Gauging Team Improvement Beyond Record

[GP1]

Try this one time. DVR a football game, NFL, college, doesn't matter. Wait an hour and a half after the game starts. Start watching game. Fast forward through commercials, kick offs, punts, field goals and instant replays. Your in for a nice two hours of football!

Don't forget extra points.

[Dr Z]

Don't forget extra points.

Sorry, yes, anytime a foot touches a ball. I'm in the middle of creating a firmware update for popular DVRs to take care of this automatically. I'm going to market with it spring of next year. My programmer is having an issue when a ball is fumbled and somebody accidentally kicks it.

[MaxZIP]

3. It plays a HUGE roll. We've got to slowly make progress to competing in our own conference before we can consider being better. Conference play is going to determine if we get a Bowl game or not without getting to the MACC.

The Zips have Penn State, Marshall, and Pit on tap for next year. We could possibly pick up two OCC games.

[MaxZIP]

We have Grice, Pittman, Hollis, Copeland, Horner, and Okafor returning next year on the d-line. Maybe Jeff Allen, Brock Boxen, and Daryan Martin can help too, but Chuck and Terry are going to have to pick up at least two more top notch athletes to hold the line next year. Transfers McCray, James, and Capi worked out great and I'm sure the Bowden network is scrubbing the Nation for 2014 reinforcements. I'd like to see a couple of 6 foot corner recruits and some immediate help in the defensive backfield (ala Avis Commack) too if available as we are losing a good one in Malachi Freeman. I think our offensive line may be OK next year, even with our losses, so several 3* recruits to redshirt there would be fine. We need a stud 3* running back recruit and a ready to excel WR transfer on offense along with a few other WR recruits to join Cottrill. Help on special teams is crucial too as noted in previous comments on this thread. I'm very interested in next year and the fun begins soon as the 2014 recruiting/transfer class will be key to any improvement (you win with Jimmy and Joe's not X's and O's). Eat em up!

It is always fun to go back and look at players recruit rankings. Lynch was a 2 star with little fanfare. We need a good base of real football players not just highly (3*) touted role players.

[ZachTheZip]

The Zips have Penn State, Marshall, and Pit on tap for next year. We could possibly pick up two OCC games.

I'm leaning more towards three.

[zippy5]

I would consider winning one of those three to be a success

[LZIp]

The Zips have Penn State, Marshall, and Pit on tap for next year. We could possibly pick up two OCC games.

as well as UL-L, correct?

[MDZip]

as well as UL-L, correct?

No they are on the 2015 schedule. Zips will likely pick up another FCS home game as the fourth OOC game for next year.

[UA1987]

It is always fun to go back and look at players recruit rankings. Lynch was a 2 star with little fanfare. We need a good base of real football players not just highly (3*) touted role players.

Any mention of star recruiting rankings crawls up some peoples behinds and makes them crazy experts as if it was being discussed to use internet stock analysts buy, hold, or sell recommendatons for investment decisions. Exceptions are everywhere and the star ranking system is not near perfect, but I think it is very possible for our coaching staff to find real football players that are highly touted as indicated by our prospect list. Now the interesting part to me is seeing if we can get our share of them here at Akron in 2014.

[RACER]

pittman was a huge pick up for the zips. I don't know all the issues at osu.mac schools don't get dl that are that highly ranked coming out of high school.

does anybody know what happened to Jerome lane? I know he was a prop 48,but is he going to play for akron next year.

[Captain Kangaroo]

does anybody know what happened to Jerome lane? I know he was a prop 48,but is he going to play for akron next year.

Way too soon to tell. He needs to get his grades for this semester, and next semester, before anything is official.

I am sure he is being set up for success by UA (manageable class load, tutors, etc.). If he doesn't make grades it will be his own fault.

[K92]

I am looking forward to see if DeonTae Moore gets his grades in line as well. He sure looked like he had a TON of potential at the early summer practices. When I saw his physique and that he was wearing #56 I immediately thought of

[MaxZIP]

Any mention of star recruiting rankings crawls up some peoples behinds and makes them crazy experts as if it was being discussed to use internet stock analysts buy, hold, or sell recommendatons for investment decisions. Exceptions are everywhere and the star ranking system is not near perfect, but I think it is very possible for our coaching staff to find real football players that are highly touted as indicated by our prospect list. Now the interesting part to me is seeing if we can get our share of them here at Akron in 2014.

