Game #9 Bowling Green

[Zip_ME87]

This really didn't have anything to do with the outcome of the game. The assumption is they block the kick...Punts rarely get blocked. The other assumption is the score...They had zero timeouts and they would have been kicking into the wind. BG is a good team and good teams rarely let things like blocked punts happen...That's why they are good teams.

Sorry GP1, but I differ with your opinion. At 6 - 3, a big play, such as a blocked punt, could have made a difference in momentum going into the half. IMHO part of the Zips' issues this year is that we seem to take no chances whatsoever. No spark whatsoever in the last several games. Just going through the motions. If anyone had insomnia last night, all they had to do was tune into ESPN2 during our game...snoozer.

[GP1]

At 6 - 3, a big play, such as a blocked punt, could have made a difference in momentum going into the half.

Another way to change momentum is to have a good punt return.

[Dr Z]

The two INTs he threw were unacceptable. Second one, where he threw to an unopened reciever...into the wind...was bad one. Turning the Ball over in the Red Zone is also absolutely unacceptable. Take charge at the end of the first half and throw the ball to a streaking receiver. Pohl is a field lieutenant, instead of a general.

That was the play that changed the game.

You have to take care of the ball and come away with points in the redzone when the game is 3-3.

[skip-zip]

Here's some further thought on the QB situation.

We have no answers right now. Not until next year. Our "starter" is who he is. He makes some good throws, and makes plenty of bad ones too. The execution simply isn't there to sustain scoring drives, regardless of the drops. For me, if you can't consistently throw the ball on target on those shorter in and out routes, which are needed to sustain drives, you get what we get.

I hope this is finally the end of hearing that "Pohl has a X and X record as a starter". Going back to last season, particularly the Ken+ and UMass games, the defense gets all the credit for the improvement of this football team. This year, we thankfully got our act together against EMU after an abysmal offensive first half. We won at Pitt because we held them to 10 points. Most of our MAC competitors have loaded up points this year against Miami, except us. Thank God we held them to 19 points and won.

I can't stop thinking....Maybe the next Charlie Frye isn't that easy to find. But a Dalton Williams should be. If Stephen F. Austin was able to attract a guy of that caliber....why can't Akron?

[GP1]

Sure, if you ignoring the drops makes sense if you want one person to shoulder the blame. We have zero confidence or momentum right now. We lost that while Pohl was not playing. He didn't help last night, but who did? They were completely out classed by a Championship contender.

BTW, he is 8-4 in his last 12 starts. He'll finish the season 10-5 in 15 starts. Not bad considering who he is throwing it to.

Football is the one sport where fans overreact to both winning and losing.

[Dr Z]

They were completely out classed by a Championship contender.

We've played more talented opponents this year, and preformed at a higher level. We needed a better offensive game plan last night.

[UA1987]

The interception on the ball thrown towards Smith in the end zone was due to poor blocking and because Smith broke off the planned route. I believe the play that turned this game was the bad snap by Switzer that ended up being a recovered fumble for a BG touchdown (sound a little familiar - Broncos Superbowl loss this year). We have a nice stretch of games coming up.

[Dr Z]

The interception on the ball thrown towards Smith in the end zone was due to poor blocking and because Smith broke off the planned route.

Poor blocking indeed. Every offensive snap will not be perfectly blocked. Taking a sack in that instance was the proper thing to do.

I believe the play that turned this game was the bad snap by Switzer that ended up being a recovered fumble for a BG touchdown

I'm just happy #7 didn't get hurt diving on the ball.

[K92]

I'm just happy #7 didn't get hurt diving on the ball.

Dodged a bullet there.

[skip-zip]

Sure, if you ignoring the drops makes sense if you want one person to shoulder the blame. We have zero confidence or momentum right now. We lost that while Pohl was not playing. He didn't help last night, but who did? They were completely out classed by a Championship contender.

BTW, he is 8-4 in his last 12 starts. He'll finish the season 10-5 in 15 starts. Not bad considering who he is throwing it to.

Football is the one sport where fans overreact to both winning and losing.

