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2015 Spring Football


Jrship35

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Article on the scrimmage today: http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-football-coach-terry-bowden-says-zips-right-where-he-expected-1.582622

Things are starting to take shape. WR is still a concern with a lack of both playmakers and reliable possession guys.

Over 300 recruits were on campus today. Crazy. A good sign that the coaches are out building relationships at every high school within driving distance.

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Donnell Alexander, a transfer from Colorado State, got in some work this week and was a full go in the scrimmage. On first impression, he’s more slasher than game-breaker and looks to be the kind of back that needs to get carries to get into a rhythm.

“He gives us another back that has some good inside running at 215-220 [pounds],” Bowden said, “but he has to practice hard and go a lot. He’s just in the hunt. It’s not magically you look at him and he’s at a whole different level.”

That doesn’t mean he won’t challenge for playing time. He’ll have to show more in upcoming week’s limited practice schedule and in the fall.

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  On 4/13/2015 at 1:21 PM, zipsoutsider said:

I take GT's analysis with a grain of salt.

That too. GT was probably watching Zips practice inbetween streaming videos of State Ohio University and Browns :lol:

I mean...it's hard to beat wonderful insights such as: "Incumbant Senior QB Kyle Pohl and sophmore challenger Tra'Von Chapman both look OKAY."

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  On 4/13/2015 at 1:55 PM, Balsy said:

That too. GT was probably watching Zips practice inbetween streaming videos of State Ohio University and Browns :lol:

I mean...it's hard to beat wonderful insights such as: "Incumbant Senior QB Kyle Pohl and sophmore challenger Tra'Von Chapman both look OKAY."

Just your typical GT HOT TAKE

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  On 4/13/2015 at 1:33 AM, Balsy said:

Just wait until you see Chapman in action.

I have seen Chapman and I am extremely optimistic. However, Bowden didnt really recruit Chapman. Chapman recruited himself to Bowden. Bowden basically blew him off at first and got lucky in the end because he almost went elsewhere.

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  On 4/13/2015 at 3:52 PM, Zipgrad01 said:

I have seen Chapman and I am extremely optimistic. However, Bowden didnt really recruit Chapman. Chapman recruited himself to Bowden. Bowden basically blew him off at first and got lucky in the end because he almost went elsewhere.

All I'm saying is that this season, out of the past 5, is the least in which we should be doom-and-gloom. I guess my question is, what do you want from the QB and RB position that we don't have already, when compared to the years (two of which dug the hole with which we are climbing out of currently, and shall remain nameless). I personally always thought Hundley was the better RB vs Chisholm, and we still have him. Alexander and Lawrence I think are both promising.

But do you know (or anyone) if Ray-Ray Smith is playing WR, or RB because he was recruited as an athlete.

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  On 4/13/2015 at 4:40 PM, Balsy said:

All I'm saying is that this season, out of the past 5, is the least in which we should be doom-and-gloom. I guess my question is, what do you want from the QB and RB position that we don't have already, when compared to the years (two of which dug the hole with which we are climbing out of currently, and shall remain nameless). I personally always thought Hundley was the better RB vs Chisholm, and we still have him. Alexander and Lawrence I think are both promising.

But do you know (or anyone) if Ray-Ray Smith is playing WR, or RB because he was recruited as an athlete.

Yes, Ray-Ray Smith is playing WR...even though he is still in high school. And hasn't passed his SAT's. He is a renaissance man.

Hakeem Lawrence is promising? Promising what? To carry the ball more than 15 times in a season? To stay healthy for more than 2 games?

Hundley is a low-tier MAC RB. There's no other team in the MAC where he'd be a starter.

Our QB situation is the envy of no one. If Chapman is great, I'm happy. But his greatness is based upon hope, not a track record. Pohl is not magically turning into Getsy or Frye this season. He is who you've seen for 3 years.

Brookhart had great RB's. Owens had great RB's. Both also had great WR's. And QB's. Over the past 3 seasons I've yet to see one great player in a Zips uniform at any of those positions. That's the facts.

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Astute analysis, CK. For the last 6 years, there are only 2 positions that we can say Akron has recruited well (with a straight face) and one of these is almost solely driven by transfers.

LB & DL.

As you say, that's the facts.

P.S. When does the tailgate start Saturday?

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  On 4/13/2015 at 5:42 PM, Keener said:

Astute analysis, CK. For the last 6 years, there are only 2 positions that we can say Akron has recruited well (with a straight face) and one of these is almost solely driven by transfers.

LB & DL.

As you say, that's the facts.

P.S. When does the tailgate start Saturday?

I plan on getting there around 9ish. The forecast right now is sunny and 64. ?

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  On 4/13/2015 at 5:09 PM, Captain Kangaroo said:

Yes, Ray-Ray Smith is playing WR...even though he is still in high school. And hasn't passed his SAT's. He is a renaissance man.

Hakeem Lawrence is promising? Promising what? To carry the ball more than 15 times in a season? To stay healthy for more than 2 games?

Hundley is a low-tier MAC RB. There's no other team in the MAC where he'd be a starter.

Our QB situation is the envy of no one. If Chapman is great, I'm happy. But his greatness is based upon hope, not a track record. Pohl is not magically turning into Getsy or Frye this season. He is who you've seen for 3 years.

Brookhart had great RB's. Owens had great RB's. Both also had great WR's. And QB's. Over the past 3 seasons I've yet to see one great player in a Zips uniform at any of those positions. That's the facts.

