Game 3 - Morgan State at Akron

[johnnyzip84]

It’s Monday and time to forget about the 1st two games as we hopefully look forward to the 1st win of the Bowden Era this Saturday against Morgan State. Although the Zips are undoubtedly expected to win this game, we know better than to assume anything (ahem Gardner-Webb) at this point. Besides, it looks as though Morgan State isn’t quite as delicious a cupcake as they were when Carlton Jackson made his return to Akron for the inaugural game at the Indo.

They are 1-1 so far in 2012, with an OT win at home over FCS Sacred Heart and last week’s 56-34 defeat at the hands of Buffalo. The Bears ran for over 200 yards in Alumni Stadium against U@B, so our run defense might very well be tested once again after yielding significant yards in the 1st two games. Hopefully, this fact alone will prevent any sort of let-down versus a team that is generally viewed as the “sure thing” on the schedule.

Here is the Buffalo News story on the MSU/U@B game and here is the Morgan State athletic web site.

I’ll save my prediction for later on in the week. Go Zips!!

[Captain Kangaroo]

This is as much a "must win" as any game the Zips have had in quite a while.

No way Bowden loses at home to a 1-AA team. I expect a relatively easy, fun 41-16 Zips victory.

What a gauntlet for the following 5 weeks...Tennessee, Miami, BG, OU, NIU...there's not a single gram of glucose or sucrose in the bunch, let alone an entire cupcake.

[Zipmeister]

Zips by 14 (per half).

[skip-zip]

It’s Monday and time to forget about the 1st two games as we hopefully look forward to the 1st win of the Bowden Era this Saturday against Morgan State. Although the Zips are undoubtedly expected to win this game, we know better than to assume anything (ahem Gardner-Webb) at this point. Besides, it looks as though Morgan State isn’t quite as delicious a cupcake as they were when Carlton Jackson made his return to Akron for the inaugural game at the Indo.

They are 1-1 so far in 2012, with an OT win at home over FCS Sacred Heart and last week’s 56-34 defeat at the hands of Buffalo. The Bears ran for over 200 yards in Alumni Stadium against U@B, so our run defense might very well be tested once again after yielding significant yards in the 1st two games. Hopefully, this fact alone will prevent any sort of let-down versus a team that is generally viewed as the “sure thing” on the schedule.

Here is the Buffalo News story on the MSU/U@B game and here is the Morgan State athletic web site.

I’ll save my prediction for later on in the week. Go Zips!!

Tested? Lets concede that everyone is going to be able to run on us. We'll need 30+ points to beat people this year, and we should get that easily in this one.

After that, I see Miami at home as a very winnable game. I hope it turns out that way.

[johnnyzip84]

Tested? Lets concede that everyone is going to be able to run on us. We'll need 30+ points to beat people this year, and we should get that easily in this one.

After that, I see Miami at home as a very winnable game. I hope it turns out that way.

If Morgan St runs well against us this week, then maybe I'll join you in your concession. But I'm not ready to concede just yet.

I think it's easy for us to forget how well the defense played in the first half ASIDE FROM the 1st and last FIU possessions. Frenchy and Detweiler both said it was the hardest hitting UA defense they'd seen in many years. Of course they couldn't keep it up in the 2nd half, although they did make a 4th quarter stop to give the Zips a chance to recapture their last lead. How much were the 2nd half troubles related to lack of depth in key areas? I think this was certainly a factor that MIGHT be mitigated as Horner, Jatavis Brown, etc get more familiar with the system. You are correct that we're light on defense and we're stuck with that situation for now. But I think there's enough speed there to compensate against some of the teams remaining on our schedule.

[akzipper]

We've only got two wins in the past two years, I've learned not to consider anything a "guaranteed win". I would hope that we can beat Morgan State, but sure hope they don't overlook them. It would be a HUGE blow to the season if that were to happen. We took a step forward last week, losing to Morgan State would be like taking two steps back. But my biggest worry is that less than 10,000 will be there to witness it, and that is entirely possible. Just out of curiosity, if a game is on ESPN3 can you watch a replay of the game later if you miss the live stream? I know you used to be able to.

[Captain Kangaroo]

But my biggest worry is that less than 10,000 will be there to witness it, and that is entirely possible.

I wouldn't worry about it. The Zips will be lucky to draw 6k for this one.

The attendance-inflating "Band Day" will make 6k possible...until just after halftime, when they all leave.

Son's baseball game means a mid-first quarter arrival for us...I guess I will enjoy my first non-smuggled beer in InfoCision Stadium this week.

