(Today we give you the latest from the Akron Zips roster, as we update you on our non-conference preview from a few weeks ago. Here is a more updated look of the Akron Zips. To listen to tBBC Radio Hour previewing the game, click here)
As we outlined earlier this off-season, it can’t get worse than what took place last season for the Akron Zips. Head Coach Rob Ianello has worked hard this off-season to try and close the gap, but it will without a doubt be an uphill battle in the MAC. Ohio State’s opening opponent in the 2011 season has some real work to do to be formidable. Already, there have been some changes in the starting lineup as we get closer to the season.
Let’s dig into the details.
Like every other coach and team in America, The Akron Zips are ready to move on to competition that doesn’t wear the same colored jersey. Ohio State’s week one opponent is highly over matched by talent, but that hasn’t contained the excitement of new head coach Rob Ianello. In his second year at the helm in Zips country, things are starting to come together. Players are starting to understand what it takes to be a part of the program. Most importantly players are buying into the system. Ianello hopes that his coaching style, which he says is based around his time with Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin in the early 90s, leads to vast improvement in year two. That goal starts at Ohio Stadium at high noon on Saturday.
“I want our guys thinking about improvement. I want our guys thinking about playing every play and what they can do to be a better player on the next play. If you cant get excited to play in front of 106,000 people and on national TV then I have the wrong guys in my team meeting room. We are more concerned with the mindset of the Akron football program. We are very processed oriented and I like how our team has gone about their business since the third of August.”
The process continues to be competition at every single position. At running back, only Broderick Alexander has experience at the college level. Five of the 11 starters on the offense are underclassman. Offensive captain Jake Anderson anchors the offensive line at right tackle, but the Zips are absent true game day experience across the front line. The receiver position returns a couple contributors from last season, but there is still no continuity at the position. Defensively, only captain Brian Wagner presents a true mismatch at the inside linebacker position. Special teams is led by long snapper Adam Steiner, who will be surrounded by a new kicker, punt returner, and kick returners. The only depth on this team is at quarterback, where former starter Patrick Nicely will backup top 25 Junior College transfer Clayton Moore to start the season. Coach Ianello believes that the former three star walk on at Ole Miss gives the Zips the better chance to win on Saturdays.
“Patrick has made tremendous improvements as Clayton did,” said Ianello. “The good news about our quarterback situation is that we are stronger at that position today then we were at any time a year ago. We had more competition at that position during training camp then we’ve had at any other time since I’ve been here . The decision to go with Clayton was based on overall evaluation of the body of work of training camp. We certainly saw Clayton improve quite of bit from Spring practice. He did have a significant amount of big plays with the ones in training camp and he threw at a very good percentage. The offense doesn’t change no matter who the quarterback is . The system is the system, and we looked for the guy that executed it the best and the decision came down to Clayton and we are confident in that decision.”
In the backfield, despite Jawon Chisholm’s 124 yard performance on the ground in the spring game, it will be running back by committee. Included in the mix is true freshman Karell Bostick. The 5’9″ 200 lb 2 star recruit out of New Jersey is a north and south runner who has impressed the coaching staff early in the season.
You’ll see Broderick (Alexander), You’ll see (Jawon) Chisholm, You’ll see Marvin (Stanton) some [against Ohio State], but you’ll also see Karell Bostick, the true freshman from Bergen Catholic,” said Ianello. “He’s had a good training camp for us. He’s really picked up the offense well, he has good strength and quick feet.”
Defensively, it will be hard for the defensive front to collapse the Buckeye offensive line, but without a doubt Brian Wagner will create havoc in the open field. The Dayton product has been coached under two different coaches and three different defensive coordinators. He led the team in tackles under the 3-4 in 2009 and the 4-3 in 2010. New defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska) brings 15 years of experience at that coaching position to the table and Wagner is his lead chess piece. Undoubtedly one of the top MAC defenders this season, Wagner is a the true talent that coach Ianello hopes can stop the bleeding caused by the Scarlet Assassins on the ground. against the run ‘s defense.
“He has done a very good job of leading our team not just by example, but by stepping up vocally,” said Ianello on Monday. “He is a guy that you watch tape and he is there. He knows where the ball is. He knows where his gaps are. He’s very instinctive. He literally likes playing football, and it shows up everyday he goes to practice.”
Those are the types of players you root for on game day. Unless, of course, they are playing Ohio State on Saturday. Buckeye fans are anticipating the beginning of a new era of Ohio State football. On the flipside, the Zips are holding high on hopes that this is the year that things start to turn around. Akron’s head coach believes that both teams will be making changes on Saturday on the fly. He also believes that coach Fickell will have some of his own changes in philosophy heading into his first game as head coach.
“I think any head coach when you go into an opening game there are some things that are going to get tweaked and changed in the off-season,” Ianello said in his weekly teleconference on Monday. “You’re going to study your personel and some other people you want to reasearch and add to your system. We did that at Akron and I’m almost certain Ohio State did the same thing.
“You have to be prepared for quite a lot no matter who the opponent is because of the nature of openers. