Disgraceful
Posted September 30th, 2006 by mrasor
Football
Never did I think Kent State would blow out Akron, 37-15.
But it happened, and it was ugly…
- Akron's run defense was OK. In fact, that was the team's strongest asset today.
- The secondary and linebackers were atrocious at stopping the pass. (I hesitate to blame the players, because they were always out of position.) Two scenarios consistantly stung Akron. First, receivers would be wide open near the line of scrimmage. KSU quarterback Julian Edelman had this option anytime he wanted. Second, Edelman threw deep jump balls and Akron's cornerbacks just watched them sail into his receivers' hands.
- Luke Getsy must start making plays when the Zips need them. Run blocking was lacking. Dennis Kennedy earned every yard he accumulated.
- Someone on the defense must step up on crucial downs.
The Flashes are now 3-0 in the MAC while Akron falls to 0-2.
At this point in the season, Akron is about where many thought it would be: 2-3. Still, the Zips chances at a bowl game are decent.
The Zips need to be 7-5 for bowl eligibility. Here are the likely outcomes (from a slightly pessimistic point of view)…
- At Cincinnati. Probably a loss.
- Miami. Win.
- At Toledo. Loss.
- Bowling Green. Win.
- Buffalo. Win.
- At Ohio. Toss up.
- Western Michigan. Win.
To sum up, Akron must knock off Cincinnati or Ohio. Those will be the most pivotal games the rest of the season.
September 30th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Sorry Rasor, but I think that this game blew any chance Akron had for getting to a bowl game. If Ohio is a "toss up" then Bowling Green is a loss. That coupled with potential losses to Cincinnati and Toledo amkes the Zips 6-6 and there will be several MAC teams with better records. Still I hope I am wrong.
September 30th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
I only call Ohio a toss up because it's in Athens.
We'll see how the Zips respond next week.
October 1st, 2006 at 10:45 am
A bowl game!? Akron just lost to a team that won how many games last year and had only beaten them once in how long? Not that Kent did not play well on Saturday,they did. They were ready to play. Kent exposed the same weakness that Akron's defense has had over the years,can't stop the run,too slow to the boundary. On top of that,the much ballyhooed pass rush from Reid, Gonzales et. al has been missing all year.
The offensive game plan was awful. The one thing Kent had shown to be vulnerable to was the run. So Brookhart tried to force the pass all day. Didn't Kennedy have almost 100 yds? When he did go to the run it was too late.
Brookhart keeps commenting that he is sometimes not sure which team is going to show up. Coach, thats what you are getting paid for. Put the players you have in the best position to execute the correct game plan for the opponent. This year there does not seem to be the ability or willingness to adjust when pre-game preparation has not worked.
A bowl game? You better win out, because there are now at least 4 teams in the MAC more attractive than Akron for a bowl game.
We will see just how much the coaches and players 'have' at Cincinnati.
October 1st, 2006 at 12:05 pm
A few pertinent observations:
1) J.D. Brookhart is now OFF the short-list for U. of Miami coaching job
2) He & his staff are free to go, if they are ever lucky enough to get an offer after Sat.
3) Julian Edelman is a stud QB. Luke Getsy is, again, so overrated it's pathetic.
4) Mobile, athletic QBs are absolutely needed in today's grid game. (See Troy over immobile Zwick, Frye over immobile Dilfer, and definitely Edelman over aunt Betsy.) Next season and Sean Hakes can't come soon enough, boys.
5) As another poster said, our linemen waddle around like porky-pigs. They're busting out of their jerseys in the front and their pants in the back. CONVERSELY, Kent's linemen appear to have each added 20-lbs. of MUSCLE each, and are quick, nimble & dominating. Where can we get a strength coach like theirs??
6) Nice job recruiting a placekicker from the soccer team, JD. You made your extra-points, but forgot the rest of the game plan. Once again, the Zips come out and lay a first-half egg. Why must they get down by 20 points before they kick it into high gear? Try running a 2-minute offense right off the bat….try something, for pete's sake.
Bowl game? Don't think so. It'll be KSU this year, and even tho I'm a UA guy, I'll root for those guys. They have a lot of heart and have EARNED all the accolades.
October 1st, 2006 at 1:27 pm
[QUOTE] Bowl game? Don't think so. It'll be KSU this year, and even tho I'm a UA guy, I'll root for those guys. They have a lot of heart and have EARNED all the accolades. [END QUOTE]
Sadly, I must agree 100%. I'd love to see Akron make a bowl, but not much points to them being capable of or putting forth the effort required to go. Heck, I hope Kent runs through the MAC undefeated and represents well in the Championship game and Motor City Bowl. Better another local team then the rest of the teams in the MAC.
October 1st, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Folks, lets not go overboard here. True, you do not ever want to lose to Kent if you are a real Zips fan(class of '74), but, look at Brookhart for what he is. He is a business man first and foremost who is using the opportunity handed to him at Akron to advance his own career.. If his connection was in Athens or Bowling Green or Oxford he would have gone there. He is not like Tressel who has Ohio connections and waited his turn to go from Y.town to OSU. He is a good recruiter for the same reasons he could sell copiers. He is a 'people' person. It is becoming clear that he is not the best X's and O's guy however. He needs to give up the offense to someone who knows it and can devote time to it. He needs to remind his D coordinator that that the weird defense they play only works if you have overwhelming talent.
Brookhart needs to realize that the MAC has figured him out. He does not have nearly enough talent to go out and beat teams with it. Lets see a littel bit of Carlton Jackson when the offense bogs down. It won't cost Getsy anything. he is not going to get drafted.Thats part of adjusting. He has to coach on gameday too.
I want to see this crew of coaches put up a couple 8 win seasons before we annoint Brookhart as the next Paul Brown.
Here's hoping they do.
Go Zips!
akronoldtimer