[akzipper]

I wouldn't worry about it. The Zips will be lucky to draw 6k for this one.

The attendance-inflating "Band Day" will make 6k possible...until just after halftime, when they all leave.

Son's baseball game means a mid-first quarter arrival for us...I guess I will enjoy my first non-smuggled beer in InfoCision Stadium this week.

Very frustrated with our fanbase/students. I remember going to every single game back when I was in school, and we had to ride the buss all the way to the Rubber Bowl. We weren't good by any means, but the games where still fun. Now I live 3 hours away and can only make it to one game per year if I'm lucky. People take it for granted and I envy those who live in Akron and have the opportunities to attend games, yet choose not to. Can't even blame the cost anymore because tickets are practically being given away for free. Does UA have to pay people to show up or what??

[Captain Kangaroo]

Does UA have to pay people to show up or what??

3-9...1-11...1-11...0-2...that equals 5-33.

If a Zips fan attended a game over the past 3.2 season, there was an 86% chance that they would witness a loss. So "yes," some form of payment would probably help a little. Free beer is also acceptable currency.

You can blame student or fan apathy for the JAR being filled only to 65% capacity on most game days. But blame UA Athletics for InfoCision being filled to 10% capacity. You live by Ianello...you die by Ianello.

[skip-zip]

If Morgan St runs well against us this week, then maybe I'll join you in your concession. But I'm not ready to concede just yet.

I think it's easy for us to forget how well the defense played in the first half ASIDE FROM the 1st and last FIU possessions. Frenchy and Detweiler both said it was the hardest hitting UA defense they'd seen in many years. Of course they couldn't keep it up in the 2nd half, although they did make a 4th quarter stop to give the Zips a chance to recapture their last lead. How much were the 2nd half troubles related to lack of depth in key areas? I think this was certainly a factor that MIGHT be mitigated as Horner, Jatavis Brown, etc get more familiar with the system. You are correct that we're light on defense and we're stuck with that situation for now. But I think there's enough speed there to compensate against some of the teams remaining on our schedule.

You should interject this opinion on another thread, where a couple of people are choosing to ignore FIUs scoring barrage in the 2nd part of that game, and somehow feel qualified to say that we proved that we were not fatigued.

I join you in your interest in seeing how we defend the run this week. Morgan State ran for over 200 yards against Buffalo last week. So, if we can keep their rushing numbers low, that would certainly give some optimism that our run defense has hope of getting better sooner rather than later.

[johnnyzip84]

Keep an eye on Morgan State's #20 this Saturday. Out of his 126 yards rushing versus U@B, 108 of them came in the 1st half.

I'm excited to see what Coach Amato might have planned for him. Coach Bowden pointed out on the coach's show that both TD receptions by Chisholm were "wrinkles" put in the offense especially for FIU. Imagine that!

[skip-zip]

Keep an eye on Morgan State's #20 this Saturday. Out of his 126 yards rushing versus U@B, 108 of them came in the 1st half.

I'm excited to see what Coach Amato might have planned for him. Coach Bowden pointed out on the coach's show that both TD receptions by Chisholm were "wrinkles" put in the offense especially for FIU. Imagine that!

I did indeed notice that those plays appeared to be a real departure from the normal offense. Yep....Imagine That !!

When you don't see those things for a few years, which are simply adjustments to what the defense is doing, you forget that they actually happen during a football game

[NewZipsFan]

You should interject this opinion on another thread, where a couple of people are choosing to ignore FIUs scoring barrage in the 2nd part of that game, and somehow feel qualified to say that we proved that we were not fatigued.

I join you in your interest in seeing how we defend the run this week. Morgan State ran for over 200 yards against Buffalo last week. So, if we can keep their rushing numbers low, that would certainly give some optimism that our run defense has hope of getting better sooner rather than later.

It's called LACK of DEPTH -- not poor conditioning. When we don't have the "horses" to substitute in and out -- and our starters are playing the vast majority of the snaps - they will obviously fatigue somewhat over the course of a 4 1/2 hour game in 85+ degree heat with 90% humidity. I did not see one player QUIT on a play, nor did we have injuries, IV's on the sideline, etc. etc... That was my point -- not that we were some kind of super-human squad.

[Dr Z]

...not that we were some kind of super-human squad.

Maybe we (Zips players) are like the 2000 Philly Eagles with the pickle juice!?!?

