Critiquing Coach Bowden

[Lee Adams]

I've been a distant follower of the Zips in the last couple of years, and an even less frequent poster, but after yesterday's debacle in the pouring rain, and today's crushing of the Browns, there can be absolutely zero doubt that NE Ohio football fans, especially those of us who follow the Zips AND Browns, are the worst-off of any fans, anywhere. Talk about gluttons for punishment. Talk about being cursed.

Regarding Bowden, I fail to see the appeal at this point. He's a southern "aw shucks" huckster whose recruiting and style work well in the deep south, obviously, but does any of that "daggum" schtick work in the industrial north? Not that I see. I watched the entire game yesterday and this team looks just like Zips teams have since Ianello was here, which is to say too small, too short, too slow, poorly coached on offense. Tell me again about Terry and offense? Tell me again about his recruiting? I suspect that posters here are still on his jock for no reason beyond him not being Ianello. He may not be Ianello, but he's clearly not good enough.

Based on the first two weeks, scheister Scarborough should have completed the switch to OH-PEE-U before this stinker of a game.

The troubling thing to a trained eye would be that,among other things,Bowden has been unable to recruit a solid QB to run whatever the offense is that he and Milwee are trying to run. At this point in his tenure,can't blame the shortcomings on what happened before he got here. He owns the results now. One could go on about the offensive(lol) game plans but given what is going on inside and outside the athletic department,with two new sheriffs in town who have no connection to any of the coaches of any of the varsity sports,time might be shorter than it otherwise would to produce tangible improvement on the field,in the gym etc,etc.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

Southern shtick, shmouthern shtick. When I want to listen to good shtick I want to hear good old-fashioned Northeast Ohio shmack shtick. That's why I've missed having SeeTeeZip around. All's well in the world of Zips football with the master back and slinging his brand of shtick as only he can. Good to see you back, STZ.

It's good to check in on my fellow Zips fans every now and then DG, although I could never lay claim to your title as the Great Sanctimonious One. Reality dictates that one can be a fan and also be critical about the lack of progress with this team. Brookhart had the last decent Zips season in 2005, TEN years ago. Lee is correct above in stating that this is Bowden's program, in its 4th year. In every other stop, Bowden won much quicker than he has here, typically in year one or two. If you aren't seriously worried about this team at this point, especially on the offensive side of the ball, you're not rational. There is some sort of strange Stockholm Syndrome thing with this coaching staff. People are so happy to have the "names" on staff, and so happy that they aren't Ianello, that they seem to get a pass. Brookhart had a record of 30-42 at UA, while Bowden is 11-27, far underperforming when compared to every other stop in his career.

[Balsy]

Brookhart had a record of 30-42 at UA, while Bowden is 11-27, far underperforming when compared to every other stop in his career.

I wasn't around for the Brookhart era, but didn't he kinda inherit the players that he had success with from the previous staff? After Frye and Getsy and Hixon graduate, he pretty much floundered in mediocrity? In fact, Brookhart started out good, and regressed as far as record is concerned...

6-5 (Frye)

7-5 (Getsy)

5-7

4-8

5-7

3-9

(After Brookhart)

1-11

1-11 (Shall Remain nameless)

1-11 (Best performing Quarterback in Akron's history played in thise season)

5-7

5-7

Akron's biggest problem isn't Terry Bowden. It's the decade of mediocrity and worse that's the problem. I mean I'm concerned too, but I by no means think that Bowden is the problem, because I haven't heard any suggestion as to who could have done better, that were showing any interest in coaching at Akron. If anything Bowden has brought some sort of stability that hasn't been seen in Akron in almost 5 years. We're good enough to win 5-6 games...It's taken the next step I'm becoming increasingly worried that Bowden, or any coach for that matter, will be able to get us to. I'll conceed that Milwee is a problem that needs to be fixed.

[UA1987]

I wasn't around for the Brookhart era, but didn't he kinda inherit the players that he had success with from the previous staff? After Frye and Getsy and Hixon graduate, he pretty much floundered in mediocrity? In fact, Brookhart started out good, and regressed as far as record is concerned...

6-5 (Frye)

7-5 (Getsy)

5-7

4-8

5-7

3-9

(After Brookhart)

1-11

1-11 (Shall Remain nameless)

1-11 (Best performing Quarterback in Akron's history played in thise season)

5-7

5-7

Akron's biggest problem isn't Terry Bowden. It's the decade of mediocrity and worse that's the problem. I mean I'm concerned too, but I by no means think that Bowden is the problem, because I haven't heard any suggestion as to who could have done better, that were showing any interest in coaching at Akron. If anything Bowden has brought some sort of stability that hasn't been seen in Akron in almost 5 years. We're good enough to win 5-6 games...It's taken the next step I'm becoming increasingly worried that Bowden, or any coach for that matter, will be able to get us to. I'll conceed that Milwee is a problem that needs to be fixed.

