Football
Here are some overall thoughts. I only listened to the game, so I don't feel comfortable giving a full analysis.
Offense – Zero net rushing yards is a serious accomplishment for this offensive line. It's a collaboration of poor run blocking and Patrick Nicely getting sacked five times for 42 yards of lost ground. Maybe coach Joe Moorhead and tackle Chris Kemme were more valuable than we thought. Zero rushing yards is asinine. I could take Western Kentucky and put them against the Florida Gators. I bet WKU (the worst FBS team) would even gain a yard on the ground. Nicely had his first good game. Although he has improved each week, Saturday is the first day when his stat line justifies his playing. Andre Jones has picked up at receiver as if he never left the position. He never should have. Jeremy LaFrance and Nicely continued to build chemistry. Grade: D-
Defense – Akron allowed Delone Carter (formerly of Copley H.S.) to prance for 170 yards. But they did a good job stopping Syracuse's passing game. Sean Fobbs made some nice plays, including two tackles for loss. The defense has not been the main problem this year, nor was it Saturday. Grade: C
Special teams – Branko Rogovic blew both of his field-goal attempts. Zack Campbell somehow boomed a 76-yard punt. Dashan Miller returned a kick for a 98-yard touchdown. It's a mixed bag. Grade: B-
Coaching – I pity J.D. Brookhart. This must be very hard on him because I know he cares deeply. I will say this in his defense: The team is not quitting. Contrast it with the Browns some seasons, when you sense the game should be played with circus music in the background. This isn't a team that I would bet against. It's not a team that is hopeless each Saturday. But it IS a team that was supposed to make its campus proud and "violently protect" InfoCision Stadium. It IS a team that had talent at one point to play in a bowl game. Syracuse isn't very good, so sticking with them is not even a moral victory, but the Zips are far from embarrassing themselves on the field. If the team picks up momentum and finishes with four or five wins, the bad taste would be cleansed from many fans' mouths. Grade: C
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The only bright spot of the day was the punting apparently. Stec was atrocious but Campbell had a 51 yard average, 76 yard long, and a net average of 40 yards.
Meanwhile the kicking game remains at rock bottom and the offense sputters. We do need to keep in mind that we are down to our third quarterback – not too many teams suceed with their third qb in the game.
You could say we are down to our 4th team QB if you count Jordan Miller as the 3rd team QB that quit in Fall camp. Our defense has been playing tough when you consider the positions that they have been in this season. The Zips red zone defense has been pretty good. I like the play of Harvey and Hazime, and of course Sewell. Note that our Freshman standout LB Brian Wagner only played sparingly on Saturday against Syracuse. On offense, we may need to start playing reserves on the line. I'd like to see more of Simkovich, who turned down a scholarship at Michigan State to play here. Don't listen to the toothless nosepickers that are coming out to bash Akron on this blog as it's like Neil Young used to say 'good times are coming, but they're sure coming slow'. For now, die hard Zips fans will have to be content to evaluate play and discuss coaching and front office strategies.