[ZippyRulz]

We've only got two wins in the past two years, I've learned not to consider anything a "guaranteed win". I would hope that we can beat Morgan State, but sure hope they don't overlook them. It would be a HUGE blow to the season if that were to happen. We took a step forward last week, losing to Morgan State would be like taking two steps back. But my biggest worry is that less than 10,000 will be there to witness it, and that is entirely possible. Just out of curiosity, if a game is on ESPN3 can you watch a replay of the game later if you miss the live stream? I know you used to be able to.

Da Bearss have lots of (presumably speedy) Florida/Southeast and California players on their roster...just sayin. I just fired up the FIU replay on ESPN3, w/higher quality video than during the live stream. You could say we lost that game on the first 2 plays from scrimmage (TD drive), both QB-keeper options due to blown LB assignments. I really liked the color commentator, former coach Doug Graber.

[johnnyzip84]

Game preview from Morgan State web site.

[RowdyZip]

8:30am, lot 34. Should have the full tailgate in effect. Things are coming together very well. GO ZIPS!

Akron 52

Morgan State 17

[skip-zip]

It's called LACK of DEPTH -- not poor conditioning. When we don't have the "horses" to substitute in and out -- and our starters are playing the vast majority of the snaps - they will obviously fatigue somewhat over the course of a 4 1/2 hour game in 85+ degree heat with 90% humidity. I did not see one player QUIT on a play, nor did we have injuries, IV's on the sideline, etc. etc... That was my point -- not that we were some kind of super-human squad.

Now you're getting somewhere

I never said that anyone quit.

[NewZipsFan]

Now you're getting somewhere

I never said that anyone quit.

I'm sure you weren't being condescending or anything -- I'm just glad I was able to explain myself better to you

I just took a look at Morgan State's roster -- and they've got quite a few players from South Florida, interestingly enough -- and some big bodies.

I know that not one member of the coaching staff or team is looking past this team for even a nano-second. We've got the team moving in the right direction -- and as a previous poster wrote -- this IS a MUST WIN game -- without a doubt. And I have no doubt that we will win - and win by playing very good, sound, fundamental football (i.e. catching, tackling, blocking, limiting penalties, no turnovers, etc...).

I'll go out on a limb and predict that we see Kyle Pohl for most of, if not the entire, 4th quarter..

[johnnyzip84]

[Dr Z]

How many times can you ask the question, do we have anybody else on defense? Time to step up the quality of the questions. This isn't Ianello anymore. Coach Bowden really doesn't need press questions to talk about the game, but holly cow, if it was my job to ask him questions, I would bet I could come up with a few on the drive over. Embarrassing.

Thanks for posting JZ, I can't get enough of listening to TB.

[johnnyzip84]

How many times can you ask the question, do we have anybody else on defense? Time to step up the quality of the questions. This isn't Ianello anymore. Coach Bowden really doesn't need press questions to talk about the game, but holly cow, if it was my job to ask him questions, I would bet I could come up with a few on the drive over. Embarrassing.

Thanks for posting JZ, I can't get enough of listening to TB.

Sure thing, Dr Z. I like to have these videos readily available in the most pertinent thread.

Of the many things that impress me greatly about Coach Bowden in these press conferences is that he appears to be completely unflappable. His thinking always seems to be focused and attentive, regardless of the question or topic. In short, he’s an excellent communicator.

wonderful communication skills + wealth of football knowledge = excellent football coach

[NewZipsFan]

Sure thing, Dr Z. I like to have these videos readily available in the most pertinent thread.

Of the many things that impress me greatly about Coach Bowden in these press conferences is that he appears to be completely unflappable. His thinking always seems to be focused and attentive, regardless of the question or topic. In short, he’s an excellent communicator.

wonderful communication skills + wealth of football knowledge = excellent football coach

Which is why he was/is one of the most sought after motivational sports speakers in the country. It seems that whatever task/job he decided to take on, he gave it 100% of his effort and ability. He wrote some dadgum great articles for Yahoo! over those 4 or 5 years also..

[Wally B]

IMO - Our offense should be up to the task of covering for our current defensive situation.

I'm going w/

Akron - 35

Morgan St - 27

Go ZIPS!!!!

[johnnyzip84]

I think the defense is going to play much better this week. The weather conditions (high of 69 F, 65% humidity) will allow the starters to be more effective, the youthful backups are starting to catch on to the system, and I believe their overall speed will become very evident in this matchup. Plus I think Coach Amato might have a few tricks up his sleave.

Zips 42

Bears 14