Dalton had a great year, but Charlie Frye had 11,049 yards, 63% completion rate, 64 TD's and 32 int's. This is the best QB I've seen in an Akron uniform. Bowden would probably have benched Charlie in favor of Chapman.

[johnnyzip84]

I came into this season feeling as though it's a "must win" season for this staff given the approach TB chose to try to turn things around here. It's no secret that TB has leaned heavily on transfers during this time, partly because this utilizes the reach his staff has across the country and partly because it CAN be a "quicker fix" to an ailing program. I have no problem with him playing to his strengths while recognizing the sense of urgency, but I believe TB would admit that eventually the program must be sustained with a majority of HS recruits. Clearly this is not yet the case in year 4, and this is the main reason I believe 2015 is a make or break year for TB at UA. As Zipgrad01 pointed out, there are a lot of important players leaving after this year, and the cupboard looks pretty bare.

Once the 2015 schedule was released, I circled two OOC games that I felt the Zips needed to split in order for 2015 to be considered the turnaround season the program so desperately needs - Pitt and UL-Lafayette. Now that the Pitt game is lost the staff needs to do whatever it takes to pull off an upset in the "Swamp" at Cajun Field.

There are some who seem to think that everything will change once MAC play starts. I say they haven't been paying too much attention early in the season. BG has gotten a lot of attention with the win at Maryland, but OU has been very impressive as well. I watched the end of the OU-Marshall game, and the Falcons and Bobcats are much better than the Zips right now. Even Eastern looks to be a completely different program with their convincing win in Laramie. If there isn't significant improvement in the performance of the offense, I don't see one game, aside from lowly Savannah St, that I would COUNT as a "W" the rest of the way.

I'm not saying the staff cannot make the changes necessary to turn things around yet this year, but I do think it will probably take some personnel shifting and a reassessment of offensive scheme to do so. This is clearly an uphill battle.

If the battle is eventually lost, I have one name to throw in to those who wonder who we could hire if TB is let go and he's already on the staff: Todd Stroud. It's early for that sort of speculation, but I do believe Todd, assuming his health continues to improve, will eventually be a fantastic head coach.

[Dave in Green]

It's good to check in on my fellow Zips fans every now and then DG, although I could never lay claim to your title as the Great Sanctimonious One. Reality dictates that one can be a fan and also be critical about the lack of progress with this team. Brookhart had the last decent Zips season in 2005, TEN years ago. Lee is correct above in stating that this is Bowden's program, in its 4th year. In every other stop, Bowden won much quicker than he has here, typically in year one or two. If you aren't seriously worried about this team at this point, especially on the offensive side of the ball, you're not rational. There is some sort of strange Stockholm Syndrome thing with this coaching staff. People are so happy to have the "names" on staff, and so happy that they aren't Ianello, that they seem to get a pass. Brookhart had a record of 30-42 at UA, while Bowden is 11-27, far underperforming when compared to every other stop in his career.

Sanctimonious! Perfect example of why I said I love your brand of shmack shtick.

You do understand that Coach Bowden's previous two head coaching positions were at Auburn and North Alabama, two schools that had consistent winning records over the years. In both cases he inherited winning teams to build on. At UA he inherited a smoking crater left behind by iCoach. As The Donald would say, huuuggge difference.

Since everyone on this forum is seriously worried about the Zips' offense, I guess that means we're all sane.

Bring it on.

[RACER]

Bowden took over the worst program in d-1.we had the #1 defense in the mac last year, and still probably will this year.at some point we five seniors on the o-line that can't pass,or run block.

instead of blaming the coaches for all the problems. the offense players need to start taking the blame for what's happened. if they were all freshman I could see them having problems.

until we can start running the ball it does not matter who the qb is. we have had way to many drops by wr that were catchable balls.if we can't run the ball at all it does not matter who the qb is.

we could always hire somebody like R.I.whos defense gave up 50 pts a game. hiring somebody new would mean losing any chance we have to have a decent program.we won't see any teams like ou,or pitt

in mac play. need to start winning games by winning this week. bowden actually sat pohl out and extra game even though he was cleared to play last year.saying Bowden caused his injury is just plain stupid.

[Jrship35]

prior post quote: "Summer practices were closed so that the top secret offense could be unleashed on an unsuspecting Oklahoma. After all, the Zips were going out there to win, or so I heard."

