Akron stumbles again in loss to Buffalo
Posted October 27th, 2007 by mrasor
Football
Is this rock bottom?
Losing to Temple and Buffalo in consecutive games was unfathomable in August. However, Akron is heading one direction. The Owls and Bulls are going another.
The Zips politely declined to take advantage of scoring opportunities throughout their 26-10 loss today.
Akron outgained Buffalo, 327 to 280. Buffalo snatched each possible point. Akron whiffed.
That’s the real story of this game. It’s analogous to quarterback Chris Jacquemain’s season. His stats aren’t bad, but he rarely completes the crucial pass.
I wondered to myself today, how many wins would the Zips have if they played their best player at quarterback? I think the answer is four, including the most recent losses.
Matt Rodgers, whom I heard had minor shoulder surgery, is no longer an option, and the team wouldn’t play him anyhow because it would result in the loss of a year of eligibility. But why, oh why, aren’t we seeing Carlton Jackson?
The team decided to start Jacquemain after camp broke. They founded the choice on a presumption that the running game would be enough to carry the team, and the quarterback must be a solid game manager who avoids turnovers. Whether Jacquemain fits that description is debatable. What’s certain is that Akron needs a playmaking quarterback to keep up. The running game cannot carry the Zips to wins alone.
I believe Jackson will start Friday at Bowling Green — not because I have any inside information, but because common sense mandates it.
The defense played well enough to win. The Bulls’ great running attack gained only 3 yards per carry. Akron’s running game was effective. There were no huge gaffes on special teams. Do you see what I’m getting at? I’m isolating this loss completely on the quarterback.
You can look at the coaches, too. At first, I thought the second-half disparity was coincidental. At this point in the season, you have to say there’s something else at work. Maybe other coaches are making adjustments while J.D. Brookhart sits on his hands. Maybe Akron isn’t deep enough. Maybe Akron isn’t well-conditioned for 60 minutes of football.
In all scenarios, the blame falls on the coaches. So does the quarterback decision. I refuse to praise Brookhart as a good coach one week, then a lousy one the next. Unless the Zips lose out and the team revolts, he should keep his job.
Although I’ve been critical of Joe Moorhead as the offensive coordinator, I liked his play calling today. He took chances and was creative.
As always, I’ll have much more tomorrow.
October 27th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
What could Carlton Jackson have done so bad that would warrant him not seeing any action for this long. There is no rule I am aware of that calls for the benching of a player for this many weeks. There is something very strange about this whole situation.
October 27th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
What’s more troubling: the actual lack of performance each week, or the coaching staff’s belief prior to the season that their RUNNING GAME, of all things, would be enough to carry the team??!! How long did it take for the STARTING running back to be lopped off the depth chart altogether?? What kind of talent evaluation was that–thinking Dennis freakin’ Kennedy would “carry” this team?? That decision, alone, is a microcosm of everything wrong with this program. No quality talent evaluators, poor recruiting, poorer coaching, horrible on-field play and relying solely on fluke upsets.
ATTENTION MACK RHOADES: A CHANGE IS IN ORDER. It was made in the basketball program, and look at the year in, year out excellence. YOU CAN INITIATE the same in football, but you must hire the RIGHT LEADER FOR THIS PROGRAM.
October 27th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
This loss was devastating for this season’s prospects. Not only did it pretty much eliminate the Zips from divisional title contention it also leaves them with absolutely no wiggle room for attempting to make a bowl game at all. The only way they’ll be able to make it at this point is if they get in like Northern Illinois did last year (by virtue of the 7 wins must go ahead of 6 win teams to open bowl spots unable to be filled by tie-ins). But now the Zips must win out just to get to that 7-5 mark. I just don’t see that happening.
I too would like to see Jackson at quarterback on Friday. Whether he is the better QB or not this team needs a “spark” on offense. While I WOULD put a lot of the blame on Jacquemain today I wouldn’t have him shouldering as much of the blame as is suggested here. He would have looked a whole lot better today if his receivers were able to catch the ball. How many drops did they have today? Judging by the call of the game by the Bulls radio announcers, It was unbelievably high number!
October 27th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
I agree, Gary. Jacquemain shouldn’t get as much blame as I placed. The wind was ferocious and there were plenty of dropsies.
As far as the bowl goes, you never know. A lot of us were ready to fire JD after the Army loss in 2005. Never count his guys out.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
QB problems? Who us? Nahhhh. Rodgers getting surgery CJ7 getting punishment and CJ11 getting spooked in the pocket. Maybe its time to look down the QB depth chart. What do we have to lose? How does that definition of insanity go…? “Ya can’t expect a different result if ya keep doin the same ol’ thing over and over”. So to change things up I would like to see more of Joe Tuzze playing FB so we have someone who can run between the tackles and provide more pass protection for the QB. I would like to try Jabari at TE ( say what?? ) so we could have more of a receiving threat at that position. It would also make our two TE sets more effective. Then we could replace Jabari’s position with another speedy receiver. Since teams are going to try to shut Jabari down, this would open things up and give our QB more targets. Hey just trying to think outside the box. Mathematically I think we still have a chance. We need to win out and Buffalo needs to lose their remaining MAC East games. It’s possible but not probable. But hey Buffalo is Buffalo. Maybe they can’t handle the winning especially with a bye week coming up for them. All we can hope for is that they get sloppy coming back and that Willey and Starks come up lame for 3-4 weeks. I know call me a dreamer, its okay.
