iCoach quotes

[Dr Z]

I'm glad iCoach saw some of the same things I did. Here is to improvement this Saturday.

Opening Statement:

"We are certainly disappointed in how we played (against Syracuse). Overall we just did too many things that good teams don't do. Interestingly enough, we took the ball away from (Syracuse) three times and didn't turn it over once, but still lost, which usually doesn't happen. Issues came with just too many big plays against us. When you give up a blocked field goal for a touchdown, when you have a chance to cut it to 17-6, but instead its 23-3, that's a huge turnaround in a game. We could never really recover from that. I thought our defense at times played very well. (Syracuse) ended up with 430 yards against our defense, but 217 of those yards were on seven plays. If we can do a better job of eliminating some of those bigger plays and be sound on offense and not have some of those special teams snafus, I think we can get ourselves to be a good football team. I expect us to make the most improvement from our first game to our second."

Regarding Akron's offense versus Syracuse:

"I thought there were times when our receivers could have done a better job of separating and breaking off their routes. Patrick's (Nicely) scrambles had some to do with pressure, some to do with our receivers and some to do with him maybe having to step up into the pocket. So I think there's three factors involved in all of those things. I was pleased that we didn't throw any interceptions, that was a real positive on Patrick's part. The execution of our pass game, because we were forced a lot of the time to max protect and that really puts a lot on the receivers."

Regarding his first game as a head coach:

"I'm glad my first game is over with and that we have that behind us. I made my first big decision, I decided to differ, so that was my first big decision as a head coach. A lot of things go on during the game, but i was excited about that opportunity, excited about leading this team and this great university. I had a lot of family here to enjoy it. I was pleased that my father was able to be here, who hadn't seen me coach in several years. From that personal perspective it was obvious fulfillment, with what i want to do with my career, but we have a lot of work to do with this program and the time it took to answer this question is about as much time as i was given to thinking about that. We just have so much to do and I'm eager to coach this team and coach them well and for all of them to continue to get better."

Regarding the mood of the team after Saturday's loss:

"In the locker room I sensed extreme disappointment, and that's a good thing. As I told them, if they weren't disappointed and if this hadn't hurt them a bunch then we had the wrong group in there. When you put a lot of time into something and you don't get the rewards back you had hoped, then it should hurt you. I saw that in their eyes and i sensed that from them."

source

[johnnyzip84]

Before Zipmeister short circuits, I'm going to blame this one on the New York accent. I have to believe he was saying "defer" (as in defer the choice on kicking or receiving until the 2nd half).

It's interesting that he didn't call out the O-line in public. Maybe because the injuries there have been a major concern of his. Hopefully the play will improve here while they develop some depth at the same time.

[Quickzips]

So what your saying iCoach is that, if we do a better job on defense, offense and special teams, then we will be a better team? Thanks for clarifying that one.

[ditchrider1]

Still confused as to why 17-6 would be a good option? It was 4th and 2 on the 'Cuse 23 with around 5 mins left in the quarter. If we make it, we have a shot at a TD and 17-10 is better than 17-6 which is still better than 23-3.

I think he would have earned alot of respect had he decided to go for it on that one.

17-3 needs two scores

17-6 needs two scores

17-10 needs one score

23-3 now were screwed...

Just my 2 cents and by the boo's in the crowd I think I am not alone on this one.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Still confused as to why 17-6 would be a good option? It was 4th and 2 on the 'Cuse 23 with around 5 mins left in the quarter. If we make it, we have a shot at a TD and 17-10 is better than 17-6 which is still better than 23-3.

I think he would have earned alot of respect had he decided to go for it on that one.

17-3 needs two scores

17-6 needs two scores

17-10 needs one score

23-3 now were screwed...

Just my 2 cents and by the boo's in the crowd I think I am not alone on this one.

I've seen too many of Igor's low-liner kicks to ever feel good about kicking in that situation. 4th-and-2, on the opponent's 23...you go for it every time. At least until we recruit a real kicker. If Igor continues to kick, that exact play will happen again in 2010.