Here is a laugher .... I made it up for a couple of of the later camp practices and was taking a couple of videos of my sons reps during scrimmage ... Some lady came up to me and said "are you a parent"

Me: "yes ma'am I am"

Lady: "are you taking video"

Me: "yes ma'am, why is that an issue"?

Lady: yes, please stop and erase, we are installing a new offense, and Don't want video being released"

Me: (with a loud laugh) "oh, looks good"

Lady gives me the less than cordial look and walks away

ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME

[Sportsjunkie330]

prior post quote: "Summer practices were closed so that the top secret offense could be unleashed on an unsuspecting Oklahoma. After all, the Zips were going out there to win, or so I heard."

Here is a laugher .... I made it up for a couple of of the later camp practices and was taking a couple of videos of my sons reps during scrimmage ... Some lady came up to me and said "are you a parent"

Me: "yes ma'am I am"

Lady: "are you taking video"

Me: "yes ma'am, why is that an issue"?

Lady: yes, please stop and erase, we are installing a new offense, and Don't want video being released"

Me: (with a loud laugh) "oh, looks good"

Lady gives me the less than cordial look and walks away

ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME

Well, it really isn't normal to allow people to video practices. I would expect parents to know that and not be surprised when they are asked to stop.

[Jrship35]

Well, it really isn't normal to allow people to video practices. I would expect parents to know that and not be surprised when they are asked to stop.

SMH .... OK, thanks for the education lol

[mes102]

You guys are not mentioning the most obvious reason for the offensive struggles: PLAY ONE QUARTERBACK.

All it does is kill the flow of your offense when you play a two quarterback system. I mentioned this last year with Pohl and Woodson, and TB is doing it again with Pohl and Chapman this time.

Your o-line needs reps in practice blocking for the quarterback. When you basically have a two quarterback system, the o-line needs twice as many reps in practice to understand how to block each quarterback and that may not even be enough. Same with the wide receivers on how each quarterback throws the ball and where they normally throw it at(in front, outside shoulder/inside shoulder, etc).

I feel that someone with the experience of Terry Bowden should understand that running a two quarterback system just will not work. The starting quarterback will be looking over his shoulder knowing that if he doesn't play well, he most likely will be coming out. That doesn't include the play call, picking up the blitz, adjusting the pass protection, calling hot route/audible(if TB and AJ allow it) which should be some of the things he's worried about while on the field.

That school down I-71 has basically a "free pass" to try a two quarterback system without people complaining. However, he went with one quarterback. That way the team gets all the first team reps with just one QB, not two where it can get confusing for the o-line about who they're exactly blocking and where they like to be in the pocket along with many, many, other positive things with committing to just one quarterback.

YSU scored 37 points on this "best defense we'll see all season" in Week 1. There is no excuse for only scoring 7 points, no matter the weather conditions. You have to be prepared for it. I wasn't expecting 37 points against Pitt, but I expected anywhere between 20 to 28 points. I've come to the conclusion that I expect too much from this staff that KNOWS we can't fire them anytime soon, so they feel safe and are taking their time messing with situations that don't really need to be messed with right now.

[Dr Z]

You guys are not mentioning the most obvious reason for the offensive struggles: PLAY ONE QUARTERBACK.

If there were a QB performing at a high level, this would be the case. When a QB delivers the ball accurately and on time, most offensive schemes have success. If you don't have a QB that can do that...well, I can come up with a pretty simplistic defense to make you punt.

I think coach is looking for someone at the position to step up.

[zipsoutsider]

Playing one QB is the ideal situation. We are not in an ideal position and might be in an even less than ideal position than we were 2 weeks ago. At least now, Chapman has some reps under his belt in non-conference play. Moving to an offense where we run the QB, an injured KP16 was fairly predictable. If we put all the eggs in his basket we would be in an even worse position.

[Blue & Gold]

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/ua-zips/university-of-akron-zips-blog-1.277207/video-akron-zips-coach-terry-bowden-discusses-qb-play-against-pitt-panthers-1.623896

GT did a good job in asking Coach Bowden a tough question here.

[Blue & Gold]

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/video-coach-terry-bowden-discusses-play-of-qb-tra-von-chapman-1.623895

Coach Bowden on the lackluster play of Tra'Von Chapman.

[skip-zip]

zipsoutsider.....I think you pretty much got it. We were not in a good situation, offensively, going into the season. Losses and injuries at RB and WR dictated that. The coaches are trying to work in a QB as a running threat to try to maximize what we have to work with. I'll trust that they probably have a much better idea of what combinations of personnel and plays are going to work best this season vs. those on this board who are simply judging results against two P5 programs in only two games.