October 27th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Who’s that tool on the Zips postgame show? What a shill. His excuse for the crap we’re watching is: this team is young and hasn’t had time to gel. Shut up, just Shut. Up. What was last year’s excuse?
I’d say a lack of any playmaker, zero production from the tight-end position (for years now, JD), 3rd-rate quarterbacks, a ridiculously porous defense, completely ineffective offense, team politics, overrated recruiting classes…need I go on?…are the real reasons for Akron’s struggles. This regime ain’t cuttin’ it. Stop the excuses. You want to see how to build a program? Go ask Turner Gill or the Temple coach. Isn’t it amazing how a quality coach REALLY CAN make all the difference? Look at OSU before and after Jim Tressel, for instance. One man, one winning system…just keeps reloading, not rebuilding (or using that as an excuse).
October 28th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I can not believe that the zips went from MAC Champs to MAC Chumps. Seriously. It kills me as a fan week after week to see this garbage. We start off good and then stop. We have a phenomenal receiver who gets shafted for the run. Don’t you get more yards if you pass? Then again our QB isn’t consistent…I thought Luke Getsy graduated. It’s was past due for the REAL QB Mr. Jackson to get off the sidelines and into the game. Sometimes I think that coach doesn’t want to excel as he once did.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Chris I agree that something needs to be done to give whoever is at QB more options on who to throw the ball to. Personally, I’d like to see Dennis Kennedy (anybody remember him?) move to a wideout position. From what I’ve seen the guy has excellent hands and being as he has always been a RB he has to be a pretty good runner in the open field. If he isn’t going to play at RB and the current WR (other than Jabari) aren’t going to catch the ball, then what do we have to lose?
October 28th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Gary,
I don’t think DK would make a good WR. He’s short and not particularly fast. I could probably cover him on a good day. His best attribute is his bowling-ball strength. Tacklers bounce off him, but that doesn’t do much good if he can’t get open.
Mitch,
If Jacquemain makes a few plays Saturday and the Zips convert a 3rd and 2 against Temple, we’re talking about JD as a MAC COTY candidate. As long as he still recruits well, maintains the respect of his players and starts to fix some game decision-making, he’s got my support.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:17 am
I don’t understand how you say JD recruits well.
I don’t consider recruiting well signing a good class.
I consider recruiting well to see those players develop into good D1 talent. Most of his players never even qualify.
The ones that do qualify don’t seem to develop under this staff.
If you look at the top talent UA has brought in during the Brookhart regime, a very low percent has ever taken the field for the Zips. That is pathetic.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:26 am
In this year’s class, only one player didn’t qualify. That’s 95 percent.
In previous classes, some of the higher profile recruits didn’t qualify, but the percentage still was high. Take a look at the team right now:
OL: Almost all JD’s guys. All progressing well.
RB: Bryan Williams, Alex Allen
DL: Big Nate (sort of a recruit), Almondo Sewell
LB: Kevin Grant, Doug Williams
DB: Brandon Williams, Andre Jones
K: Igor Iveljic
Keep in mind, J.D.’s first class hasn’t reached its senior year. Give them time.
He has recruited a lot of talent. I’m telling you this team would have a winning record if not for the one flaw: keeping Jacq at QB, rather than another touted recruit (CJ).
October 29th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Speaking of recruits, why is Rodgers deciding to have his shoulder surgery now in the middle of the season? Was he really healthy enough to even play this season? Does he qualify for a medical redshirt? If so then this coming spring he still has 5 to play 4 yrs of eligibility left and/or he could transfer. Was this a JD decision or a Rodgers decision? So right now we are down to 2 QB’s and 2 walkons. Oh Oh.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
I was at the Buffalo game on Saturday. Sat on th 50 behind the Zips bench. Same stuff we have been seeing since mid last year. Other than the usual from the Defense,can’t cover,can’t tackle,can’t get ITSELF off the field, I saw the same from Jacquemain, (By the way the wind was blowing when Buffalo had the ball also), locks on one receiver,can’t run,panics,forces the ball. One VERY interesting thing, except after the first drive, when the offense came off the field nobody talked to Jacquemain and he didn’t talk to anybody. He was usually on the bench with his head down. He is not a leader and doesn’t seem to want that job. The players seem to know it.
Too many plays for lossess,too many questionable play calls in scoring territory. No plays from the defense to turn the game. Same stuff week after week.
Brookhart and his staff have been unable to get this team to respond and progress. After THIS year is the time to make the call on Brookhart. A new stadium in 2009 would be a nice incentive for a head coach with some head coaching and organizing experience. You don’t want to be 4-8 in the new palce.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Lee Adams I agree with you on every word you’ve said. Defense and Offense both were terrible. It seems like a lot of these die hard fans don’t want to face reality that we need new coaches. Fleming, Moorehead, and Brookhart should pack their bags and leave town.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Mike,
Buddy, your blog is great and all, but saying that “J.D. Brookhart would be a Coach of the Year candidate if the Zips had converted a 3rd-and-two play” tends to ruin your credibility.
