky as Nance. Miami has several tall receivers, we have one.

3. We are playing with young players. Experience is a huge factor in college football. Just look how well the QB from Norte Dame plays when people were willing to leave him for dead early in his career. You can't coach experiece. It just happens and sadly enough we have to wait for that to take place.

4. I think we have a good defensive coordinator, I'm not certain I like this 3-3-5 defense after watching it for a year and a half. Too much guessing. I don't think we have the athletic talent to play that defense and I don't think those kids exist in the mid west where we get most of our talent. The defense does not allow us to stop the run well enough. I like to stuff first down and then go to five db's if necessary on second and third.

These are just some general thoughs about the program. I'm sure we could go position by position, but who has the tiime.

Question for ITZ and I've asked this before, but you don't respond. Maybe you know him personally and don't want to respond. If so, that cool. Why isn't Heim playing this year? I thought he would play for sure being a senior.

[Quickzips]

Just from listening to a good portion of the game (came in somewhere in the middle of the 2nd 1/4). I still can't figure out what the big deal is with Getsy. If you remember back to early in the 2nd half when he threw it into triple coverage. French said on the radio that Luke never looked off of Hixon. 23 is Lukes safety valve and everyone in this league knows it. If Luke continues to refuse to run the check down he's NEVER going to be an effective QB.

I think a good point has already been made about leadership and the level the team plays at. There are no leaders on this team right now. When things turn sour there is NOONE to step up and rally the troops and it just spirals out of control. I turned the damn game off after they were up by 14 and Luke had thrown another pick. No sense in putting myself through listening to that. The team had already tanked it and there was noone there to get them back.

I mentioned on here last year during our big run how crucial turnovers are. I think at one time during that run that we were something like +13 in the turnover ratio. What are we this year? -13 or so right now. Good way to loose ballgames.

We are 3-3 right now. If this season has any chance of getting back on track it HAS TO be against Army. Forget the MAC East crown. It isn't gonna happen. But we need to have a big end to the season here to build on. If nothing else we need to start getting the young guys in to see exactley where we are for next year. I'd hate to say it, but right now this season is about building for next year. There is no way in hell that BG is gonna loose two conference games.

JD has to sit down and make some REAL tough decisions this week. I sure as hell hope that there was a team meeting this morning and he looked every one of those players in the eye and asked them if they still wanna play football. We're gonna have to bench some people here and the guys who don't wanna play should be the first guys to ride the bench.

See you all at the Army game.

[GP1]

Just from listening to a good portion of the game (came in somewhere in the middle of the 2nd 1/4). I still can't figure out what the big deal is with Getsy. If you remember back to early in the 2nd half when he threw it into triple coverage. French said on the radio that Luke never looked off of Hixon. 23 is Lukes safety valve and everyone in this league knows it. If Luke continues to refuse to run the check down he's NEVER going to be an effective QB.

I think Getsy will be fine as long as he can limit his mental mistakes. Remember, this guy is a first year starting QB. He sat the bench his entire career at Pitt.

Turnovers and a lack of defense killed us yesterday. Let's assume Getsy throws the ball away in the first half which he should have done. It would have been third and long and probably a field goal try. Explain how we overcome 51 points. Getsy should not be blamed as much as he is, but he deserves some blame because, as I said before, the QB is the one person most able to impact the outcome of a game. Also, don't put much weight into what French says.

If the 3-3-5 defense is designed to stop passing, how come Miami converted third and long at will yesterday? I'm sorry, but the defense played horrible yesterday. How many times did Miami have to punt yesterday? I can only remember 4 or 5 at the most. They missed two easy field goals, they should have had 57. The offense is only to blame?

The bottom line is the Zips lack the athletic ability of the upper level MAC schools. This has been the case since the school entered the MAC. Getting our asses kicked by Miami did not start with Getsy. It has been going on for many years. Why would it stop yesterday with a young team.

Also, there is not enough depth on this team,or any other MAC team, to start making wholesale changes. The Zips are what they are and if they want to win, they need to start getting the players to play better.

One last thing. I saw a lot of crying from posters on this board about not going to games if they don't beat Army. What the Hell else do you have to do with your time that you can't go to a game?

[Sloopy]

I said before the season that this team would win 4 to 5 games due to lack of on field leadership, experience, andmost of all a lack of talent. This is playing out as such. I thought Akron would be 2-4 at this point and they are ahead of my pace - could be better but also could be worse. I laugh at these posts that say Akron should be a MAC contender this season. No friggin way. Akron has no depth and no OL talent at all. This team is at least two years away from the Miami/BG level.

[zipboy]

A couple other thoughts . . .

