Time for a depth chart overhaul

[ZachTheZip]

It's time, I think, for a major overhaul to the depth chart. We have players that don't really belong in the schemes we're running, and others that are starting ahead of more talented individuals. I understand that the coaches value experience, but it's time to play younger guys at the skill positions that fit what we're trying to do.

This might sound radical, but if I were coach, I would bench Kyle Pohl and Jawon Chisholm. Pohl is so banged up that he looks nothing like playmaker we had saw earlier in his career, and Chisholm isn't fast enough to hit the holes when running north-south or to turn the corner when running east-west.

Who do we replace them with? If Hirschman is cleared to play, he should start. He has looked better than Pohl all season. At RB, we have a half-dozen young speedy guys that aren't being used properly. Find one that can handle being the #1 back and then use him like Can't uses Dri Archer.

[Blue & Gold]

Well, he's no Dri Archer, but I like how DJ Jones looks carrying the rock. He may not have the home run potential of Chisholm, but he hits the hole more quickly and harder and more determined and runs north-south. DJ seems okay if he only gets 5 yards, whereas Chisholm tries to dance around & hit the home run every time. Consequently, he never hits it.

[zestycoyote]

I'll preface my opinions with this statement: UA is playing the toughest part of their schedule right now, so these games aren't exactly the best for quick judgments. Michigan, ULL, BGSU, OU, and NIU is a killer stretch for a rebuilding team with no depth.

Now on to the opinions...

We're a pass first offense, so I want a RB1 that gets yards consistently. Connor Hundley gets his 4-5 yards every carry and works well in the screen game. I'd like to see him as the starter with Chisolm and DJ Jones sprinkled in (more Jones, Chisolm just doesn't fit in this offense).

I don't see any glaring issues on defense, except they're out there too often. I'm not crazy about Rossi, but I'm not sure who's capable of replacing him at MLB. I'd like to see more CJ Mizell, regardless of how familiar he is with the playbook. The guy makes plays, where Rossi is pretty much just a run stopper that misses tackles.

Jamel Turner looked good against JMU, but that's I-AA. Is he pretty much limited to backup status at this point due to his loss of athleticism?

[GP1]

Michigan, ULL, BGSU, OU, and NIU is a killer stretch for a rebuilding team with no depth.

Now on to the opinions...

We're a pass first offense, so I want a RB1 that gets yards consistently. Connor Hundley gets his 4-5 yards every carry and works well in the screen game. I'd like to see him as the starter with Chisolm and DJ Jones sprinkled in (more Jones, Chisolm just doesn't fit in this offense).

Good post. On what planet were the Zips going to win any of the games in your first point? I can't ever remember us having a more difficult five game stretch. I think someone posted that our opponents are 21-7 or something like that.

The only way I bench a player right now is if the player behind him is better. In the case of Hundley, I believe he is better because he can get much needed yards and keep the offense on schedule.

Akron shouldn't bench players to "see what the young guys can do". That is what spring and fall practice is for. It's the kind of thing high school coaches do because they are gym teachers. If they could play, they would be in. Experimentation is over. The Zips badly need to get to four wins and I don't see how playing freshmen and sophomores who are not as good as the guys in front of them (God help us) give us anything other than a 2-3 win season...or worse, another 1 win season. The Zips need to try to win now and with the schedule easing after this week, there will be better opportunities. The Zips have three winnable games the rest of the year and they need to get winning. The young guys will have plenty of time to play in the future. The now is more important than next year.

I've been reading the usual nonsense about people "quitting". That's the sort of nonsense that fans say when they don't know what else to say. Being overwhelmed can look like quitting. Overwhelmed is something you can visually see. Quitting is a statement that assumes the person making it knows the mental state of those quitting. I think the Zips, in the second half of BG and last week, became overwhelmed by their inability to compete over a five week period against overall better players. BG and OU are good freaking good teams...look at who they have beaten and you can see for yourself.

[mivid12]

Well, he's no Dri Archer, but I like how DJ Jones looks carrying the rock. He may not have the home run potential of Chisholm,

nothing personal of course but I've never seen 'home run' potential from chisholm

[Dr Z]

Akron shouldn't bench players to "see what the young guys can do". That is what spring and fall practice is for. It's the kind of thing high school coaches do because they are gym teachers. If they could play, they would be in.

Right. Young guys get experience during practice. That's what its for. They will play when they are ready.

I wouldn't mind seeing Hirschman.......celebrate some TDs.

[jupitertoo]

Good post. On what planet were the Zips going to win any of the games in your first point? I can't ever remember us having a more difficult five game stretch. I think someone posted that our opponents are 21-7 or something like that.

The only way I bench a player right now is if the player behind him is better. In the case of Hundley, I believe he is better because he can get much needed yards and keep the offense on schedule.