[RootforRoo44]

Still confused as to why 17-6 would be a good option? It was 4th and 2 on the 'Cuse 23 with around 5 mins left in the quarter. If we make it, we have a shot at a TD and 17-10 is better than 17-6 which is still better than 23-3.

I think he would have earned alot of respect had he decided to go for it on that one.

17-3 needs two scores

17-6 needs two scores

17-10 needs one score

23-3 now were screwed...

Just my 2 cents and by the boo's in the crowd I think I am not alone on this one.

I doubt there are many people who know anything at all about football who would disagree here. I just wish someone would ask him what the hell he was thinking.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I don't understand defering until the 2nd half either. Overall, it was the least of my game-day worries, but don't you want to go on offense in the 1st possession of your home opener?

Again... least of my worries...just sayin'...

[Dr Z]

I don't understand defering until the 2nd half either. Overall, it was the least of my game-day worries, but don't you want to go on offense in the 1st possession of your home opener?

Cowher used to do this too, reasoning was that he trusted his defense to get better field position for his offense than the special teams could. I would be shocked if that was iCoach's answer, but who can ask the question w/o a coach's show? Rasor?

[bandzip]

Still confused as to why 17-6 would be a good option? It was 4th and 2 on the 'Cuse 23 with around 5 mins left in the quarter. If we make it, we have a shot at a TD and 17-10 is better than 17-6 which is still better than 23-3.

I think he would have earned alot of respect had he decided to go for it on that one.

17-3 needs two scores

17-6 needs two scores

17-10 needs one score

23-3 now were screwed...

Just my 2 cents and by the boo's in the crowd I think I am not alone on this one.

I've seen too many of Igor's low-liner kicks to ever feel good about kicking in that situation. 4th-and-2, on the opponent's 23...you go for it every time. At least until we recruit a real kicker. If Igor continues to kick, that exact play will happen again in 2010.

As soon as he sent special teams out on that play I turned to my roomate, who I dragged to his first Akron game in two years, and said "This isn't going to end well."

[ZachTheZip]

Still confused as to why 17-6 would be a good option? It was 4th and 2 on the 'Cuse 23 with around 5 mins left in the quarter. If we make it, we have a shot at a TD and 17-10 is better than 17-6 which is still better than 23-3.

I think he would have earned alot of respect had he decided to go for it on that one.

17-3 needs two scores

17-6 needs two scores

17-10 needs one score

23-3 now were screwed...

Just my 2 cents and by the boo's in the crowd I think I am not alone on this one.

I've seen too many of Igor's low-liner kicks to ever feel good about kicking in that situation. 4th-and-2, on the opponent's 23...you go for it every time. At least until we recruit a real kicker. If Igor continues to kick, that exact play will happen again in 2010.

As soon as he sent special teams out on that play I turned to my roomate, who I dragged to his first Akron game in two years, and said "This isn't going to end well."

Syracuse board: "Akron's coach is my new hero"

[RootforRoo44]

Still confused as to why 17-6 would be a good option? It was 4th and 2 on the 'Cuse 23 with around 5 mins left in the quarter. If we make it, we have a shot at a TD and 17-10 is better than 17-6 which is still better than 23-3.

I think he would have earned alot of respect had he decided to go for it on that one.

17-3 needs two scores

17-6 needs two scores

17-10 needs one score

23-3 now were screwed...

Just my 2 cents and by the boo's in the crowd I think I am not alone on this one.

I've seen too many of Igor's low-liner kicks to ever feel good about kicking in that situation. 4th-and-2, on the opponent's 23...you go for it every time. At least until we recruit a real kicker. If Igor continues to kick, that exact play will happen again in 2010.

As soon as he sent special teams out on that play I turned to my roomate, who I dragged to his first Akron game in two years, and said "This isn't going to end well."

Syracuse board: "Akron's coach is my new hero"

great, even the other team thinks our coach is a bumbling idiot.

