Bowden Ball Year 5

[kreed5120]

21 minutes ago, Balsy said:

 

Sans the Attendance argument we have every year in regards to basketball.  A 4 star + recruit is RARELY to NEVER going to consider a MAC team, especially when you're getting Big-10, Pac-12 or SEC offers.  If that's how you measured success, we'd be on coach 5 post iCoach.

 

Isn't it about both?  Ohio State and other programs show all the time you can have a million talented players, but not be the best if you don't have a good scheme, and are putting those players in a position to win.  Akron seems to have good coaches.  Who put the players in more winnable situations than losing ones.  The problem is they just don't have enough of those players with the experience/knowledge.  

 

I'm not ready to blow it up.

 

Bringing in and developing talent is part of the coaches job. This is the Bowden regimes 5th year so his staff has recruited every player on the roster. Coaches like Dantonio have made a name for themselves by steadily turning 3* recruits into 4* and 5* players. We're competing against MAC schools, not Alabama, Michigan, or USC. We need to get 2* and a few 3* players and get them to play like 3* and 4* players.

 

Among our peers between our stadium and indoor practice facility we have as good, if not better, facilities than any other MAC program. We are also situated in perhaps the most fertile recruiting ground in the conference. We should want a coach that can bring us something better than a 7th place MAC finish. I get not wanting to blow it up as we can potentially be great next year if we even get our defense to somewhat average. I still think we need some sort of shake up. We should be pulling better high school players than we are.

[skip-zip]

3 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

I get not wanting to blow it up as we can potentially be great next year if we even get our defense to somewhat average. I still think we need some sort of shake up.

 

I continually remind myself that we return every offensive player next year except JoJo.  That's an unbelievable position to be in.  But there's always room for adjustments.  I think this offense has under-performed in many recent games, with Zero against WMU, and 20 and 17 the last two weeks.  I really think we need to look very seriously at bringing in an offensive mind that can maximize what we have.  I'm sure Terry and the rest of his network know plenty of people.  I think that, in addition to one more year of experience and training could potentially make us a Toledo-like offense next year.   

 

The defense, of course, is an entirely different story.  On that side of the ball, I think some transfers have not worked out the way we expected.  We definitely need some additional talent over there, and much better luck with health next year.  

Edited November 3, 2016 by skip-zip
edit

[72 Roo]

Skip... Agreed. Next year our offense may even be better. The line may even learn to run block. But the OC position needs serious re-evealuation. i hope Bowden has the courage to look for more help. I know he likes Millwee, but that relationship should not stop him from improving the offensive coaching. I'm not sure Amato is the problem on D but the talent sure as hell is. A drastic upgrade is needed to get that side of the ball to just be average. I hope there is help in the transfer area or JC's. I don't see any freshmen talent that would come to Akron being able to improve this pathetic unit. 

 

BTW, let's stop this insane talk of canning Bowden. He can turn this around and is doing so. I am as frustrated as any ZN member, and Buffalo was inexcusable, but TW needs the time. Our situation is bad and it will take time to turn around. That is done in little steps. TW is making them.  

[Dr Z]

9 hours ago, 72 Roo said:

I'm not sure Amato is the problem

Not sure? We had a top 15 defense in the nation last year. Top 15, at Akron. This year's team is young and injured on the defensive side of the ball. It's not fun to watch right now, but that's the hand coach Amato is dealt. Next year, most returning starters will be older, stronger, more experienced, and hopefully healthy. I would also guess (from a successful history) we will have two new players in the front seven rotation next year that aren't on the team this year. I hope that is enough to make a difference. 

 

The one change that I would like to see for the remainder of this year is some secondary blitzing. We have to take some chances to create turnovers to help us get stops.

 

On offense for the remainder of the year, I would run less on first down in the first half of games. 

 

Beat BG, and get bowl eligible so all the young guys can get some more practice. Go Zips! Go Bowden Ball, Year 5, 6, 7, 8...

