Cardinals @ Zips

[Hilltopper]

They are predicting 40+mph winds at game time tomorrow. That could really change the game plan. Can the Chisel have his breakout game this season?

[johnnyzip84]

What would you put the over/under for combined passing yards for both teams at Saturday?

I'll go 400, which is a good 150 less than their combined averages.

[Dr Z]

I'll go 400, which is a good 150 less than their combined averages.

I was originally thinking the rain or cold would not effect passing yards. I have made that mistake one too many times in fantasy football predictions. Wind IS an issue. It's gusting pretty good this morning. Otherwise it's a pretty nice October Ohio day. Sunny and 45 degrees. I'll still take the OVER.

[Dave in Green]

Just remember when dressing for the game that the sun is now disappearing behind clouds, and that 45-degree temperature with the current wind speed makes it feel more like 35 degrees.

[akzipper]

Oh Akron's defense....don't think they've looked that bad all season

[MDZip]

Stein has to have the NCAA record for uprights hit in a season. The Zips aren't beating Ball St by kicking (and especially missing) field goals, right after the defense gives you gift field position. Go for it on fourth, what do you have to lose?

[Z.I.P.]

This is either a long-long halftime, OR we're not going to see the second half of Akron-Ball State!

I only found out late last night that this 6AM kick-off would be televised on the ESPN Game Plan. I suspect I could have watched last week too. Good thing it's only American football! And how 'bout that Barca win?! It was nice to see the Diamond Head Classic advertising to Akron fans about the upcoming tournament in the land of palm trees and mai tais.

Listening to Michael Reghi? How many mistakes can one man make? He called "third down" twice while the teams were lined up to punt. Had Zach Paul punting for Ball State, and Wenning at QB for Akron.

Wow! We're finally going to have a second half! Good return by UA.

[Z.I.P.]

They are predicting 40+mph winds at game time tomorrow. That could really change the game plan. Can the Chisel have his breakout game this season?

Hilltopper hits the nail on the head!

[Z.I.P.]

Tyrell Goodman makes the catch of the year! And then Pohl runs it in. I really like the way the coaches choose the plays for Pohl to keep the ball. That was a great selection! 28-17

[MDZip]

Tyrell Goodman makes the catch of the year! And then Pohl runs it in. I really like the way the coaches choose the plays for Pohl to keep the ball. That was a great selection! 28-17

And Goodman made a terrific block on that TD run. I want to see more Tyrell Goodman and less Jerrod Dillard.

[Spin]

The only thing I have to say is, the players are better, but nothing else.

We're the first team to hold Wenning under 300 yards. We have offensive stats as good as or better than theirs. But we lost by multiple scores. Why? We still make the same drive-killing penalties we did with Ianello, the most infuriating is not knowing where the hell to line up. They've had a season and a half to clean this shit up. And we're still killing our own drives, and rescuing opponent drives. Same with the dropped passes.

Oh weel, it's almost basketball season. Wonder if I can trade the rest of my season tickets in?

[Z.I.P.]

The only thing I have to say is, the players are better, but nothing else.

We're the first team to hold Wenning under 300 yards. We have offensive stats as good as or better than theirs. But we lost by multiple scores. Why? We still make the same drive-killing penalties we did with Ianello, the most infuriating is not knowing where the hell to line up. They've had a season and a half to clean this shit up. And we're still killing our own drives, and rescuing opponent drives. Same with the dropped passes.

Oh weel, it's almost basketball season. Wonder if I can trade the rest of my season tickets in?

I have to say, I was very much impressed in a positive fashion by the team's performance today. The 10 point line on this game was a severe teaser, as BSU may be the best team in the league. With just a few more good players, and more importantly the improvement of the underclassmen, this team should contend for a bowl game next year. The Bowden era is on track.

[Z.I.P.]

One of the most interesting things on the ESPN3 broadcast today (at least the production quality was better than the announcers) was a cut away during the third quarter to one of the most historic days in MAC history -- they showed a brief tape of Northern Illinois' 73 - 18 victory over #18 Fresno State on October 8, 1990 (the NIU QB, I believe Stacey Robinson is now an ESPN announcer who recently broadcast Jordan Lynch breaking his QB rushing record). This was the game that led NIU to believe they were "too good for the MAC". Going independent in athletics to highlight their newly high-flying football team was the biggest mistake in the school's athletic history. And it serves as warning to any other MAC school about getting big-headed. NIU was lucky the MAC let them back in on their first begging request.

[Lee Adams]

I have to say, I was very much impressed in a positive fashion by the team's performance today. The 10 point line on this game was a severe teaser, as BSU may be the best team in the league. With just a few more good players, and more importantly the improvement of the underclassmen, this team should contend for a bowl game next year. The Bowden era is on track.

[Lee Adams]

I have to say, I was very much impressed in a positive fashion by the team's performance today. The 10 point line on this game was a severe teaser, as BSU may be the best team in the league. With just a few more good players, and more importantly the improvement of the underclassmen, this team should contend for a bowl game next year. The Bowden era is on track.

COACHING

[Dr Z]

I'll go 400, which is a good 150 less than their combined averages.

488 Thanks, that was fun to follow. Wenning is the the real deal.

[Z.I.P.]