Akron shouldn't bench players to "see what the young guys can do". That is what spring and fall practice is for. It's the kind of thing high school coaches do because they are gym teachers. If they could play, they would be in. Experimentation is over. The Zips badly need to get to four wins and I don't see how playing freshmen and sophomores who are not as good as the guys in front of them (God help us) give us anything other than a 2-3 win season...or worse, another 1 win season. The Zips need to try to win now and with the schedule easing after this week, there will be better opportunities. The Zips have three winnable games the rest of the year and they need to get winning. The young guys will have plenty of time to play in the future. The now is more important than next year.

I've been reading the usual nonsense about people "quitting". That's the sort of nonsense that fans say when they don't know what else to say. Being overwhelmed can look like quitting. Overwhelmed is something you can visually see. Quitting is a statement that assumes the person making it knows the mental state of those quitting. I think the Zips, in the second half of BG and last week, became overwhelmed by their inability to compete over a five week period against overall better players. BG and OU are good freaking good teams...look at who they have beaten and you can see for yourself.

Really good post. The worst thing TB could do is overreact to a disappointing loss - a day where everything seemed to go wrong. Those games happen. There are three wins out there for the Zips, so making changes at this stage could set the program back even further. Let events take there course and, hopefully, after three or four wins there's a strong sense of momentum heading into recruiting season.

[Dave in Green]

@GP1, good thoughts on quitting vs. being overwhelmed. The Zips are also likely to be overwhelmed by NIU's much deeeper talent, have a record of 1-6 after next weekend and be teetering on the brink of the Bottom 10. It's how the team rebounds from this killer stretch of games that will determine whether or not they have quit trying. If they don't give up, they can win some winnable games and start building more hope for next season.

[GP1]

nothing personal of course but I've never seen 'home run' potential from chisholm

And you never will because teams are ready for him to run outside.

"If you try to run outside, you'll never get there. If you run inside, you'll get outside." - Jerome Bettis advice to young NFL RBs.

[Captain Kangaroo]

nothing personal of course but I've never seen 'home run' potential from chisholm

"Potential" simply means you haven't done it.

There are graveyards full of coaches who made their player decisions based upon potential rather than results.

If a duck can pull a truck, then hitch 'em up.

If a horse can't pull a truck, then make glue.

[MDZip]

I think Chisholm gets a little bit of a bad rap because he does do a little too much dancing but I think he does have the home run potential. He had a 23 yard run against OU, 55 yards against JMU, 50 last year at Can't, and I can remember several big passes that he has caught and turned into touchdowns or big first downs. He might not be the guy to always pound ahead for three yards but he absolutely has some explosiveness that others don't possess. I think they should use him as a receiver out of the backfield a lot more often, he has good hands.

[UA1987]

A depth chart overhaul I don't agree with, but Akron has to address the 12 penalties, over half them unsportsmanlike personal fouls, commited last Saturday. I saw McCray and Hollis on consecutive plays get flagged for 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Ohio went into score a touchdown right after the Hollis penalty. These players need to know that they are affecting their chances of playing as a professional with these fouls and they need to know they are robbing the rest of the team of a chance to win. This selfish play should land them some time on the bench at NIU. If any player feels he is so important that he can do this to the rest of the team, it may hit home when playing time (and stats that go with it) is taken away. I say give the few Seniors or upperclassmen that have stayed with the team a little playing time at NIU, if you can fit them into the positions where players have commited unsportsmanlike penalties. Maybe something like this will teach everyone on the team not to retaliate if you are frustrated, but just get your revenge on the next play by mauling someone or making a play within the rules of the game.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I think Chisholm gets a little bit of a bad rap because he does do a little too much dancing but I think he does have the home run potential. He had a 23 yard run against OU, 55 yards against JMU, 50 last year at Can't, and I can remember several big passes that he has caught and turned into touchdowns or big first downs. He might not be the guy to always pound ahead for three yards but he absolutely has some explosiveness that others don't possess. I think they should use him as a receiver out of the backfield a lot more often, he has good hands.

23 yards shows home run potential? That's a short porch.

Biggs, Hendry, Kennedy...those guys were a threat to go all the way at any given time. I miss those guys.

[Dave in Green]

From what I've seen, Chisholm looks as if he doesn't have enough speed to break off long ones without getting pulled down from behind by speedy defenders. He's kind of a tweener back, not quick and fast enough for a breakaway tailback and not big and strong enough for a bruising fullback. Maybe throwing to him more out of the backfield would produce better results.

[mivid12]

I've seen enough of Chisholm to conclude he's average. I'd prefer to see more of Connor and DJ. I think you would get better production.

[MDZip]

23 yards shows home run potential? That's a short porch.

Biggs, Hendry, Kennedy...those guys were a threat to go all the way at any given time. I miss those guys.

65 yards against Ball State.

[Dr Z]

65 yards against Ball State.

That was the longest of his career...and untouched.