I think Getsy will be much better next year than this year. I remember how bad Butchie was his FR year compared to his SR year. You need reps and experience. I am not as close to things as ITZ so I will defer to him if Ferguson is better. But I do agree with sticking with 1 guy. Getsy also needs support around him. He needs a running game, he needs a defense.

JD said last year that he had never been around a team where the seniors stepped up and provided that much leadership. ZP made a comment that after the Virginia game the seniors took over the locker room. And that is how it has to be. I like our staff and I think they develop good game plans. But you need players to get the locker room right. Coaches can only do so much. 2 personal fouls on the O Line last week costing us a TD. This week we are down 30-23 and have the ball. Our first play gets negated with a holding call about 20 yards off the ball, senseless. How do you develop mental toughness?

[Quickzips]

Just from listening to a good portion of the game (came in somewhere in the middle of the 2nd 1/4).  I still can't figure out what the big deal is with Getsy.  If you remember back to early in the 2nd half when he threw it into triple coverage.  French said on the radio that Luke never looked off of Hixon.  23 is Lukes safety valve and everyone in this league knows it.  If Luke continues to refuse to run the check down he's NEVER going to be an effective QB. 

I think Getsy will be fine as long as he can limit his mental mistakes. Remember, this guy is a first year starting QB. He sat the bench his entire career at Pitt.

Turnovers and a lack of defense killed us yesterday. Let's assume Getsy throws the ball away in the first half which he should have done. It would have been third and long and probably a field goal try. Explain how we overcome 51 points. Getsy should not be blamed as much as he is, but he deserves some blame because, as I said before, the QB is the one person most able to impact the outcome of a game. Also, don't put much weight into what French says.

If the 3-3-5 defense is designed to stop passing, how come Miami converted third and long at will yesterday? I'm sorry, but the defense played horrible yesterday. How many times did Miami have to punt yesterday? I can only remember 4 or 5 at the most. They missed two easy field goals, they should have had 57. The offense is only to blame?

The bottom line is the Zips lack the athletic ability of the upper level MAC schools. This has been the case since the school entered the MAC. Getting our asses kicked by Miami did not start with Getsy. It has been going on for many years. Why would it stop yesterday with a young team.

Also, there is not enough depth on this team,or any other MAC team, to start making wholesale changes. The Zips are what they are and if they want to win, they need to start getting the players to play better.

One last thing. I saw a lot of crying from posters on this board about not going to games if they don't beat Army. What the Hell else do you have to do with your time that you can't go to a game?

Ok, what in the world gives you the impression that Getsy is suddenly gonna stop making mental mistakes? What from Miami shows you that? Enlighten me cause I'm stumped here. Ever since the second half at CMU he has done little but make mental mistakes. I just don't see it stopping. Sorry.

[Zipsrifle]

Back in Michigan and I've got to say that GP1 expressed most of my thoughts. I'm going to remphasize a few, bring up a few new ones. First off, they have a GREAT facility down there. Well done Redhawks!

The first one is that Miami Expects to beat Akron and Akron hopes to beat Miami. They own us and Miami was at least 14 better than us yesterday. 6 turnovers, you should lose the game.

Biggs is a beast. It was great to hear the Sweaters start clapping and then stop when Biggs busted off the side of the pile and headed down field.

We rely too much on the big play.

D didn't look that great. Miami burned us on timing routes to back us off then threw the occasional run in there. Betts makes bad decisions when under pressure, didn't get that much pressure yesterday. We're too short at CB.

Wish the coaching staff would learn how to adjust. Miami did it after the first quarter, CMU did it after the 2nd. We start start out on fire, but can't seem to make adjustments. I don't believe the OL ran out of gas in the 2nd, I just don't think the Coaches came up with the right adjustments. On D, Miami started running timing over the middle that killed us ( for some reason we don't, or won't do this.....see below)

As with almost all the games this year, the D ran out of gas in the 4th (Mentally / physically???). I don't know if they were discouraged or just trying too hard to make a big play.

Why the hell did we try a long pass at the beginning of the 2nd half??? NEED TO GET GETSY WARMED UP WITH SHORT PASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getsy made one step forward yesterday and one step back. He did not have a flurry of severely overthrown or underthrown passes. He made some very bad decisions, but also made some much smarter plays than I've seen out of him before. Example: on one of the many plays he had some serious heat in the pocket , he found Biggs and threw a bullet into the ground in his direction. Everyone knew he was grounding it, but it was close enough the ref's couldn't throw a flag (which they were doing pleanty of). Getsy threw it away pleanty of times when nothing was available. I've given him some heat in the past, but he's making progress. I think he's just trying to make something happen when he gets into trouble. The other thing I've noticed is that Getsy rarely throws over the middle. On the INT in the endzone, Jabari was streaking across the middle but Luke threw it into a sea of red. (Missed Kasparek the exact same way against CMU!!!!)

