Rasor high on the Zips after Spring game

[cornbread]

Rasor is not patiently waiting for iCoach to rebuild the team in his image.

Check out these ratings:

• Quarterback — Outlook: Bright
  
• Running back – Outlook: Very bright
  
• Offensive line — Outlook: Bright
  
• Wide receiver — Outlook: Dim
  
• Special teams — Outlook: Mixed
  
• Defensive line — Outlook: Very bright
  
• Linebacker – Outlook: Blindingly bright
  
• Cornerback — Outlook: Bright
  
• Safety — Outlook: Very dim
  
• Overall – Outlook: Bright
  

Two positions, Safety and WR do not excite Rasor. Since he does get to see more games than most of us and he has been covering them for awhile, should we begin to drink the Kool-Aid now. Is this forecast something to believe in? Or is it just spring ball hype?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I'll respond here. Hopefully it's ok with Mike?

* Quarterback — Outlook: If Nicely stays healthy, my retinas are en fuego. I continue to be astounded by anyone who gives Matt Rodgers a shot at the starting QB position. Matt is a super kid and a hard worker. But he doesn't have the arm strength to start as a MAC QB. Can he run? Sure. But his frame isn't like Tebow's. If the Zips rely on Rodgers' running ability...it will be an effective, but short-lived experiment. He'll get injured. He's a valuable back up to PN7.

Nicely is going to be awesome. He'll get the whole snap-from-center thing solved this summer. He has a cannon, and if he gets OL protection...look out.

* Running back – Outlook: Cautious optimism. Alex Allen will be a stud, IF he can take the pounding of a full season as a feature back. He started to return to form late last season, and by all accounts he's 100% for 2010. Dale Martin is an explosive, elusive back...when he's not on the trainer's table. If Martin can shake the injury bug, the Zips RB situation will be the envy of the MAC. Broderick Alexander? People were high on him last season. I wasn't. He was put in an impossible position, with his redshirt being pulled so late. And I applaud him for trying his best to help the team. But he needs to break initial contact with some regularity before I'm sold on him being an effective RB. Nate Burney is a wild card. He was somewhat of a HS legend in Youngstown, and is Mooney's #2 all time rusher last I checked. And Mooney is one of the more storied programs in the state. I think Nate has something to prove. And with Ianello's fresh eyes to evaluate things, Burney could be one of those recruits buried by JD who surprises us all in 2010.

More later....lunch is over...

[InTheZone]

I'll respond here. Hopefully it's ok with Mike?

* Quarterback — Outlook: If Nicely stays healthy, my retinas are en fuego. I continue to be astounded by anyone who gives Matt Rodgers a shot at the starting QB position. Matt is a super kid and a hard worker. But he doesn't have the arm strength to start as a MAC QB. Can he run? Sure. But his frame isn't like Tebow's. If the Zips rely on Rodgers' running ability...it will be an effective, but short-lived experiment. He'll get injured. He's a valuable back up to PN7.

Nicely is going to be awesome. He'll get the whole snap-from-center thing solved this summer. He has a cannon, and if he gets OL protection...look out.

* Running back – Outlook: Cautious optimism. Alex Allen will be a stud, IF he can take the pounding of a full season as a feature back. He started to return to form late last season, and by all accounts he's 100% for 2010. Dale Martin is an explosive, elusive back...when he's not on the trainer's table. If Martin can shake the injury bug, the Zips RB situation will be the envy of the MAC. Broderick Alexander? People were high on him last season. I wasn't. He was put in an impossible position, with his redshirt being pulled so late. And I applaud him for trying his best to help the team. But he needs to break initial contact with some regularity before I'm sold on him being an effective RB. Nate Burney is a wild card. He was somewhat of a HS legend in Youngstown, and is Mooney's #2 all time rusher last I checked. And Mooney is one of the more storied programs in the state. I think Nate has something to prove. And with Ianello's fresh eyes to evaluate things, Burney could be one of those recruits buried by JD who surprises us all in 2010.

More later....lunch is over...

Burney wasn't a recruit. He was a walk-on who started his career at Ashland, couldn't start there, and transferred here to save on school and decided to give football one more shot. I don't see him being much of a factor.

[ZachTheZip]

Rasor's high, alright.

[johnnyzip84]

For anyone who can't get to his blog.

Football

Rob Ianello's first season will have uncertainty because of the players lost, the new scheme and another training camp without a proven starting quarterback.