[kreed5120]

30 minutes ago, Dr Z said:

Not sure? We had a top 15 defense in the nation last year. Top 15, at Akron. This year's team is young and injured on the defensive side of the ball. It's not fun to watch right now, but that's the hand coach Amato is dealt. Next year, most returning starters will be older, stronger, more experienced, and hopefully healthy. I hope that is enough to make a difference. 

 

We had the best defense in the MAC last season I'll give you that. But do you honestly believe our defense was really one of the 15 best nationally when we gave up 41 and 59 points to the only 2 high powered offenses we encountered? We benefited from padding our numbers against teams like Kent, Eastern Michigan, UMass, Buffalo, and Savannah State. Our defense didn't have to play Bama, OSU, Michigan State, Baylor, TCU, Clemson, Florida State, etc. on a week to week basis.

 

Akron's defense by yards per game gave up 329 which was 17th, meanwhile, Oklahoma gave up 351 which placed them 31st. We saw these teams play one another. Can you honestly tell me you thought Akron's D > Oklahoma's D?

[Dr Z]

15, 17, something unreal for Akron. I'm not getting into another one of these off topic debates. 2015 national rankings opponents yards per game. 

[Blue & Gold]

^^+1 on aggressive blitzing.  We're getting zero pressure on the QB.  Disrupting nothing in the backfield.  Ever.

 

We really need a couple Juco DL for next season...

We're going to be stacked like pancakes at S:

S Jordan George

S Zach Guiser

S Shawn Featherstone

S Alvin Davis

 

We need another C as we lose both Larry Hope & DeAndre Scott.  Only returning C w/ PT will be Kyron Brown.  With 4 safeties, could we move Alvin Davis to C, like he is listed on the official roster?  That would give us

C Kyron Brown

C Alvin Davis

 

That's a stacked defensive backfield.

 

Our LB's should go from a weakness to a strength next season w/ Jamal Davis & James King gaining eligibility.  I know Jamal Davis is a stud as I saw him play in high school a couple times.  I'm crossing my fingers with James King.  Add them to the mix w/ UGIII & we may once again have the best LB's in the MAC.

LB UGIII

LB Jamal Davis

LB James King

 

It's the DL I'm concerned with.  Presently, those returning who get regular PT will be:

DE Deon'Tae Moore

DT Brock Boxen (crossing my fingers he's ready to go.  Also hoping his offseason isn't completely ruined)

DT Ibrahima Camara (this guy's tough & passes the eyeball test.  A good offseason & I'm excited to see what we've got in him next year)

DT Darius Copeland (this guy's definitely got heart, but he's really undersized for D-1 DT @ 265 lbs.)

DT Davon'te Jest (wish he could have redshirted this year.  It's just not fair throwing a true freshman into the trenches. He's gonna be a beast)

 

But that's it.  DL concerns me. Either a couple of these guys have to make big leaps by next year, or we've got to bring in some transfers, or we're in for a repeat performance of this season 

Edited November 4, 2016 by Blue & Gold

[K92]

31 minutes ago, Dr Z said:

15, 17, something unreal for Akron. I'm not getting into another one of these off topic debates. 2015 national rankings opponents yards per game. 

This year we are sitting at 121, giving up 509 a game.  Yikes.

[K92]

Just for shits and giggles, Ianello's teams:  2010 was 98/433 and 2011 was 100/445.  Bowden's first year was 105/472.  

[skip-zip]

I think it's really premature to question how the defense is being coached, considering the massive personnel losses coming into this year, and so many key injuries throughout this year.  I'm sure we can all talk about what they could do differently, but I know we're really limited in how we can perform right now.  

 

Give it until next year, and I bet we see big improvement.  In the meantime, hope for some big 3rd down stops and turnovers to help us the rest of the way.  I think we actually did a great job of keeping Toledo's points to a minimum for most of the first half, and demonstrated some inspired play.  I think they just wore us down with our lack of fresh bodies after that.  