This is now a solid rebuilding year.

Refs screwed us again. One personal foul was called a shot to the head or something. On their bigscreen it was obviously a shoulder to the chest. One of the INT's was a CLEAR PUSHOFF by the Miami CB. The ref's didn't lose the game for us though, I just hate it when they don't call it both ways......which is becoming a problem for us in Oxford.

Jabari showed some life.

In the end it was the 2nd team vs the 2nd team. Fergie has a CANNON, but is slower than Luke and had a few tosses that would have been INT's by the first team. His first pass was a toss over the middle...I didn't think that was in the play book. Fergie looked like a solid leader when he was on the field, poised and in control. I think that it's Fergie's speed that keeps him off the field, though his choices didn't look drastically better than Luke's. We might have a QB Controversy on our hands soon.

All in all, it's a rebuilding year. I think the big kickers for me right now are the Coaches making adjustments and the players making bigger improvements week to week. Next week might break the season!!!

[GP1]

Ok, what in the world gives you the impression that Getsy is suddenly gonna stop making mental mistakes? What from Miami shows you that? Enlighten me cause I'm stumped here. Ever since the second half at CMU he has done little but make mental mistakes. I just don't see it stopping. Sorry.

If the only point of reference is the Miami game, then nothing. However, we did see him play well early in the season and have limited mistakes. If a person does it once, he can do it again. Second, he did play better against Miami than against Buffalo or the second half of CMU. The ability is there, he just has to do it.

Again, Miami scored 51 points. How is that on Getsy? The defense was just bad Saturday.

[bigzipguy]

How did the D give up 51 points???? They certainly deserve some of the blame.

On the other hand, maybe they were both tired and angry at the offense for the

countless mistakes!!!!!

[Captain Kangaroo]

How did the D give up 51 points???? They certainly deserve some of the blame.

On the other hand, maybe they were both tired and angry at the offense for the

countless mistakes!!!!!

What happened to this attitude from only one week ago (see below)?

On the defenses performance against Buffalo (John Mackey)...

Defensively we really stepped it up and made amazing improvements. When things went wrong we did not point fingers for someone making a mistake, instead someone would come up and say it okay I have your back and I am going to fix this. We wanted to be out their as a defense to do things right. We wanted to be the last ones on the field at the end of the game and we had the mentality that we will win this game.

On the performance of the offense against Buffalo...

The thing that upset me was that the offense kept apologizing to the defense for messing up, but that is the whole part about being a team, when someone messes up as a defense we have your back. There is no reason to apologize to them team, if we mess up they have our back and when they mess up we have their back.

Truth be told...Mackey is the last one who I could say mailed it in early last week. However, it only takes one or two of the 11 guys on the field to start hanging their head and the ballgame is over.

[Quickzips]

Ok, what in the world gives you the impression that Getsy is suddenly gonna stop making mental mistakes?  What from Miami shows you that?  Enlighten me cause I'm stumped here.  Ever since the second half at CMU he has done little but make mental mistakes.  I just don't see it stopping.  Sorry.

If the only point of reference is the Miami game, then nothing. However, we did see him play well early in the season and have limited mistakes. If a person does it once, he can do it again. Second, he did play better against Miami than against Buffalo or the second half of CMU. The ability is there, he just has to do it.

Again, Miami scored 51 points. How is that on Getsy? The defense was just bad Saturday.

If your refering to MTSU and NIU then I still don't know if you have a huge point. It seems to me that we made ALOT of mistakes in the redzone against MTSU. NIU as sad as it is to say, we should have lost. We had them down and out and we made the mistake of letting them back in it. Save the defense willing themselves back into it in OT and Biggs fighting for every inch on the football field he could get, NIU wins that game.

Also for those of you pinning things on the D. Get real here please. A defense can only do so much when they are constantly on the field (even early in the game the T.O.P. was heavily lopsided in Miami's favor), and the O is giving the other team the ball in great field position. I don't care who you are. Your D is not gonna hold up when your giving the other team the ball right back 6 times.

Another point. Is anyone else frustrated as hell with our kicking game? Sullivan had a 7 yard punt :blink: and Swiger misses and X-tra point What is that all about?

[GP1]

Also for those of you pinning things on the D. Get real here please. A defense can only do so much when they are constantly on the field (even early in the game the T.O.P. was heavily lopsided in Miami's favor), and the O is giving the other team the ball in great field position. I don't care who you are. Your D is not gonna hold up when your giving the other team the ball right back 6 times.