His first spring was marked by bringing the returners up to speed on a new offense, defense, set of terminology, and — apparently most difficult — the snap from under-center.

Here is my outlook for each position:

Quarterback — With Matt Rodgers still recovering from a knee six months before, Patrick Nicelytook most of the competitive snaps. The good news is, Akron has depth with two players who have shown they're capable of playing. The bad news is, the Zips enter another season without having "the guy," which often retards offensive development. Nicely's spring was up-and-down. He struggled mightily with the under-center snaps. He made some good throws, but his weakness was clear: touch passes. It's hard for me to imagine Nicely not playing, at least some. The question, therefore, would be: Do the quarterbacks split time — a notion that Ianello refused to dismiss during the spring game press conference? Outlook: Bright

Running back – This is a position of strength for the Zips. Alex Allen looked quicker and stronger than ever. Broderick Alexander and Dale Martin (if healthy) can take some carries as his eventual successors. None of these three backs is a bruiser, so the emergence of a pounding fullback will be important, not just for lead blocking, but also for short-yardage situations. Don't dismiss LeVon Morefield as that person. Outlook: Very bright

Offensive line — You can't complain with how J.D. Brookhart kept the offensive line cupboard stocked. For the past three years, there has been a nice mix of experience and talent. Mike Ward (at either center or guard) and Corey Woods (left tackle) are the stalwarts and potential All-MAC performers. Run blocking and pass protection are great, but the team cannot afford fumbled snaps. I hope that gets fixed before August. Outlook: Bright

Wide receiver — The Zips have a clear No. 1 target in Jeremy LaFrance. They have a hopeful No. 2 in Jalil Carter. If Akron's track record in converting players to receiver continues (Domenik Hixon, Andre Jones), he will be a good one. But that's more uncertainty than you want out of a No. 2. Also, there is a dropoff after Carter. Anthony Meriwether played well at times last season. Nadir Brownhas the physical tools if he toughens up and improves his hands. Curtis Brown has looked great in scrimmages, but he hasn't done anything when it matters. Gary Pride has not found his niche yet. The list goes on. Ianello might look to a true freshman to get serious minutes if these underclassmen don't figure it out by the end of August. Outlook: Dim

Special teams — We have the usual suspects back at place kicker: Igor Iveljic and Branco Rogovic. They've both had their chance to claim the job, but neither had done it. Josh Couch orZack Campbell will punt. Campbell, a junior, showed a big leg at times last year, but he is a walk-on. Couch grayshirted last season. It appears Jeremy LaFrance and Nate Burney will be the primary returners, unless a true freshman steps in. Outlook: Mixed

Defensive line — The 4-3 scheme will allow Akron to take advantage of its depth along the line and open more playmaking opportunities for players like Shawn Lemon and Almondo Sewell. At tackle,Dan Marcoux, Joe Rash and Cowles Stewart will see time, along with the anchor, Sewell. At end, Lemon is the best pass rusher, and you'll also see plenty of Shane Shead, Hasan Hazime and Deni Odofin. Outlook: Very bright

Linebacker – Brian Wagner, Sean Fobbs and Mike Thomas make up the best linebacker corps in the MAC — and I'm not even bothering to look at other rosters. They are all big-time playmakers, and Wagner should be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Matt Little, Will Fleming and Troy Gilmer are more than capable of providing depth. Outlook: Blindingly bright

Cornerback — Manley Waller is a shut-down corner by MAC standards. The other corner appears to be Diamond Weaver, who has played OK. Ideally, one of the younger players, such as Marvase Byrd, will earn time as the year progresses. Outlook: Bright

Safety — Taking Carter from this position hurts. Only five players on the roster are listed as safeties (Kevin Davis, Thomas Miller, Jared Province, Doug Richardson, and Josh Richmond). By my count, only two are scholarship players. None has contributed significantly before. Three-star recruitAnthony Holmes might see playing time sooner than desirable. Outlook: Very dim

Overall – The Zips won't be rebuilding next season. There is plenty of talent on the roster. The three critical questions are: 1) Whether a receiver or two will emerge to make the passing game effective. 2) Whether the weakness at safety can be masked by an uber-effective front seven and decent cornerbacks. 3) Whether Ianello can motivate the team to provide a consistent effort throughout the 12-game season. Outlook: Bright

I think RI is merely suggesting a QB competition to make sure PN7 continues to work hard on "the little things". Does anyone know for sure if Igor or Shead are still with the team?