[xu9697]

Let's hope, behind closed doors, Ianallo realizes that he made a bad move there. 1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

[ditchrider1]

Let's hope, behind closed doors, Ianallo realizes that he made a bad move there. 1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

I have never coached and I knew that was a crap decision...I am sorry but no mulligans and shame on his staff for not calling him out if they had the chance to. We need a staff that will work together and step up when something is ready to go array. i get it, you can get caught up in the moment but that is where your right-hand man chimes in and says....woah Coach, lets go for it, 17-6 is still two scores and 4 and 2 is makeable.

Had he admitted it then maybe a mulligan but don't sweep it under the rug. Just admit you screwed up...don't glance over the subject by saying...

"When you give up a blocked field goal for a touchdown, when you have a chance to cut it to 17-6, but instead its 23-3, that's a huge turnaround in a game"

What does 17-6 do? That was only maybe our 2nd or 3rd trip into their territory the whole game, what made him think we would get back there two more times! Plus 17-6 would require us to make the 40 yd field goal, score a touchdown and then make another field goal to get it to 17 all.

Bad decision and that's it....maybe mulligan

3 to 4 illegal formations + bad decision = bad preparation...no mulligan

Hell with it...move on and lets win this week.

[ZachTheZip]

1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

No mulligans. Every single person in the stadium not on the Zips coaching staff knew that was a stupid decision. Who thought it was smart to hire someone who has never called plays before?

[Zip Watcher]

1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

No mulligans. Every single person in the stadium not on the Zips coaching staff knew that was a stupid decision. Who thought it was smart to hire someone who has never called plays before?

Another classic quote from the endzone grass gnome ..

[skip-zip]

Let's hope, behind closed doors, Ianallo realizes that he made a bad move there. 1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

I have never coached and I knew that was a crap decision...I am sorry but no mulligans and shame on his staff for not calling him out if they had the chance to. We need a staff that will work together and step up when something is ready to go array. i get it, you can get caught up in the moment but that is where your right-hand man chimes in and says....woah Coach, lets go for it, 17-6 is still two scores and 4 and 2 is makeable.

Had he admitted it then maybe a mulligan but don't sweep it under the rug. Just admit you screwed up...don't glance over the subject by saying...

"When you give up a blocked field goal for a touchdown, when you have a chance to cut it to 17-6, but instead its 23-3, that's a huge turnaround in a game"

What does 17-6 do? That was only maybe our 2nd or 3rd trip into their territory the whole game, what made him think we would get back there two more times! Plus 17-6 would require us to make the 40 yd field goal, score a touchdown and then make another field goal to get it to 17 all.

Bad decision and that's it....maybe mulligan

3 to 4 illegal formations + bad decision = bad preparation...no mulligan

Hell with it...move on and lets win this week.

Forget about the mathematical logic for a second. Good and bad decisions can often be measured by how it affects the opposition. And in this case, I'm guessing that the Syracuse staff was relieved when we did not go for it. We squandered our last opportunity to gain a psychological edge in that game. We would have been on the attack, and they would have been forced to scramble to keep their more-than-a-touchdown margin. And by simply stepping up to the line of scrimmage, we may have even forced them to burn a timeout, which would have given us more time to decide the right move. Unfortunately, I'd have to say that this looked like the kind of thing you'd possibly see from someone inexperienced with in-game decision making.

[RootforRoo44]

1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

No mulligans. Every single person in the stadium not on the Zips coaching staff knew that was a stupid decision. Who thought it was smart to hire someone who has never called plays before?

The same dummy who does the boring youtube videos.

[Blue & Gold]

Let's hope, behind closed doors, Ianallo realizes that he made a bad move there. 1st game calling the shots after 22 years of coaching...I will give him a "mulligan".

I have never coached and I knew that was a crap decision...I am sorry but no mulligans and shame on his staff for not calling him out if they had the chance to. We need a staff that will work together and step up when something is ready to go array. i get it, you can get caught up in the moment but that is where your right-hand man chimes in and says....woah Coach, lets go for it, 17-6 is still two scores and 4 and 2 is makeable.

Had he admitted it then maybe a mulligan but don't sweep it under the rug. Just admit you screwed up...don't glance over the subject by saying...