Interesting that you criticize putting blame on the QB, but want to give him credit for all of the wins over the last season or so, which would include all of the victories where we clearly performed poorly offensively.

Scoring our only TD against Ken+ on a trick play with D'Orazio throwing the ball is unacceptable, I would think. Going nearly scoreless for a half at home against EMU as well. End zone interceptions at Pitt and last night, just to name two. Completing half of your passes for 103 yards against a bad Miami team that's allowing somewhere in the 30-some to 50-some point range against nearly everyone else in the MAC? Scoring 3 point at Penn State?.

We lost our offensive confidence in the last couple of weeks? I'm not fond of either QB, but Woodson's first half against Ball State last week would be the most recent example of a great half of QB play against a respectable opponent. Previous to that, under Pohl's leadership, what would be the moments you could point to that would compare? Maybe the Howard game or the 2nd half against Eastern Michigan, maybe the worst two teams on our schedule this year?

It's all about providing the leadership, and executing a relatively consistent amount of plays and making the throws to maximize scoring opportunities. We don't appear to have that with our current starter.

[UA1987]

For the diehard Zips fan - I noticed that Amato commandeered the use of Joe McNamara (starting OG for us last year - 315 lb. transfer from Wisconsin) for the defensive line (goal line only?). Still not sure why this guy is not playing RG for us and Tommy Brown moves out to one of the tackle positions. Joe M. played the DL for Wisconsin, but came here to play on the OL (ranked #29 in the Country at OG, #5 in Florida).

[ziptrumpet87]

We also played horribly last year in the rain for Homecoming. Maybe they should practice with the sprinklers on.

[GP1]

We've played more talented opponents this year, and preformed at a higher level. We needed a better offensive game plan last night.

Agreed. We have lost our mojo. BG was the more determined team over 4 quarters.

[Dr Z]

We also played horribly last year in the rain for Homecoming. Maybe they should practice with the sprinklers on.

Which team would you say had a better offensive game plan on a windy rainy night?

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAWWWWWWB

[GP1]

Interesting that you criticize putting blame on the QB, but want to give him credit for all of the wins over the last season or so, which would include all of the victories where we clearly performed poorly offensively.

I don't give him all the credit, but the team had confidence and momentum with him. Hard to get that back after losing it.

[GP1]

Which team would you say had a better offensive game plan on a windy rainy night?

BG came to win. We never went back to some plays that worked until it was too late. See my previous comments.

[Dr Z]

BG came to win. We never went back to some plays that worked until it was too late. See my previous comments.

Can you explain "came to win" to me, and explain the plays that you would have like to seen repeated, but were not?

We run the same offense from the start to finish. Always do. I could tell you what part of the field to defend once I saw our alignment. I think BG also had it figured out.

[GP1]

I can't stop thinking....Maybe the next Charlie Frye isn't that easy to find. But a Dalton Williams should be. If Stephen F. Austin was able to attract a guy of that caliber....why can't Akron?

One could argue the only difference between Frye and Pohl is their supporting cast. Doubt's? Do a side by side comparison of their supporting casts.

[GP1]

Can you explain "came to win" to me, and explain the plays that you would have like to seen repeated, but were not?

I think they had a good game plan and their heads were in the right place to execute. Decent discipline.

CJ7 had a nice zone read run left early in game. Everyone was properly blocked. Never ran left much after that. Should have followed up with the same play. Completed a pass over middle early and never really worked that type pass until later. Ran to left and crossing pattern later in game on same drive and scored.

Find plays that work...run those plays. Football isn't complicated.

[GP1]

One other thing. Zips should go more 2 x 2 and less 3 x 1. Not completely, just more. I think it would create more opportunities by putting more pressure on the entire field.

[K92]

One could argue the only difference between Frye and Pohl is their supporting cast. Doubt's? Do a side by side comparison of their supporting casts.

This isn't from the Frye era, but I heard the comment made last night comparing the playmaking ability of the starting wide receivers in 2014 to those who started in JD's last year: Jeremy Bruce, Jeremy LaFrance, Andre Jones & Deryn Bowser. Not that the 2009 group was like the old Houston Oilers group, but still. . .

