Game #7 Ohio Bobcats

[a-zip]

Ohio's 2nd string QB was better than our 2nd string QB.

[MontrealExposloveZippy]

Terrible loss, but when all is said and done, the Zips still control their destiny in the East. Let's regroup to take care of Ball State and then be jacked up for the Tuesday Nighter at Home against BG. #ZIPSDADGUMTITLE

[ZachTheZip]

Suck it up, everyone. We weren't going 10-2 (sorry, Cody). This thread is embarrassing.

[GP1]

Friends,

Tomorrow, I will explain to everyone exactly why this game was lost. Here are some hints:

1. OU followed the fool proof method of winning a MAC sporting event.

2. Turnover margin.

3. Big plays, or the lack thereof.

4. The importance of veteran players.

5. Things that seem like they should matter, but they really don't: A discussion of direct vs. indirect causes of losing. (most fans don't understand what really causes losing...numbers one and two above are good direct causes)

Thank you and have a nice evening.

Respectfully,

The Great GP1

[ZippyRulz]

After that, I don't think I'll bother tuning in to the Ball State game. Some Top 25 is sounding good.

[Lee Adams]

On the road with a backup quarterback, and you have him throw it 40+ times? I'm sorry, but that's not balanced. Bowden says he wants a balanced attack, but how can you have one when you're not calling a balanced one? There is no excuse that Hundley and Chisholm can't get yards. Even if it doesn't work at times, you can't throw it away and go pass all the time. All those passes stopped the clock on the incomplete passes which meant our defense had the possibility for being on the field for long periods of time and being worn down. This game is strictly on Coach Bowden and Coach Milwee.

'Nuf said!

[ZippyRulz]

On the road with a backup quarterback, and you have him throw it 40+ times? I'm sorry, but that's not balanced. Bowden says he wants a balanced attack, but how can you have one when you're not calling a balanced one? There is no excuse that Hundley and Chisholm can't get yards. Even if it doesn't work at times, you can't throw it away and go pass all the time.

Plus a 285 pound fullback, and you just concede the run game to OU? What are they, the Steel Curtain?

[Balsy]

I'm tired of catching crap from OU fans. Even when they suck, they still beat us.

Absolutely embarrassing loss. What an absolute joke.

The boys better feel as as I do about this loss. Light a fire, go beat Ball St, then BG, then Buffalo, then UMass then whomp on Can't for good measure.

[Dave in Green]

I'm tired of catching crap from OU fans. ...

Of course the solution to this is not to build your life on the backs of college football players. Forget about sports and go out in the world and focus on doing something you have total control over where you are responsible for the successes and failures.

[zippy5]

Turnovers lost it. Defense played well enough to win but we beat ourselves. Good news is that there are still 5 winnable games coming up.

[Dr Z]

Turnovers lost it.

There is a certain WR that wouldn't see the field for a while, but I'll agree with most, I can not get past the offensive game plan. Worth repeating, we are trying to pound a square peg in a round hole. I warned of this before the game. If I call plays yesterday, we win by two touchdowns.

I thought it was a classy move when coach walked out to the field, and gave his QB a hug after he ended the game.

[Buckzip]

Maybe he was apologizing for putting him in a no win situation.

There's no excuse for a coach with this much experience having such a horrible game plan.

Love TB, but damn.

[GP1]

Today's lesson is an old one, but in need of repeating after the loss yesterday. The subject is, "How to win a MAC game?". This lesson applies to football and basketball.

Typically, there are two steps to winning a football game. Step one, win turnovers. Step two, big plays and scoring off of big plays after turnovers. Step three applies to the MAC, Wait for the the other team to poop their pants. OU executed on all three steps yesterday.

OU created more turnovers yesterday than we did, 3-2. One resulted in a score off of a turnover that won the game. The other ended the game.

OU scored on a 49 yard pass their first series of the game. As far as I could tell, it was the only play over 40 yards yesterday so they had the only big play and it resulted in a TD. At this point, I'm sure the Zips felt a rumbling in the upper bowels, but they were probably hoping it was just a fart.

As the game progressed, Akron almost never had the lead, which is extremely dangerous when you are trying to win on the road in your division. I'm sure throughout the game, it became apparent those bowel rumblings might be more than a fart. A player or two might even have sharted in their pants prior to the middle of the fourth quarter.