"When you give up a blocked field goal for a touchdown, when you have a chance to cut it to 17-6, but instead its 23-3, that's a huge turnaround in a game"

What does 17-6 do? That was only maybe our 2nd or 3rd trip into their territory the whole game, what made him think we would get back there two more times! Plus 17-6 would require us to make the 40 yd field goal, score a touchdown and then make another field goal to get it to 17 all.

Bad decision and that's it....maybe mulligan

3 to 4 illegal formations + bad decision = bad preparation...no mulligan

Hell with it...move on and lets win this week.

Forget about the mathematical logic for a second. Good and bad decisions can often be measured by how it affects the opposition. And in this case, I'm guessing that the Syracuse staff was relieved when we did not go for it. We squandered our last opportunity to gain a psychological edge in that game. We would have been on the attack, and they would have been forced to scramble to keep their more-than-a-touchdown margin. And by simply stepping up to the line of scrimmage, we may have even forced them to burn a timeout, which would have given us more time to decide the right move. Unfortunately, I'd have to say that this looked like the kind of thing you'd possibly see from someone inexperienced with in-game decision making.

Even if iCoach didn't have confidence that we could gain 2 yards( ), we could have at least lined up and tried to make 'Cuse jump off-sides.

[xu9697]

IF Ianallo ends up sucking, so be it. I'm not about to ditch out on the guy for one very bad decision.

Who knows...maybe the plan was to get 3, then shock the hell out of them with an onside kick. LOW percentage (in more ways than one), I know.

I am a bit more concerned, right now, about all of this "fundamental" talk when they SERIOUSLY screwed up in many ways FUNDAMENTALLY. But..again..not going to crucify the guy for one bad game and CERTAINLY not for the bad decisions of previous regimes (admittedly, a bit easier as I have only been a fan for about 7-8 years).

[Blue & Gold]

I'm really hoping we clean up the penalties this week. I think this week will give our team a chance to take a deep breath, relax & execute.

I absolutely LOVED seeing 4 down linemen. I thought the front 7 looked great (though I guess the stats really don't bear that out. Idk.)

Weather's supposed to be great. I'm already looking forward to another day of college football @ the Info!

We on ZipsNation are like Chicago Cubs fans - we're diehard fans, win or lose, we'll still be there hoping & cheering.

Go Zips!

[skip-zip]

I'm really hoping we clean up the penalties this week. I think this week will give our team a chance to take a deep breath, relax & execute.

I absolutely LOVED seeing 4 down linemen. I thought the front 7 looked great (though I guess the stats really don't bear that out. Idk.)

Weather's supposed to be great. I'm already looking forward to another day of college football @ the Info!

We on ZipsNation are like Chicago Cubs fans - we're diehard fans, win or lose, we'll still be there hoping & cheering.

Go Zips!

As I said previously, I really liked that we prevented a lot of 3-4 yard gains from turning into 8-10 yard gains. I think that the stats show that Wagner and Thomas at LB has a lot to do with that.

The one thing everyone in my area kept talking about was how fatigued the DLs looked. A lot of bending over, hands on hips, etc. I don't know. Is it possible that our coaches don't feel confident enough with the guys on the bench to rotate those guys in and out? That would certainly make sense since our need for DLs just increased with the new alignment this year.

[Zipsrifle]

OK, so apparently I am the only idiot here. Lets take CK's comment about Igor's line drives out of the equation, as that didn't come to mind at the time. Here was my thought process:

Q) What is the score?

A) 17-3

Q) What Quarter is it?

A) 3rd with about 10 minutes left

Q) How many 1st downs have we had this entire game?

A) 2

Q) Have I been able to punch it up the middle for 2 yards when they know it?

A) No

Q)Have I been able to punch it up the middle when they don't know it?

A) No

Q) Have I been throwing at will?

A) No

Q) Did my kicker already nail one of these?

A) Yes

Calculating....

Q) Chance of getting the 1st down:

A) 0.234743%

Q) Chance of hitting the field goal:

A) 54.23777777%

Kick the field goal!

Throwing in the line drive factor:

Calculating.....

Q) Chance of hitting the field goal:

A) 23.987%

KICK THE FIELD GOAL!!!!