[Lee Adams]

This team has been 'offensively challenged' pretty much all year(patsy Howard aside). There almost seems to be an attitude of 'lets throw some stuff on the wall and see what sticks'. The trajectory for the offense has been precipitously downward for a month now. Last season when these guys started winning in November Bowden/Milwee had to or chose to commit to 'dumbing down' the offense and committing to the run to help out his QB (for a couple of different reasons). They were able to control games more adequately which not only helped the QB, it helped the defense stay off the field. Thought they were going to do that last night with some of the two and I think even three back sets. But...Bowden/Milwee wouldn't commit to the ground. They tried to play a game that BG was much better at than the Zips. Throw in some turnovers,some poor decisions and they hung the defense out to dry,again.

Not really sure what to think about the people running the offensive side of things at this point. But unless the offense starts pulling its weight these guys are going to have difficulty getting to .500.

[zippy5]

There isn't much talent on the offensive side of the ball. Hopefully some decent recruits are coming in.. Bowden could have a pretty special team if the offense can match the defensive side.

[Captain Kangaroo]

One could argue the only difference between Frye and Pohl is their supporting cast. Doubt's? Do a side by side comparison of their supporting casts.

You could...but it would be a really poor argument.

Frye will collect an NFL pension. Pohl will not sniff an NFL camp.

[Jrship35]

Say what you want, but this, to me, is the ole square peg in the round hole scenario with Pohl

Pohl is not the QB for this system .... Not that he is a bad kid (don't know enough), but he is not a leader and certainly does not have the swagger and confidence to direct "Bowden ball" ........ Thus square peg and round hole.

There was talk that Pohl should transfer .... Agreed and if he can get another year and find a school, Bowden should help foster that (and may be for all I know)

If Woodson is the future (not enough knowledge of the other QB's) .... Then I believe Coach Bowden has to make that decision and roll the dice now.

Some thoughts:

Not sure if Bowden has the trust in his offensive assistants ..... Defense has a vision (Identity) and a great mix of experienced position coaches and young GA's ..... Offense has a philosophy (Bowden ball), but no execution or personnel to perform at the level of the defense.

Defense was on point until late when the were pretty tired and beaten down ..... If offense doesn't catch up to the defense level of play, going to potentially be internal team issues,

Not educated yet on the young guys on the roster, but it's kind of obvious that the recruiting focus needs to be on the offensive side of the ball. I believe there may be a couple of transfers on offense (skill positions) that will have a couple years of time of UA, and the O-line needs to be established ... As I know more of the defensive side, the recruits and transfers coming on in defense fit the defensive identity (SEC type), the sophs and jrs this year have bought in. I think they will be in pretty nice shape. Need to get some bigger corners if possible, some pretty long receivers coming up in the conference

Strength and conditioning program has been turned over .... More of a lean, quick and physical athlete. More SEC styled if that makes sense. Coach Stoud's philosophy (as the Director) is completely different than in the past and Coach Gildy and his staff are young with great backgrounds in winning programs (Mt Union and Oklahoma) .... An aspect that is every bit as important, but never discussed or considered. Facilities are top notched (for program size) and they are spending on strength and conditioning (all the way through the sports performance/training program) ..... again maybe not considered unless brought to point

Third year of the five year plan ( 1-11, 5-7, 7-5 (6-6) ........ ) Obviously not where we as fans want to be ( or most of you as Veteran fans), but seems right on track

For me (as I understand myself), ....as a fan I'm disappointed because of the way we have lost these games, not that we lost them. You have got to beat the teams that you should beat (at any level), and rise up to the level of the opponent in the big games and compete.

As a parent of a kid coming into the program, it is still exciting as Bowden is right on track thus far in the plan he laid out to us .... Record shows the progress, 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes seem to be an upgrade, still need the transfers for the next couple of years.

Just a different perspective ........ To say have patience is a joke to you veterans I know, but that's what it's going to take

If we can say, we "should have won the game", then we can agree that it is a better position than a few years back when that was the hope and not the expectation ( As I understand from you all ) ........ LOL Keep the faith