I know you guys hate it when I use statistics, but here it goes. The point that the defense was constantly on the field is simply not true. There was only a three minute difference in time of possession Saturday. Three minutes is roughly only five or six plays.

To say we gave Miami great field position early is simply not true as well. Akron scored early and their kick offs were in the end zone. Even the interception in the end zone gave Miami the ball on the 20 and they marched right down on our defense, after a long rest, like they were the scout team. If the defense would hold the other team to three and out more than once or twice per game, they might get more rest.

Akron's defense gave up 248 yards rushing and a 6.7 yard average. That's horrible at best.

Akron's defense gave up 580 yards total and 7.7 yards per play. That's horrible at best.

I'll say it again. With the exception of Biggs and Kiki, Miami has better players at every position. Akron lost because the talent level is not where it needs to be to win the MAC. It never has.

[Dr Z]

  A defense can only do so much when they are constantly on the field (even early in the game the T.O.P. was heavily lopsided in Miami's favor), and the O is giving the other team the ball in great field position.  I don't care who you are.  Your D is not gonna hold up when your giving the other team the ball right back 6 times.

Art Modell finally fulfilled his dream of 30 years. The trash-talking Baltimore Ravens rolled through the playoffs, capturing the Vince Lombardi trophy in Super Bowl XXXV. Their dominating defense backed up their talk by completely shutting down the New York offense. The only points yielded to the Giants were by the Baltimore special teams, who allowed a kickoff returned for a touchdown.

Your defense can ABSOLUTLEY come out in any situation and win a game for you.

That's what playing defense is about. You don't get to pick when you want to play defense.

You play it ALL the time. Every time you are on the field.

I am all about defense. I LOVE watching a great defense.

It's so fun to watch a dominating D that can actually create turnovers or score off of turnovers.

I remember before JD's first game he said "I'm going to play a defense that the Mac has not seen"

I'm still holding onto that statement hoping that the day will come.

Let's go D, shut down Army !

[Quickzips]

You want to look at stats. Well then we will look at stats. Consider:

Akrons first 3 drives: 1:04, 3:15, :57

Miamis first 3 drives: :58, 8:30, 1:02

That is over a 5 min. difference going early into the second 1/4 alone. Not good, but we lead there.

Early in the game we really didn't give them great field position a few times. Their first 3 drives started from: Miami20, Miami20, and Miami20. Now thats not bad. Then consider the good field position we did give them:

50, Miami44, Akron44, Akron41, 50 again, Akron15, Miami45,

That is 7 drives that they started beyond their own 40. 5 of those either at midfield or inside Akron territory. It is easy to see why we caught up to them in T.O.P. when you look at that. A shorter field invariably means a shorter drive.

[Dr Z]

Play good D and none of that matters.

[Z-Pouch]

Play good D and none of that matters.

Agree with Dr Z on defense being able to control games but most defensive minded teams seem to have ball control offenses which are based on the run -- Ala DR Z's loser favorite team the Squellers. So, a good controlled offense (No T/O's, Maintain field position) helps the defense keep it's edge. Seems like everyone's really talking the same thing here. It's a Cowher, Tressel, Belichek, Big Tuna, ect. recipe for success. I think Tressel believes the punt is the most effective offensive play he has.......all about field position and shortnening the field for the offense with your defense.

[msopher]

Not a knowledgeable Akron fan here but I know Akron has a lot of underclassmen playing this year. With their recruiting class rated #1 in the MAC, you guys need to have some patience because JD will make this team in 2 years.

[GP1]

You want to look at stats. Well then we will look at stats. Consider:

Akrons first 3 drives: 1:04, 3:15, :57

Miamis first 3 drives: :58, 8:30, 1:02

That is over a 5 min. difference going early into the second 1/4 alone. Not good, but we lead there.

Early in the game we really didn't give them great field position a few times. Their first 3 drives started from: Miami20, Miami20, and Miami20. Now thats not bad. Then consider the good field position we did give them:

50, Miami44, Akron44, Akron41, 50 again, Akron15, Miami45,

That is 7 drives that they started beyond their own 40. 5 of those either at midfield or inside Akron territory. It is easy to see why we caught up to them in T.O.P. when you look at that. A shorter field invariably means a shorter drive.

Good use of statistics!

The most disappointing thing for me is our defense did not do what it needed to do to get the offense the ball. The only purpose of the defense is to get the ball back and we can't seem to do that.

[Quickzips]

I'm not so concerned with our defense not getting the ball right back for our offense. I'm more concerned with our offense giving it right back to their offense.

[GP1]

I'm not so concerned with our defense not getting the ball right back for our offense. I'm more concerned with our offense giving it right back to their offense.

I'm concerned with EVERYTHING right now.