johnnyzip84 Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 The Punters Zach Paul comes in at #8. Speaking of Zach, he put some time recently in a Parma Padua youth football camp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 The Secondaries The Zips are picked dead last at #13. Avis Commack alone should prevent that from being the reality in 2012. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 I get the feeling we'll be ranked last or near-last in almost everything. Doesn't mean it will be true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 I get the feeling we'll be ranked last or near-last in almost everything. Doesn't mean it will be true. I agree. As is typical with these things, there isn't much in depth study and almost no consideration for transfers etc. I'm not expecting TB to be a miracle worker. But I'm pretty confident the Zips will perform better than most of these individual unit rankings (although punting concerns me a little, since we don't know how Paul will play in a game situation......could actually be lower than 8th). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 I think the current staff will make our returning players look better than Rob & the boys did. I am confident that a couple of legit players will emerge that were up to this point unknown. I cannot wait to see how this team and staff develop. 5 weeks and counting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted July 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 The Linebackers I'm actually surprised we're as high as #10 here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 The Linebackers I'm actually surprised we're as high as #10 here. No mention or either Jamel Turner or Kurt Mangum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 The Linebackers I'm actually surprised we're as high as #10 here.This is one group I'll be paying close attention to when I'm at the games. This is supposed to be Chuck's signature position. I'll be watching... The Zips have experience in the area, with expected starts in OLBs Justin March (36 tackles) and Jamar Williams (38 tackles), and MLB Troy Gilmer (71 tackles). The key will be whether or not new defensive coordinator Chuck Amato can maximize their talents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted July 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 The Return Game Since both AJ Price (apparently) and Antoine Russell (for sure) are no longer with the team, I'm not sure how this assessment (#12) holds up. But whether it's Tyler Williams, Commack or another newcomer, the Zips will NEED to improve considerably in this area for the team to compete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted July 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 The Kickers More of the same story here, since AJ Fox has left the team. The special teams really are a crapshoot this year. It would be a real shame if the Offense moves the ball like I think they will, the Defense steadily improves, but the Special Teams prevent the improvement in the win-loss column that might otherwise be possible. I sure hope coach Jeff Bowden has things under control here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robkrisfox Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 The Kickers More of the same story here, since AJ Fox has left the team. The special teams really are a crapshoot this year. It would be a real shame if the Offense moves the ball like I think they will, the Defense steadily improves, but the Special Teams prevent the improvement in the win-loss column that might otherwise be possible. I sure hope coach Jeff Bowden has things under control here! To set the record straight, AJ did not leave because he was afraid of the same competition that he faced last year. He was hazed by 6 players, 4 potential starters from last year. He's currently going through the university judicial process to right the wrong. He wishes the best to his former teammates not involved, but is very excited to continue his career at YSU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Defensive Line 12. Akron — The D-line only mustered seven sacks last year, and men representing five of those (Oren Wilson, Dan Marcoux, James Harvey) are gone. But they do return two starters, Nico Caponi and J.D. Griggs. But who else? Isaiah Williams had a standout spring game, although nobody else has any game experience. Lots of opportunities here. They can't get much worse; last year they allowed 4.92 yards per carry and a MAC-worst 33 rushing touchdowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Offensive Line 13. Akron - The Zips' O-line is less experienced than the year before for a second time in a row, plus they are implementing a new offensive style under Terry Bowden and his staff. This is the smallest line in the conference, and they will probably struggle to be drastically better than last season despite their experience. Unless a bunch of freshmen step up in a big way, it's hard to argue with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted August 1, 2012 Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Wide Receivers 9. Akron - The Zips are awfully deep in this spot, led by junior wide receiver Keith Sconiers (639 yards, 5 TDs) to go along with experiences wideouts Marquelo Suel (417 yards, 4 TDs) and A.J. Price (196 yards, 1 TD). Little-used starting tight end Rhyne Ladrach (62 yards) also returns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted August 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2012 Offensive Line 13. Akron - The Zips' O-line is less experienced than the year before for a second time in a row, plus they are implementing a new offensive style under Terry Bowden and his staff. This is the smallest line in the conference, and they will probably struggle to be drastically better than last season despite their experience. Unless a bunch of freshmen step up in a big way, it's hard to argue with this one. This analysis misses a KEY point in the assessment of the 2012 Zip O-Line. The new SCHEME will definitely be their best friend. They simply won't be asked to hold pass protection for very long OR attempt to power run over defenses that overmatch them in size and talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted August 5, 2012 Report Share Posted August 5, 2012 Running Back 7. Akron - I'm going to take a big risk here. Jawon Chisolm is, like Anthon Samuel or Branden Oliver, a bonafide talent at running back. He was Akron's lone consistent offensive threat last season and played the second half of the season at less than 100% health - and still just missed a 1,000 yard season. The offensive line and the offensive system at large are both changing drastically, which balances out Chisolm's individual skill and the depth behind him. If the team gels early enough and he stays healthy, he has an outside shot at challenging Oliver for the conference rushing title - but that's a really big if. Right in the middle of the pack. I think Chisholm's better than that, but I don't know if his running style will allow him to put up huge numbers in the new offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted August 6, 2012 Report Share Posted August 6, 2012 Quarterbacks 12. Akron — The comforting news is there's no position battle. Stephen A. Austin senior transfer Dalton Williams is the starter for the Zips. Clayton Moore and Patrick Nicely have both transferred so this is going to be all Dalton, all the time. Williams didn't start at SFA so I'm not sure how he'll stack up against the rest, but it'll be a steep learning curve and Williams' role is merely to get through the season as painless as possible. Kyle Pohl is a redshirt freshman and my guess to be the backup, since the rest of the QBs are true freshmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted August 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 Composite Rankings The Zips come out in dead last, just slightly behind UMass. I'm sure many people look at it the same way. But this list also has WMU as the worst MAC West team and BGSU as being the 2nd best team overall behind OU. Cliche or not, the following quote sure looks like bulletin board material. And at least UMass/Akron shook out correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZipsFan Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 Composite Rankings The Zips come out in dead last, just slightly behind UMass. I'm sure many people look at it the same way. But this list also has WMU as the worst MAC West team and BGSU as being the 2nd best team overall behind OU. Cliche or not, the following quote sure looks like bulletin board material. I just give these types of "writers" no credibility at all. Saying that a team playing its first season at the FBS level has the #8 OL and #9 DL out of 13 in the conference is just plain silly. FBS talent - regardless of what team- is just higher than an FCS school overall - period. There will/might be exceptions here and there - but not an entire segment. I'm so tired of these "writers" taking a cursory look at last years stats, and deciding that we are the same team as last year. If coaching didn't matter or make any difference, why fire/hire them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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