Indiana game thread

[ZachTheZip]

I get the feeling that Carter is due to break a huge return sometime soon.

[ZachTheZip]

I think our goal in this game should be to simply put a better showing than WKU did. Last week, we were about even with WKU's performance against Kentucky. Doing better than them against IU shows progress.

[Dave in Green]

Still lots of mistakes. But at least glimmerings of respectability on offense, especially the running game. If the Zips can run like this against a Big 10 team, they should be able to do the same in the MAC. With the running game established, PN7 doesn't look so bad.

Defense appears to be the bigger problem right now.

[Buckzip]

Our seconday is absolutely terrible. Not only are IU receivers getting open, but they are open by 10 yards.

Our offense doesn't look bad. If Nicely could complete passes to open receivers we may have a shot at some real scoring offense. Sadly he can't do that.

[akron football]

wow the second half kickoff goes through the hands of jalil duh

[ZachTheZip]

wow the second half kickoff goes through the hands of jalil duh

Maybe that's why he's not playing much WR.

[Blue & Gold]

AA seems to OFTEN trip up before he even hits the line of scrimmage.

[ksu sucks]

What's up with all the wide open IU receivers? I'm listening to 1350, and it seems like every big play is a pass to a "wide open" Hoosier.

[akron football]

wow how embarrasing 4th and 10 and you get it and then the next play you score wow we are truly a bad team. Mallory Illnois hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahahaahahahahahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[akron football]

lets run the ball and run theclock out in the third yea thats what we want dont throw it down field and try to score

[Buckzip]

lets run the ball and run theclock out in the third yea thats what we want dont throw it down field and try to score

Why bother? Nicely can't hit a barn if it's more than 20 yards away.

[ksu sucks]

Nicely to LaFrance for a TD.

35-20.

This team has some fight. We won't go winless in the MAC.

[ZachTheZip]

Now we at least look respectable.

How much is Indiana being much worse of an opponent than Kentucky, and how much of it is Akron improvements?

[ksu sucks]

I love Andy's Dumb and Dumber reference.

[akron football]

you cant tell me that we cant find another sure handed reciever on this team

[akron football]

another lafrance td droppped

[ksu sucks]

Good call. Good pass. Need to recruit some WR's.

[ZachTheZip]

The fatal flaw in our D is the "big play". But what can you do to eliminate that?

[ZachTheZip]

Good call. Good pass. Need to recruit some WR's.

Where in the world is our JUCO receiver Marquello Suel? Has he even played yet this year? What about Anthony Schrock? Wouldn't these players play if the coach was focused on winning this season and not "building" in hopes of improvement next year?

[Dave in Green]

..... Nicely can't hit a barn if it's more than 20 yards away.

Maybe not, but he's doing a pretty fair job of hitting receivers in the hands. As the TV announcers just noted, the Zips have a big problem with receivers unable to hang on to the ball.

Loved the call to throw for the TD on 4th and 1. The receiver was open, Nicely laid it right into his hands, and he dropped it.

[Zip_ME87]

Loved the call to throw for the TD on 4th and 1. The receiver was open, Nicely laid it right into his hands, and he dropped it.

Loved that call, too. Too bad our receivers can't catch...he was wide open.

[skip-zip]

..... Nicely can't hit a barn if it's more than 20 yards away.

Maybe not, but he's doing a pretty fair job of hitting receivers in the hands. As the TV announcers just noted, the Zips have a big problem with receivers unable to hang on to the ball.

Loved the call to throw for the TD on 4th and 1. The receiver was open, Nicely laid it right into his hands, and he dropped it.

It's certainly much, much harder to blame 4 for 19 and 6 for 25 passing performances on your receivers. Tonight, he threw enough good balls for us to blame his receivers for what could have been a good passing night. But, hopefully it was at least good enough to raise us above the 119th ranking in passing efficiency.

Unfortunately, one of the best downfield passes he's thrown all year, and one of the best calls I-Coach made all year, still can't result in a successful play. If it's not a failure in one area, it's a failure in another.