[zippy5]

One area I really want to see improvement on is the recruiting. OU picked up a very nice RB today

 

http://247sports.com/Player/Morgan-Ellison-88935

[Lee Adams]

On 11/4/2016 at 11:21 AM, zippy5 said:

One area I really want to see improvement on is the recruiting. OU picked up a very nice RB today

 

http://247sports.com/Player/Morgan-Ellison-88935

Frank always does that,doesn't he?! Damn!

[K92]

On 10/31/2016 at 11:40 AM, UA1987 said:

Lack of enthusiasm, lack discipline, lack of depth seem to have plagued this team. Things are getting much better from years ago, but Akron needs a motivator on the coaching staff. Seeing Terry doing his 'Ok arms up, now arms down' stuff on you-tube doesn't cut it I believe. Maybe a guy like Stroud should get more involved in the motivational hype to help as Gildersleeve may not be THE guy for now. I saw a post game talk recently and only Tuley-Tillman and Venckus were on their knee listening to Bowden. Don't get me wrong, I think Terry is our guy, but maybe he needs to take on a more dignified stance with the team so that when he speaks EVERYONE listens.

 

I also think that lack of depth is playing a role beyond not having suitable backups on the 2 deep. If a starter is banged up he will fight to play if he thinks sitting will hurt his chances to play in the future. This is called competition and it is a great motivator. We need more and I think we will get there, but for now the stadium will be empty and we will have to take the interesting things going on at Akron games as enough until the consistent wins arrive, just a little late.                       

Should your s&c coach ever be THE guy?  I think that is a big red flag.  If the HC can't be the inspirational leader of the team, it's got to be his right hand man.  These players hear Gildersleeve barking in their ear in the weight room and in practice.  That's his job.  On gameday, he needs to take a back seat, but if he's all you've got, he's all you've got.  I really believe that the negative impact of losing Tank Arrington cannot be overstated.  When he spoke, players listened.  Nobody cared more about these young men than he did and his presence has not been replaced.  Not that there could ever be a replacement because the man was a one of a kind but you get what I am saying.

 

Good post, '87.

[Dr Z]

20 hours ago, K92 said:

Should your s&c coach ever be THE guy?  I think that is a big red flag.

Did you happen to watch HBO's Hard Knocks LA Rams this season? It was interesting to see how much responsibility and admiration Rock Gullickson had. It stuck out to me as a little unconventional. Maybe it's not. I'm not trying to make any points, just an observation. I know little about the situation. 

[K92]

2 hours ago, Dr Z said:

Did you happen to watch HBO's Hard Knocks LA Rams this season? It was interesting to see how much responsibility and admiration Rock Gullickson had. It stuck out to me as a little unconventional. Maybe it's not. I'm not trying to make any points, just an observation. I know little about the situation. 

I'm not really sure either.  I know from attending Zips practices that when the team is taking the field and doing stretches and warm up calisthenics (are they still called that?), Gildersleeve is front and center barking it out.  Struck me as odd at first, but I guess I accepted it as being his domain.  Perhaps that role at getting the team mentally prepared for practice is similar to getting the team prepared for the game.  Dunno.  Maybe I am behind the times. 

 

Is Nick Saban the pump up man for Alabama or does he have a surrogate?

 

Good question, Doc.

[zipsoutsider]

I don't think our defensive situation is a complicated one. We are not a great program. We were on our way to becoming a good program but we're derailed by a rebuilding year on defense that amuck with repetitive injuries in key positions. Top that with Tommy's injury and it turned into an ugly mid-season. Not having an earlier bye coupled with 2 consecutive short weeks has made it an even tougher situation.

 

I am not sure we have the talent at LB or DL to move the D forward a ton, but hopefully, these kids eat,drink, and breathe tackling drills during the off season. Younger, physically weaker and smaller kids can't get away with arm tackling or just diving to take a hit at a player.

 

Offensively, I think we have all been pleasantly surprised at the talent of the OL. I would expect that their run blocking will continue to improve.