Maybe I think like Mike Hargrove but come on, no way we had a better chance to make the first. If we had gone for it, and missed it, many of the SAME people would be on here talking about how dumb it was to go for it and NOT kick the field goal.

Put the points on the board, plenty of time left in the game, no question about it.

[ditchrider1]

OK, so apparently I am the only idiot here. Lets take CK's comment about Igor's line drives out of the equation, as that didn't come to mind at the time. Here was my thought process:

Q) What is the score?

A) 17-3

Q) What Quarter is it?

A) 3rd with about 10 minutes left

Q) How many 1st downs have we had this entire game?

A) 2

Q) Have I been able to punch it up the middle for 2 yards when they know it?

A) No

Q)Have I been able to punch it up the middle when they don't know it?

A) No

Q) Have I been throwing at will?

A) No

Q) Did my kicker already nail one of these?

A) Yes

Calculating....

Q) Chance of getting the 1st down:

A) 0.234743%

Q) Chance of hitting the field goal:

A) 54.23777777%

Kick the field goal!

Throwing in the line drive factor:

Calculating.....

Q) Chance of hitting the field goal:

A) 23.987%

KICK THE FIELD GOAL!!!!

Maybe I think like Mike Hargrove but come on, no way we had a better chance to make the first. If we had gone for it, and missed it, many of the SAME people would be on here talking about how dumb it was to go for it and NOT kick the field goal.

Put the points on the board, plenty of time left in the game, no question about it.

So what is the percentage we would then drive down the field two more times and score compared to driving down the field one more time and scoring?

I get what you are saying but we were getting shoved around all night long...this was the time when we should have grabbed our pecans and went for it to show we weren't a bunch of conservative patsies.

If there were 13 minutes left in the third quarter then absolutely kick it, but with 4:56 left(not 10 mins as you stated) in the 3rd that showed a complete lack of confidence in the offense which was warranted but part of being a coach is to instill confidence in your team and be a motivator. What does that say to your team when probably 99% of them figured we were going for it and you said kick it. Even a successful FG wouldn't have given the team the spark they needed to come back....17-6 who cares, to me that says hey at least we scored 6 and didn't get blown out.

Sure the kicker was jazzed but the offense defeated. The offense was actually driving for the first time in the game...let em' try to finish it off and if they do get the first I GUARANTEE the game does not end 29-3 and hell we could have pushed to tie and possibly win. If they don't convert at least they went down swinging as a team and probably don't lose 29-3 and we are done with 'Cuse and ready to battle Gardner-Webb. Now we have a team lacking confidence in themselves and from the staff. A team that is pressed to not blow it all by losing to a FCS school. Nothing spells disaster like a young team pressing to make something happen...a few early INTS and a slip up by special teams and we are looking at 0-4 to start MAC play.

Ianello has an uphill battle this year and he needs to spend as much time building confidence in these young players as he does trying to get wins. Sometimes you can win several times throughout the game without winning the game overall and what he didn't do on that 4th down I believe did a lot more harm than good in the long run...hope I'm wrong.

[RootforRoo44]

Maybe I think like Mike Hargrove but come on, no way we had a better chance to make the first. If we had gone for it, and missed it, many of the SAME people would be on here talking about how dumb it was to go for it and NOT kick the field goal.

Put the points on the board, plenty of time left in the game, no question about it.

I think you're wrong there. I bet 95% of us would still say going for it was right in that situation because it was....period. You can analyze it for the rest of the season but almost anyone on here is going to disagree with what Coach I did.

[zippy5]

Maybe I think like Mike Hargrove but come on, no way we had a better chance to make the first. If we had gone for it, and missed it, many of the SAME people would be on here talking about how dumb it was to go for it and NOT kick the field goal.

Put the points on the board, plenty of time left in the game, no question about it.

I think you're wrong there. I bet 95% of us would still say going for it was right in that situation because it was....period. You can analyze it for the rest of the season but almost anyone on here is going to disagree with what Coach I did.

I think you take the points at the 23. If we were at the 35, go for it. I think most other coaches would do the same. Too early in the game to leave points on the field.