[K92]

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/ua-zips/university-of-akron-zips-blog-1.277207/video-akron-zips-coach-terry-bowden-discusses-qb-play-against-pitt-panthers-1.623896

GT did a good job in asking Coach Bowden a tough question here.

I'd give a nickel to go all Mr. Spock on Jatavis and Conor when Bowden was answering.

I have a feeling their thoughts would be quite revealing.

[K92]

GT missed the crucial follow-up question to Bowden's blather.

"Why go away from the Air Raid in the first place? It appears you don't have the personnel to line up and run the ball."

[Spin]

I agree, Oklahoma and LaLa are paydays, Pitt is a neat local rivalry I hope continues. They certainly travel well. If they had a choice they would have led off with the cupcake game, but this must not have been possible.

The REAL season starts October 3, the conference schedule is very favorable, that's when it counts. I like playing tough opponents that are better than us, they expose areas that need addressed. They prepare us for the BG's and hopefully Toledo's and bowl game opponent.

I don't agree with playing a cupcake schedule to be bowl eligible, because I think bowl games see right through that. And if you do go to a bowl game, you don't belong there and that will be very evident.

Hopefully they use the Ok collapse and the Pitt debacle as a tool to improve and get ready for the MAC. If they do, I feel sorry for Savannah St. A little.

[skip-zip]

Spin....I'm sure Louisiana-Lafayette would love to hear that they are a "payday" game.

They are a Sun Belt team. They will draw low 20s, at best, for a non-league game against a MAC team.

[RACER]

bg gave up 60 TN, and 27 agasint MD. some people make it sound like ohio u,and bg are the OSU, and ALABAMA.im not saying they are not good teams.bg defense is horrible, just like our offense is bad.

[GJGood]

I agree, Oklahoma and LaLa are paydays, Pitt is a neat local rivalry I hope continues. They certainly travel well. If they had a choice they would have led off with the cupcake game, but this must not have been possible.

Wait, does this statement mean that Akron is more of a 'cupcake' than Youngstown State whom Pitt did open up against?

Or were you referring to Akron rather opening up with Savannah State instead of meeting them in week 3?

I guess I am not sure of who 'they' is in the last sentence.

[Blue & Gold]

Man, I was hesitant to give this thread a bump as it's pretty negative. But in all honesty, is anyone else as perplexed as I am how the entire coaching staff could fail to tell, throughout spring ball and training camp, that Tommy Woodson was clearly the best QB on the roster? Tra'Von Chapman looked downright awful, even against Savannah State. Tommy came in and torched Savannah State and then went on to dominate Louisiana. Shouldn't that have been obvious in practice?

[Dr Z]

Shouldn't that have been obvious in practice?

Many times the way a player performs in practice does not directly translate to the field on game day. Sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. Tommy, being third string, might not have had the supporting cast to shine in practice. A team is supposed to evolve throughout the season, I think our team is on the right path.

Keener had asked in another thread about the difference between offenses we used with Tra'Von, and the offense we use with Tommy. Similar predicament (but different) with the professional team in Pittsburgh. I think you will notice the change in their offense from one QB on Sunday to the QB that will play on Thursday night. This change will be similar to the Zips change at offense. While the terminology, routes and blocking will generally stay the same, the game plan will change to highlight the capabilities of the QB. Some plays in the playbook will get moved up, some will get moved down, some will stay the same. Kind of a similar thing as to what happened in Akron. Pretty typical for a staff to do with QBs that have such a different skill set.

Keep in mind that coach has repeated many times before the season, "my QB won't turn the ball over." Tommy needs to continue that. I'm sure last years INTs weighed heavy on the early decision.

Edit: Two more points. One, I have heard coach say twice since the Tigers game, "Tommy still could lose some more weight." Two, he also says "We need to find a way to win at Akron" Seems to be what he is doing.

[skip-zip]

They keep alluding to the fact that they knew that "Tommy had the talent", Maybe they were waiting for his mental game to catch up. Who knows. I always loved the way he played, and threw the ball. But, the decent start against OU last year, followed by the stellar 1st half at Ball State was followed by the 2nd half disaster at Ball State. So, I was confused after that. Maybe development time was all Tommy needed.

I just think that they had 3 QBs who were good in various aspects, and not in others. And it was difficult to make choices among them.

Maybe now that Tommy has playing time under his belt, his development is starting to show itself. I don't think this is a case where they clearly had one better Quarterback, and everyone was just missing it.