Are you referring to me? Just pointing out that I have fun going back to look at the recruiting sites. It is interesting to see if players have come from relative nothingness to the best player in the MAC (Lynch) and/or if they were highly recruited. The highly recruited guys tend to have more strength/weakness analysis which is cool to track development. FYI, There is a fine line between a 3 star and no star recruit.

[UA1987]

Are you referring to me? Just pointing out that I have fun going back to look at the recruiting sites. It is interesting to see if players have come from relative nothingness to the best player in the MAC (Lynch) and/or if they were highly recruited. The highly recruited guys tend to have more strength/weakness analysis which is cool to track development. FYI, There is a fine line between a 3 star and no star recruit.

I suspect the bug up your butt about recruiting evaluations is somehow personal or related to someone you know. If you are going to try to provide additional information (FYI) , make an effort to add and not repeat yourself as it does not help with the discussion. Here is some information to consider:

5* - Top 50 player - possible All American; projected NFL 1st or 2nd round draft pick

4* - Top 250 player - possible all conference; NFL draft possible

3* - Starter on most top 50 FBS teams

2* - Contributor

Rankings are based on size, strength, speed, and stats. Athlete's intangibles are hard to rate and can affect ability to compete in a large way.

I'd be pleased with a growing list of 3* players this year as long as they have been screened for intangibles (heart, smarts, and good family) if the Zips can get them to commit.

[ZachTheZip]

Here is some information to consider:

5* - Top 50 player - possible All American; projected NFL 1st or 2nd round draft pick

4* - Top 250 player - possible all conference; NFL draft possible

3* - Starter on most top 50 FBS teams

2* - Contributor

Yeah, according some people with poor talent evaluation skills.

[UA1987]

Yeah, according some people with poor talent evaluation skills.

Where do you get your information on recruiting that does not include a ranking number or star?

[LZIp]

Yeah, according some people with poor talent evaluation skills.

There are obviously exceptions, but I suspect there is a good reason why top programs recruit 5 stars heavily as opposed to non-rated players.

[MaxZIP]

There are obviously exceptions, but I suspect there is a good reason why top programs recruit 5 stars heavily as opposed to non-rated players.

Akron will close the talent gap with mostly guys that are off the radar, JC types, and prop 48.

[LZIp]

Akron will close the talent gap with mostly guys that are off the radar, JC types, and prop 48.

No doubt. Programs like Akron have to take chances on those types of guys. However, for every off the radar guy that is a contributor, there will probably be 4 or 5 who won't work out. It is what it is.

[MaxZIP]

I suspect the bug up your butt about recruiting evaluations is somehow personal or related to someone you know. If you are going to try to provide additional information (FYI) , make an effort to add and not repeat yourself as it does not help with the discussion. Here is some information to consider:

5* - Top 50 player - possible All American; projected NFL 1st or 2nd round draft pick

4* - Top 250 player - possible all conference; NFL draft possible

3* - Starter on most top 50 FBS teams

2* - Contributor

Rankings are based on size, strength, speed, and stats. Athlete's intangibles are hard to rate and can affect ability to compete in a large way.

I'd be pleased with a growing list of 3* players this year as long as they have been screened for intangibles (heart, smarts, and good family) if the Zips can get them to commit.

Akron has had 2 3* recruits in 2 years. I like the new additions.

[Dave in Green]

Imperfect ratings continue on after college, as well. Some high pro draft picks go bust and some low picks become stars. I agree with @UA1987 that it's often the intangibles that make the difference, and I agree with @MAXZip that it's entertaining to go back to look at old ratings and compare them with the results.

[UA1987]

Akron has had 2 3* recruits in 2 years. I like the new additions.

Coming off a 3-33 record the last few years it has been difficult to recruit, despite having country club facilities. Every year now we should be doing better in recruiting as we move away from the doldrums and begin to win. So far for 2014, we have two Rival's 3*'s in Kincade and Boxen.

[Zipmeister]

Imperfect ratings continue on after college, as well. Some high pro draft picks go bust and some low picks become stars. I agree with @UA1987 that it's often the intangibles that make the difference, and I agree with @MAXZip that it's entertaining to go back to look at old ratings and compare them with the results.

I'm with you @DIG, @@UA1987's observation is right on the money. It would be great to go over the old ratings in a group session with you and @@MAXZip@.

[Dave in Green]

Sorry @Zipmeister but I don't hang out with @groupies.

[skip-zip]

When assessing the "are the teams we beat that bad" theory, as it states in the title of the thread, I can't help but to notice that a very mediocre Central Michigan team destroyed UMass over the weekend.