488 Thanks, that was fun to follow. Wenning is the the real deal.

He looked great in the first quarter -- throwing into the wind he looked very polished. His biggest problem clearly is standing up to pressure in the pocket and eluding the pressure. When Akron brought the heat, he tended to wilt. Other teams will see this tendency and increase up-the-middle blitz when appropriate. Announcers said scouts see him as about a 3rd-round NFL pick. BTW -- ex-MAC coach Doug Graber was pretty good -- but Reghi should stick to basketball.

[Dr Z]

BTW -- ex-MAC coach Doug Graber was pretty good -- but Reghi should stick to basketball.

Agreed. But I would add "outside of the MAC" to the end of your sentence.

[MaxZIP]

Agreed. But I would add "outside of the MAC" to the end of your sentence.

I like Reghi on Akron produced programming. He got the other MAC fans all fired up last year. He is boring when playing it even.

[johnnyzip84]

Random snippets on the Ball St game:

1. BSU has a very good offensive line.

2. Wenning is the best QB in the MAC.

3. Sneed is a future NFL player.

4. I was extremely puzzled when the JC7’s attempt to go over the top on 4th and short wasn’t at least reviewed.

5. The Cards defense is not very good. This will hurt them against NIU.

6. The student attendance, coming off the 1st road win in 5 years, reached an all-time low.

7. As CK stated beforehand, the Zips need to improve in the red zone and that remains the case. The final score should have been closer.

8. After incurring the wrath of Zipsnation for much of the season, JC7 has turned in 2 pretty nice games in a row. Hopefully, he can make it a trifecta.

9. I’d like to see more screens or safety valves involved when the defense is loading up for the rush on obvious passing situations.

10. KP16 was obviously too inconsistent with his passing, but his ankle looks the best it has since he hurt it against UCF. The read option has become a nice little weapon with him back at nearly 100%.

[MaxZIP]

I was expecting more from Wenning given the pile of stats he amassed this year. Still think Lynch is better. Add #11 Hire refs that can spot a ball. Wow!

Random snippets on the Ball St game:

1. BSU has a very good offensive line.

2. Wenning is the best QB in the MAC.

3. Sneed is a future NFL player.

4. I was extremely puzzled when the JC7’s attempt to go over the top on 4th and short wasn’t at least reviewed.

5. The Cards defense is not very good. This will hurt them against NIU.

6. The student attendance, coming off the 1st road win in 5 years, reached an all-time low.

7. As CK stated beforehand, the Zips need to improve in the red zone and that remains the case. The final score should have been closer.

8. After incurring the wrath of Zipsnation for much of the season, JC7 has turned in 2 pretty nice games in a row. Hopefully, he can make it a trifecta.

9. I’d like to see more screens or safety valves involved when the defense is loading up for the rush on obvious passing situations.

10. KP16 was obviously too inconsistent with his passing, but his ankle looks the best it has since he hurt it against UCF. The read option has become a nice little weapon with him back at nearly 100%.

[Dr Z]

1. BSU has a very good offensive line. 2. Wenning is the best QB in the MAC. 3. Sneed is a future NFL player. 4. I was extremely puzzled when the JC7’s attempt to go over the top on 4th and short wasn’t at least reviewed. 5. The Cards defense is not very good. This will hurt them against NIU. 6. The student attendance, coming off the 1st road win in 5 years, reached an all-time low. 7. As CK stated beforehand, the Zips need to improve in the red zone and that remains the case. The final score should have been closer. 8. After incurring the wrath of Zipsnation for much of the season, JC7 has turned in 2 pretty nice games in a row. Hopefully, he can make it a trifecta. 9. I’d like to see more screens or safety valves involved when the defense is loading up for the rush on obvious passing situations. 10. KP16 was obviously too inconsistent with his passing, but his ankle looks the best it has since he hurt it against UCF. The read option has become a nice little weapon with him back at nearly 100%.

For the first time this season, I'm starting to question the "truth." I was hoping he would progress more, and become comfortable running coach Bowden's offense. He continues to run plays into the teeth of the defense. I would love him to audible out of some bad plays that kill drives. He needs to throw multiple inside slant passes in practice until he can consistently deliver that play on time. He throws a nice go route, we need to take advantage of that more. Time to step up this week, or consider another option.

[MaxZIP]

For the first time this season, I'm starting to question the "truth." I was hoping he would progress more, and become comfortable running coach Bowden's offense. He continues to run plays into the teeth of the defense. I would love him to audible out of some bad plays that kill drives. He needs to throw multiple slant passes in practice until he can consistently deliver that play on time. He throws a nice go route, we need to take advantage of that more. Time to step up this week, or consider another option.

It looked like he was hooking or pulling the ball to use baseball and golf terms. All the wheel routes and out patterns were thrown up field from the intended receiver with a noticeable curve.

[ziptrumpet87]

It looked like he was hooking or pulling the ball to use baseball and golf terms. All the wheel routes and out patterns were thrown up field from the intended receiver with a noticeable curve.

The 40mph wind gusts might have something to do with that (and the attendance).

[MaxZIP]

The 40mph wind gusts might have something to do with that (and the attendance).

True, one additional observation is that the Zips didn't go deep when the had the wind.