[ZippyforPresident]

In no way is the result of this game pleasing, but on the positive side we were able to move the ball, and especially we were able to run the ball. That is a REALLY good thing. Alex and Nate looked pretty good and they deserve the ZNO "Zipper of the game" award for their play today. I'm glad I can note some positives in this game. The offensive play calling was not terrible, the "wildcat" stuff with G. Pride was a good change that they installed for this game (I thought it showed that we legitimately wanted to win). I thought Nicely could have hit some nice deep passes and still failed on that, but he showed signs of improvement (the kid still has a big arm and no, Matt Rodgers doesn't need to start seeing reps with the first team unless we want to go 0-12). I think our receivers, some of them, had moments but this is a spot that needs BIG IMPROVEMENT. Go up and get the ball, don't wait on it, don't let it hit you in the hands, if it's anywhere in your kitchen go and snare the damn thing.

The two biggest problems I had with the game tonight: (1) The secondary needs help! They've been getting eaten alive all season (although to be fair the play calling has sent blitzes that were totally picked up ala lacking coverage which has allowed us to be picked apart). (2) It is more like a 50/50 combination, but P. Nicely has to start putting the ball on target. And when he does, those receivers HAVE TO MAKE THOSE CATCHES. We have had SO MANY opportunities deep for a touchdown in the last two games that we probably should have won at least one of the last two games we've played.

Also, I think our coaching staff is starting to learn on the job, although with some of the same plays I think it's easy to see that the execution has just plain been improving to a degree. As long as there is improvement from week to week I'm still holding out hope for a legit winner.

But at the same time, Indiana is not a very good team and this was an easily winnable ballgame. NO EXCUSES. I don't care if we're playing an SEC, ACC, or Sun Belt team, we need to start stepping on their necks if we want any respect. I know it's now too late for any type of marquee win this season so lets at least just start punishing the rest of the MAC. Let's go Zips!

[Let'sGoZips94]

In no way is the result of this game pleasing, but on the positive side we were able to move the ball, and especially we were able to run the ball. That is a REALLY good thing. Alex and Nate looked pretty good and they deserve the ZNO "Zipper of the game" award for their play today. I'm glad I can note some positives in this game. The offensive play calling was not terrible, the "wildcat" stuff with G. Pride was a good change that they installed for this game (I thought it showed that we legitimately wanted to win). I thought Nicely could have hit some nice deep passes and still failed on that, but he showed signs of improvement (the kid still has a big arm and no, Matt Rodgers doesn't need to start seeing reps with the first team unless we want to go 0-12). I think our receivers, some of them, had moments but this is a spot that needs BIG IMPROVEMENT. Go up and get the ball, don't wait on it, don't let it hit you in the hands, if it's anywhere in your kitchen go and snare the damn thing.

The two biggest problems I had with the game tonight: (1) The secondary needs help! They've been getting eaten alive all season (although to be fair the play calling has sent blitzes that were totally picked up ala lacking coverage which has allowed us to be picked apart). (2) It is more like a 50/50 combination, but P. Nicely has to start putting the ball on target. And when he does, those receivers HAVE TO MAKE THOSE CATCHES. We have had SO MANY opportunities deep for a touchdown in the last two games that we probably should have won at least one of the last two games we've played.

Also, I think our coaching staff is starting to learn on the job, although with some of the same plays I think it's easy to see that the execution has just plain been improving to a degree. As long as there is improvement from week to week I'm still holding out hope for a legit winner.

But at the same time, Indiana is not a very good team and this was an easily winnable ballgame. NO EXCUSES. I don't care if we're playing an SEC, ACC, or Sun Belt team, we need to start stepping on their necks if we want any respect. I know it's now too late for any type of marquee win this season so lets at least just start punishing the rest of the MAC. Let's go Zips!

Does this count as an excuse or a legit reason: We suck. We have WRs that don't have hands. Our QB was better tonight, but still isn't that accurate. Our RBs dance too much without going up field.

Don't get me wrong, I was impressed with the 20 points, but we still suck. I LOVE the Zips, but something needs to start clicking or we could finish last in the MAC east again.