Akron gets the ball with 4:01 to go and their bowels are in complete upheaval. Sure enough, Pratt fumbles. Then the defense can't force a long field goal try and worse,they give up a first down and Akron is forced to use a timeout. OU kicks what amounts to the winning field goal.

Akron gets the ball back and with a large amount of poo in their pants with more to come and can't go on a scoring drive. There is one more turnover. Game over.

Lots of complaining about play calling. Here is the fact of the matter. Play calling didn't have a direct impact on losing the game. Akron had the ball with 4:01 to go in a tied game and pooped their pants. Just when we thought they might be done pooping their pants, they had one more opportunity to at least tie the game with a FG and released one final, pants staining movement into their pants. I'm sure Kevin O'Connor had his work cut out for him last night.

All of the bitching about play calling and not establishing the run, blah, blah, blah is just static noise around the fact that when they had their opportunities to win the game, the players didn't execute. This behavior is no different than when people bitch about KD's offense after a two point loss that included six missed layups. It ignores the real reasons for losing and replaces it with fantasy.

When you are playing for something (ie: the MAC East Championship) you need guys who have "been there". We don't have any of those because it's been years since we have had anything to play for. Since we don't have anyone who has "been there", we at least need experience and someone who is accustomed to winning AND a guy that the team wins around. That guy wasn't on the field yesterday for good reason. Pohl may not be the best QB in the world, but the team was 8-3 with him as starting QB in the last 11 games. They lost to a below average team yesterday without him. There is something to be said for guys who win games and the team wins games around Pohl. It's sort of one of those intangible things that can't be measured. The sooner he can get back on the field, the better. Winners win.

Woodson IS going to be a good QB for the Zips some day. He just needs some more off season development. Yesterday, he was just another back-up freshman QB. I hope he isn't too down on himself today.

In summary, OU had the one big play, won turnovers and waited for the Zips to poop their pants. It was a text book example of how to win a MAC game.

[Dave in Green]

... All of the bitching about play calling and not establishing the run, blah, blah, blah is just static noise around the fact that when they had their opportunities to win the game, the players didn't execute. This behavior is no different than when people bitch about KD's offense after a two point loss that included six missed layups. It ignores the real reasons for losing and replaces it with fantasy. ...

What a fantasy league buster you are. For a time there I was also considering that the Zips needed to run more because they seemed to be successful when they did. Upon further consideration, Coach Bowden has a clear philosophy of using the pass to open up the run, not vice versa. His offense is built on that and the players he has do best with that. The reason the running has looked good at times is because Pohl opened it up with his passing. The running game is not strong enough to open up the passing game or Coach Bowden would have called that. There's a reason why he's a college coach and not a fantasy league coach.

The reality is that the Zips are a better team than last year but still far from being a dominating team. They're already good enough to beat a team like Pitt one week. They're not yet good enough to beat a team like OU every week, especially without their starting QB. The Zips are still a couple of years away from being what Zips fans dream of. So, yes, yesterday was disappointing. We all feel crappy about the loss. But it doesn't change the fact that the Zips are still on the rise and the future is much brighter than the past. Yesterday's results do not diminish my trust in Coach Bowden's system for achieving the best longterm results.

[LZIp]

What a fantasy league buster you are. For a time there I was also considering that the Zips needed to run more because they seemed to be successful when they did. Upon further consideration, Coach Bowden has a clear philosophy of using the pass to open up the run, not vice versa. His offense is built on that and the players he has do best with that. The reason the running has looked good at times is because Pohl opened it up with his passing. The running game is not strong enough to open up the passing game or Coach Bowden would have called that. There's a reason why he's a college coach and not a fantasy league coach.

The reality is that the Zips are a better team than last year but still far from being a dominating team. They're already good enough to beat a team like Pitt one week. They're not yet good enough to beat a team like OU every week, especially without their starting QB. The Zips are still a couple of years away from being what Zips fans dream of. So, yes, yesterday was disappointing. We all feel crappy about the loss. But it doesn't change the fact that the Zips are still on the rise and the future is much brighter than the past. Yesterday's results do not diminish my trust in Coach Bowden's system for achieving the best longterm results.

