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Game 8 Thoughts


catdaddyp

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Another frustrating loss, but to be honest Kent State’s program is further ahead right now. That was the first MAC game, this season, I thought the other team was superior in talent across the board.
 

Offense:

- Landers, Banes, Georges, Whigan, Williams were the starters from left to right. I’m really excited for what Landers will be down the road. That kid’s upside is impressive. Unfortunately he didn’t seem to be 100% from the start. 
- At this point, if Norrils isn’t going to be involved, I’d prefer Price to receive all of the snaps at RB. He may not be a breakaway back, but he always gains positive yardage when he’s not immediately hit in the backfield.

- Outside of the obvious plays that were made, it was nice to see Anderson get involved some more at WR. Naim made a tough grab when he had an opportunity. Not sure what’s happened to Williams.

- I guess Irons is what he is at this point. The offense goes as he goes and he hasn’t been able to get it done in crunch time.

 

Defense:

- Holt is easily our best defensive lineman. Shame we don’t have him for another year.

- Bubba seemed to be on the field the majority of the game on defense.

- I like the way the 3 safeties Thompson, Martin, and Woods continue to progress. Lewis had a solid game. Hence was moved to S when Martin went out for a few plays.

- We need more help at CB and if Golden-Nelson doesn’t come back, we probably won’t have it this year. Amankwaa held his own against some really good WRs.

- Nice to see a few kickoffs go for touchbacks.

- Not sure how Kent’s freshman QB was rated a 2 star by Rivals. 

 

 

I thought we had the more disciplined team, but in the end it didn’t matter. The two turnovers were costly and we again gave up some big third downs on defense. I’m sure the team will keep fighting and sooner or later get over that hump.

Edited by catdaddyp
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23 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

My non-expert analysis is that we're just a few players away from being 3-1 in the conference and a few more players from winning the East.

 

 

We need to get some more players but we need to learn how to win, we are right there & self implode every time.  It’s been interception, muffed punts, terrible unexcused pre snap penalties & terrible clock & game management down the stretch week in & week out, we would be fairly satisfied if they had figured out a way to win a couple of the MAC games

 

We didn’t & until they do we suck & the coaches need to figure it out because come crunch time we pee down our leg

 

fyi - i didn’t use pee, lol, this must be a family friendly site

Edited by 94zipgrad
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This game could have been won in the first half.  First:  we should have been up 21-0.  Put you foot on their neck, and don't look back.  Second:  with a 1:39 remaining, poor kickoff and TD drive.  We just have to stop allowing TD's at the end of the first half!

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39 minutes ago, Ham said:

This game could have been won in the first half.  First:  we should have been up 21-0.  Put you foot on their neck, and don't look back.  Second:  with a 1:39 remaining, poor kickoff and TD drive.  We just have to stop allowing TD's at the end of the first half!

 

So true. And 21-0 against healthy Kent, you could still lose that game. But 21-0 against a QB they're hiding with easy throws and handoffs, Zips would have had to try to lose at that point. Muffed punt against BG, <1 minute TD drive given up to Ohio, 2 missed FGs to end the half against CMU, now a nice 75-yard TD drive erased with a bad play on special teams. There was no doubt in my mind Kent was going to end the half with a TD. May as well have just let them score on the first play so the Zips would have another shot.

 

That damn interception is the thing I can't get out of my head. From where I was sitting, I was already jumping up in the air celebrating once the receiver got open. Going back to the replay, it's hard to tell if Irons had a window to throw it (wish we could purchase all-22), but I feel like if he would have read the route a second or two sooner, it would have been a massive TD for what would have been our largest lead of the season, against a Fr. QB and an overrated Kent team that thrives on momentum. I don't want to reduce the game and the season down to that play because who knows what would have happened anyway, but 2-6, 1-3 with the Wagon Wheel in possession and the same record as Kent 8 games into this new era of football could have been ours. If the Zips take the life out of the Kent sideline there, the story may have written itself. Oh, to be an Akron football fan. 

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This week's advanced box score: https://collegefootballdata.com/boxscore/401416628

 

The Zips regressed big time in scoring opportunities (Remember, this is when the team advances the ball inside the opposing 40-yard line). They had consistently been scoring TDs in the red zone and cashing in on short yardage situations. This week (and the fumble last week falls under the same category), they failed to score TDs when they needed them to be TDs. There were a couple of picks thrown, a 22-yard FG, and a 4th & 1 run stuffed at the line.

 

Had they been perfect in scoring opportunities (VERY rare), they would have scored 25 more points. Of course, that is unrealistic, especially for a team with growing pains. In 7 trips inside the 40, Akron scored 20 points.

 

Kent only got inside the 40-yard line 5 times, including getting a punt at the 27. Kent very clearly won the ever-important field position battle, which has really killed the Zips dating back to the Liberty game. That said, they still had a plethora of chances to win the game, but let it slip out of their hands. 

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Why can't we run a QB sneak (from under center)? 

 

Would love to see DJ line up in the shotgun. Then go up to the line of scrimmage (like he is going to change to play) and go under center and on a silent count take the ball. Should be able to easily convert any 4th and 1. 

 

Any thoughts why he's not under center on 4th and inches?

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13 hours ago, Cliff said:

Why can't we run a QB sneak (from under center)? 

 

Would love to see DJ line up in the shotgun. Then go up to the line of scrimmage (like he is going to change to play) and go under center and on a silent count take the ball. Should be able to easily convert any 4th and 1. 

 

Any thoughts why he's not under center on 4th and inches?

Agreed completely. I don't know the exact figures, but believe a QB sneak under center has to have something like a 90% success rate. For what its worth, I've seen other programs refuse to go under center in that situation as well. I think the excuse is they don't practice those snaps. With that said, GO UNDER CENTER.

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19 hours ago, Cliff said:

Why can't we run a QB sneak (from under center)? 

 

Would love to see DJ line up in the shotgun. Then go up to the line of scrimmage (like he is going to change to play) and go under center and on a silent count take the ball. Should be able to easily convert any 4th and 1. 

 

Any thoughts why he's not under center on 4th and inches?

This is a total pet peeve of mine. It's done so infrequently now that it would probably catch most defensive linemen off guard or they simply would not know how to defend against it. Nobody runs the QB sneak anymore and everyone SHOULD be running it.

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4 hours ago, ZippyRulz said:

Our chances of losing yardage on a QB sneak when the opponent knows it's coming has to be pretty high as well. I'm sure the coaches take everything into account.

 

Agree - Running a QB sneak from the shotgun has a pretty good chance to lose yardage because it takes so long to set up. Tom Brady still runs a QB sneak under center and is very successful in doing it. We have a running QB and can easily get a yard or two...

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I'd say most teams still run the QB sneak under center. The Browns run it 2-3 times per game. It's just a growing trend of more and more teams deciding not to do it. It wouldn't seem that hard for a QB and C to stay after practice and spend 10-15 minutes snapping the ball under center that way it's not foreign to do in game situations

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