 

We don't have depth because we are still on our way to becoming a good program. The depth is starting to come but it isn't there, yet. The offense has a lot more depth than the defense, right now. 

 

We have not lost games due to offensive play calling. We have list games, mostly, because our defense has played horribly. We lost at Buffalo because Tommy was obviously playing injured and our defense played horribly. 

 

We really need to score a Daryl Monroe, Rodney Coe, or the like at both the DL and LB position as transfers next year to help stop the bleeding while younger talent develops and we continue to recruit better talent. 

 

Our special teams kick coverage will improve as our defense learns to tackle. Our specialists have played well this year.

 

It's a miserable thing to watch your team fall apart due to injuries but there was no magic bullet to fix what happened this year. 

[Lee Adams]

Whether these guys go 6-6 isn't really the issue. The question is,without making excuses for injuries, what improvements did this program make over last season? The defense took a huge step back beginning game 1. No injuries can be blamed on that. On the O side,there are really good WR's. That was in place. Woodson did seem to progress some with his accuracy. There is no run game to speak of. Partly because the RB's aren't that good and partly because TB doesn't like to run. Sorry,you can't include a guy who got booted because of criminal behavior.  Is there a realistic possibility that the program can achieve more next season than this season? You have a starting QB coming back on offense. You lose JoJo. You have Lane. Unless the defense can improve significantly upfront all bets are off.

Somebody help me be optimistic,please.

[LZIp]

10 minutes ago, Lee Adams said:

Whether these guys go 6-6 isn't really the issue. The question is,without making excuses for injuries, what improvements did this program make over last season?

The entire offense except RB (with reason) is light years better from last season and its really not even close.

[Captain Kangaroo]

19 minutes ago, Lee Adams said:

The defense took a huge step back beginning game 1. No injuries can be blamed on that. 

Marcus was our best returning defensive lineman, and we lost him for the entire season. Boxen was our best interior lineman, and he's missing the complete 2nd half of the season. Moore and others have missed multiple games. For a group that was already thin, it was too much to overcome.

 

How do you replace Coe, Grice, Monroe, Evans, Brown and Marcus? That's a tall order.

 

Our front 7 is no doubt terrible. But if Marcus and Boxen had relatively healthy seasons, it would have been good enough to win another game or 2. 

 

Hope the free agent crop is good this spring. If I'm a decent DL or LB grad transfer, I'm pretty excited to join Chuck Amato, where I can be pretty much guaranteed I'm gonna get a lot of playing time, and have the support of a high-scoring offense. 

 

Next season could be awesome, but we need some serious defensive help.

[LZIp]

Why does everyone seem to forget that we already have Jamal Davis (Pitt), James King (Miami), and Tony Jones (Troy/Juco) - not sure if he is sitting out or not- waiting to step in at LB next season? I have no doubt the LB corps will be much improved next season. Bell moving to DE and being productive there would be nice as well to fill another hole.

[UA1987]

27 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Marcus was our best returning defensive lineman, and we lost him for the entire season. Boxen was our best interior lineman, and he's missing the complete 2nd half of the season. Moore and others have missed multiple games. For a group that was already thin, it was too much to overcome.

 

How do you replace Coe, Grice, Monroe, Evans, Brown and Marcus? That's a tall order.

 

Our front 7 is no doubt terrible. But if Marcus and Boxen had relatively healthy seasons, it would have been good enough to win another game or 2. 

 

Hope the free agent crop is good this spring. If I'm a decent DL or LB grad transfer, I'm pretty excited to join Chuck Amato, where I can be pretty much guaranteed I'm gonna get a lot of playing time, and have the support of a high-scoring offense. 

 

Next season could be awesome, but we need some serious defensive help.

I agree. If somehow Stroud (and Amato) can pick up or develop some quality help that can play right away all across the DL, we may be have a pretty good season in 2017. I like the Iowa State OOC matchup here at the Info, although watching them earlier this year we will need to be much improved to handle the Cyclones. Troy will be a tough road game.