Thanks for the Info on Ray-Ray Smith.

Yes I do think Lawrence is promising, needs to stay healthy. I don't agree with the opinion of Hundley...he's more of a mid-range to top end of the MAC RB...not the best, but definitely not a low-tier MAC RB, I don't know where you get that...his carries were limited early in the season in lieu of Chisholm, whom was less than impressive.

MAC RB's 2014:

Kareem Hunt 205 1631 8 91 (TD) 16 Terry Swanson 113 732 6.5 48 6 Joel Bouagnon 113 655 5.8 49 5 Drew Hare 159 900 5.7 78 (TD) 8 Akeem Daniels 71 390 5.5 29 1 Fred Coppet 141 764 5.4 69 6 Chiz Chisholm 114 620 5.4 80 (TD) 8 Travis Greene 180 949 5.3 75 (TD) 12 Thomas Rawls 210 1103 5.3 46 10 Conor Hundley 104 540 5.2 42 4 Dawan Scott 74 384 5.2 61 (TD) 2 Devon Spalding 73 371 5.1 51 (TD) 4 Jarvion Franklin 306 1551 5.1 61 (TD) 24 Anthone Taylor 282 1403 5 76 (TD) 12 Cameron Stingily 193 971 5 43 14 Jordan Johnson 74 361 4.9 35 1 A.J. Ouellette 160 785 4.9 65 (TD) 7 Darius Jackson 61 295 4.8 47 1 Jahwan Edwards 262 1252 4.8 56 (TD) 12 Shadrach Abrokwah 123 573 4.7 24 7 Horactio Banks 75 353 4.7 36 1 Dareyon Chance 69 321 4.7 22 1 Martez Walker 62 265 4.3 22 1 Reginald Bell Jr. 133 562 4.2 72 (TD) 4 Nick Holley 125 516 4.1 50 (TD) 3 Lorenzo Woodley 102 420 4.1 43 5 Bronson Hill 85 351 4.1 38 0 Spencer McInnis 64 246 3.8 14 0 Ryan Brumfield 95 348 3.7 32 4 Saylor Lavallii 84 298 3.5 41 (TD) 4 Anthony Meray 49 150 3.1 43 (TD) 1
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No comments on Zach's link?

Bowden's comment "read one, then run" certainly sounds like they have installed the read option spread. This will be a huge fundamental change. I wonder if it's modeled after the Gus Malzahn, Rich Rod or Chip Kelly offense? I also wonder if it is based off one of these, will it bear a closer resemblance to the original than the last offense did to the Mike Leach O?

Also, I'm no big EA fan, but I am a big believer in giving credit where it's due.

"Bowden and Co. acted like their biggest triumph of the season, 21-10 on the road over Pitt, was a fluke, instead of a template for success."

Mr. Alexander succinctly nailed it with that sentence.

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Reagrding the RB debate, I think that no RB would have looked very good last year for the Zips, whether they were the most or least talented in the conference. Nobody got consistent carries to get into a rythm.

Bowden and Milwee basically wanted a home-run hitting Dri Archer style back, but without the part where they work him into the offense over the course of the game.

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  On 4/13/2015 at 10:54 PM, ZachTheZip said:

Reagrding the RB debate, I think that no RB would have looked very good last year for the Zips, whether they were the most or least talented in the conference. Nobody got consistent carries to get into a rythm.

Bowden and Milwee basically wanted a home-run hitting Dri Archer style back, but without the part where they work him into the offense over the course of the game.

I can go along with that Zach, I completely agree. Most games we completely abandoned the running game. Hopefully we'll see someone emerge as a true No. 1 before the seasons starts. I don't think we have a home-run hitter like Dri Archer, but I do think we have some workhorses that can do well if we have a fast moving offense with a dual-threat quarterback. Hopefully Chapman can be the QB he's being purmped to be, or Pohl take the leadership role we've needed him to be.

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  On 4/13/2015 at 10:40 PM, Keener said:

No comments on Zach's link?

Bowden's comment "read one, then run" certainly sounds like they have installed the read option spread. This will be a huge fundamental change. I wonder if it's modeled after the Gus Malzahn, Rich Rod or Chip Kelly offense? I also wonder if it is based off one of these, will it bear a closer resemblance to the original than the last offense did to the Mike Leach O?

Also, I'm no big EA fan, but I am a big believer in giving credit where it's due.

"Bowden and Co. acted like their biggest triumph of the season, 21-10 on the road over Pitt, was a fluke, instead of a template for success."

Mr. Alexander succinctly nailed it with that sentence.

I thought its been established on here before that we are moving to an Auburn like offense? FWIW- I like EA. Whether you agree with him or not on a lot things (I remember people took issue with his hype of Mizell last season), his opinion seems pretty polarizing on here.. Not cliche, boring fluff while trying to be funny like GT.

  On 4/13/2015 at 10:54 PM, ZachTheZip said:

Reagrding the RB debate, I think that no RB would have looked very good last year for the Zips, whether they were the most or least talented in the conference. Nobody got consistent carries to get into a rythm.

Bowden and Milwee basically wanted a home-run hitting Dri Archer style back, but without the part where they work him into the offense over the course of the game.

Regarding running backs, I am a huge fan of Hundley in short yardage situations. I like what Lawrence does when he gets the ball as well. He is a strong runner for his size and gets down the field. Its too bad he can't hold onto the ball/stay healthy.

I hope Alexander prevails as the every down back. Looking forward to reading all of your recap's Saturday.

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