:bow:

[Big Zip]

him and big zip are fake fans. They were saying the same things after the Marshall game, but disappeared after we smacked Pitt. They only come out to complain.

You're comical I am a fan that has seen way too much losing since I started at Akron in '88. I just want to not suck. BTW you must simply miss my posts after the win. If you were happy with that performance yesterday then you're an idiot.

[Balsy]

What a fantasy league buster you are. For a time there I was also considering that the Zips needed to run more because they seemed to be successful when they did. Upon further consideration, Coach Bowden has a clear philosophy of using the pass to open up the run, not vice versa. His offense is built on that and the players he has do best with that. The reason the running has looked good at times is because Pohl opened it up with his passing. The running game is not strong enough to open up the passing game or Coach Bowden would have called that. There's a reason why he's a college coach and not a fantasy league coach.

The reality is that the Zips are a better team than last year but still far from being a dominating team. They're already good enough to beat a team like Pitt one week. They're not yet good enough to beat a team like OU every week, especially without their starting QB. The Zips are still a couple of years away from being what Zips fans dream of. So, yes, yesterday was disappointing. We all feel crappy about the loss. But it doesn't change the fact that the Zips are still on the rise and the future is much brighter than the past. Yesterday's results do not diminish my trust in Coach Bowden's system for achieving the best longterm results.

[GP1]

For a time there I was also considering that the Zips needed to run more because they seemed to be successful when they did.

Happy to shine some light on a Sunday morning Dave.

The truth is I am one of the people who thinks the Zips should run more. Most just want more running in order to "establish the run", which is stupid. A team should run to establish more scoring, not for the sake of establishing something that doesn't lead to points. The Steelers showed America last week what "establishing the run" does by rushing for a lot of yards and not scoring. It's a stupid way to approach football in 2014 at any level beyond high school. I want more running in a way that ties running and passing together better than the staff currently does. By better, I mean the execution of big plays that lead to at least a shift in field position if not a quick score. It's about scoring in 2014.

However, the lack of running isn't the reason they lost yesterday. They had their chances late and didn't execute. Execution in the clutch separates good teams from great teams. It was really that simple.

[ZippyRulz]

I hope he isn't too down on himself today

Of course he is. He was given all the responsibility and pressure to win the game with his arm in his first start and he failed to do it. I guess that's the life of a college QB but damn, TB...

[GP1]

Of course he is. He was given all the responsibility and pressure to win the game with his arm in his first start and he failed to do it. I guess that's the life of a college QB but damn, TB...

Understood. However, he isn't the one who fumbled at the 50 with a little under 4 minutes to go. His stats weren't bad for the day....they just weren't the kind necessary to win a divisional game on the road. He needs to dust himself off, learn some lessons and get back at it. His future is bright.

[lance99]

Today's lesson is an old one, but in need of repeating after the loss yesterday. The subject is, "How to win a MAC game?". This lesson applies to football and basketball.

Typically, there are two steps to winning a football game. Step one, win turnovers. Step two, big plays and scoring off of big plays after turnovers. Step three applies to the MAC, Wait for the the other team to poop their pants. OU executed on all three steps yesterday.

OU created more turnovers yesterday than we did, 3-2. One resulted in a score off of a turnover that won the game. The other ended the game.

OU scored on a 49 yard pass their first series of the game. As far as I could tell, it was the only play over 40 yards yesterday so they had the only big play and it resulted in a TD. At this point, I'm sure the Zips felt a rumbling in the upper bowels, but they were probably hoping it was just a fart.

As the game progressed, Akron almost never had the lead, which is extremely dangerous when you are trying to win on the road in your division. I'm sure throughout the game, it became apparent those bowel rumblings might be more than a fart. A player or two might even have sharted in their pants prior to the middle of the fourth quarter.

Akron gets the ball with 4:01 to go and their bowels are in complete upheaval. Sure enough, Pratt fumbles. Then the defense can't force a long field goal try and worse,they give up a first down and Akron is forced to use a timeout. OU kicks what amounts to the winning field goal.

Akron gets the ball back and with a large amount of poo in their pants with more to come and can't go on a scoring drive. There is one more turnover. Game over.