Remember, this is the guy who stuck with an unproductive QB each and every game last season, instead of giving a future QB some valuable experience. He was loyal “to a fault” with Getsy. His decisions with this year’s QBs have been equally as questionable, from the musical-chair starters to the odd “play one series in 2nd Q and then sit” theories. Truth be told, neither of the starters he has used are team leaders. That’s why Zip Nation is so hopeful about the Rodgers kid.
I have no doubt that JD will start Carlton this week, giving in to mounting pressure. But from what I have observed of the guy, he is nothing special at all, and I expect to lose with him, as well. Team morale has plummeted for the 2nd straight year, and the man in charge has been unable to combat it. Coach of the Year? Probably closer to Former Zips Coach…
October 29th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
So Mike you calim that JD has done a great job of recruiting.
Well then he must be one crappy coach. Because if he recruits as well as you say he does and the team looks like it does something is wrong.
This year, only 1 guy didn’t qualify. Look at all the past years.
The percentage is terrible.
JD needs to turn this around now.
October 30th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I’m not saying CJ11 has played horribly, but with limited offensive weapons CJ7 would definitly be the better option. From what I’ve heard, CJ7 carries some of that S. FLA cockiness around with him and it has apparently rub some on the coaching staff the wrong way. But, that is how kids from FLA play the game in High School. Down there either you’re confident or you get destroyed.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
In “TEAM” sports there is no tolerance allowed between being confident(cocky, swagger,can do attitude, etc.) and being self absorbed (self centered,loner,camera hog, stat grabber,etc.) regardless of where you come from. CJ7 needs to decide whether he is playing for the team or for himself. That harsh reality is what I believe JD is trying to convey to CJ7 and if the rest of the team takes notice, then so be it. “Life comes at you hard sometimes.”
October 30th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
How can JD discipline someone because they are cocky or being self absorbed? Just look at his staff, Fleming, Moorehead and Chambers. They all have this personality conflict with these guys just because. If they don’t like you for whatever reason they see fit, they will not play you. But then the ones that are in their click play no matter what. They can disrespect them and still play. This favortism needs to stop. If you discipline one, you should discipline all. Why should one be able to get away with something and the others can’t. Is that TEAM sports?
October 30th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I would disagree that a coach will still play you if you disrespect him. Respect for authority and the chain of command are essential on a football team. My guess is that CJ7 isn’t the only player not playing because of disciplinary reasons. So that does make it a “team” policy. The QB position is a position of leadership. So it has to/ needs to start at the top. The head coach is at the top of that chain of command and therefore has the responsibility of deciding the manner in which the team will exist and/or operate. Once the tail starts wagging the dog it’s over. Ask any successful head coach, and they will tell you undisciplined teams do not win. Currently the Zips are not winning. Which indicates the team lacks sufficient discipline. Once sufficient discipline is established, then the Zips will start winning consistently. It doesn’t work any other way. A winning discipline translates into fewer critical mistakes made on the field of play ie. fumbles,picks,penalties,missed assignments, and an inability to finish off an opponent. Once a disciplined culture is firmly established, the new guys coming in will conform to it easily because they will not know any other way. I don’t think the Zips are quite there yet. But they are close. JMHO
October 30th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Guess what? The tail is wagging. That’s why they aren’t winning. Too much favortism going around. You want to discipline some, but not all. If this was a team effort, all would be treated equal. Until the favortism stops and all are treated equal, this team will never win. I believe JD, and the entire football staff are not DI coaching potential and shouldn’t be here.
October 30th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Just because a player is not being disciplined doesn’t mean he is being favored. Maybe that player isn’t in need of discipline because he already “IS” disciplined.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
People get the idea that just because a guy is confident/cocky that he is not a team player. No one ever said that CJ7 wasn’t a team player. When your production equals a team win that makes you a team player. The guy produces when he is in the game. The last we heard from the coaching staff about CJ7 was that he was being benched because of a violation of team rules before the UC game about 4 weeks ago. A vague statement like “A violation of team rules” allows people like the last poster to come up with all types of assumptions about a players character (self absorbed, loner, camera hog, stat grabber ect.). The player never gets an opportunity to answer to any specific rule violations because no specific ones have been made. Subsequently, the coach doesn’t have to be held accountable for any possible eccessive punishment because the rule that the player allegedly broke has never been revealed. The Coach can continue to keep the player in his dog house for as long as he sees fit. How conveniant for Coach. If you don’t think that politics like this go on in “TEAM” sports then you are sadly mistaken. Sounds like Fred might know a little something about what is going on around the Zips’ camp.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Bottom line, there is internal chaos in the football program, from the coaches on down. I don’t see ANY leaders on the field (if Mackey was the only one, help us!). The whole thing is just a mess and a weekly letdown for folks “trying” to be fans of UA football. They’re making it vitually impossible.
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