Lots of complaining about play calling. Here is the fact of the matter. Play calling didn't have a direct impact on losing the game. Akron had the ball with 4:01 to go in a tied game and pooped their pants. Just when we thought they might be done pooping their pants, they had one more opportunity to at least tie the game with a FG and released one final, pants staining movement into their pants. I'm sure Kevin O'Connor had his work cut out for him last night.

All of the bitching about play calling and not establishing the run, blah, blah, blah is just static noise around the fact that when they had their opportunities to win the game, the players didn't execute. This behavior is no different than when people bitch about KD's offense after a two point loss that included six missed layups. It ignores the real reasons for losing and replaces it with fantasy.

When you are playing for something (ie: the MAC East Championship) you need guys who have "been there". We don't have any of those because it's been years since we have had anything to play for. Since we don't have anyone who has "been there", we at least need experience and someone who is accustomed to winning AND a guy that the team wins around. That guy wasn't on the field yesterday for good reason. Pohl may not be the best QB in the world, but the team was 8-3 with him as starting QB in the last 11 games. They lost to a below average team yesterday without him. There is something to be said for guys who win games and the team wins games around Pohl. It's sort of one of those intangible things that can't be measured. The sooner he can get back on the field, the better. Winners win.

Woodson IS going to be a good QB for the Zips some day. He just needs some more off season development. Yesterday, he was just another back-up freshman QB. I hope he isn't too down on himself today.

In summary, OU had the one big play, won turnovers and waited for the Zips to poop their pants. It was a text book example of how to win a MAC game.

Very well stated GP1!

[Dr Z]

Most just want more running in order to "establish the run", which is stupid.

Most? Who are these posters? I want to run the ball to gain yards and put our QB in the best position to put points on the board. I don't want to "establish" a run. That is not happening while coach Bowden is here.

PS One more thing I wanted to mention. Marshall had the best defensive corner play against us. OU's corners had a good day against us too. They play aggressive, and played well. If teams continue to play aggressive on the outside like that, we need play calls to take advantage of that.

[GP1]

put our QB in the best position to put points on the board.

They had the ball twice yesterday with under four minutes to go in the game and didn't put points on the board. They were not only in a position to put points on the board, but they were in a position to win the game. They didn't.

Maybe Akron did do the best job it could at putting the QB in a position to put points on the board. OU had the #114 ranked pass defense and the #47 ranked run defense. Passing a lot isn't out of the world of reality against a team like that. It's D1A football in 2014 and passing a lot is normal. Our running backs ran the ball 13 times and both averaged under 4 yards per carry. Take out a decent run by CH and he averages one yard per carry in his five other carries. On what planet was that going to win a divisional game on the road? Are we trying to get down and distance to third and eight instead of third and ten? What's the difference? It's exactly the opposite of putting the QB in a position to win.

[ZippyRulz]

Call me crazy but I think we could average more than 1 yard per carry in the MAC if our coaches set their minds to it.

[johnnyzip84]

I more of less agree with GP1's take on the game, particularly the running game (would have like to have seen a run or two with the ball at the 40 and 4 minutes left however), aside from two coaching aspects:

1. I thought the defensive play calling could have been more aggressive. I realize OU's lines are typically among the better units in the MAC, but we needed to make Sprague more uncomfortable. He would have made a few more mistakes if we had.
2. I was really surprised when TB elected to go for it on 4th down in the 2nd quarter and skip the 46 yard FG attempt. This was with the wind and Stein has been money (not just making his kicks, but basically splitting the uprights on most).

All in all a pretty frustrating game to see in person. I think we all thought the Zips were going to win it when the OU punt bounced backwards to the UA 40, but as GP1 says you have to execute.

I thought going into this 2-game road stand the Zips would need to win one to eventually get to a bowl this year. I still do, and BSU will not be the easy opponents some may expect. I think we sometimes don't give enough consideration to how the MAC's general lack of depth makes comparing results from earlier in the season a dangerous proposition. So much depends on WHEN you happen to play a certain MAC team. Some teams get on a roll at the end of a season when key guys who were hurt earlier make their way back. In Ball State's case, Jahwan Edward is back at RB after missing action earlier. The staff will need to get the team to bounce back similar to how they did after the Marshall game.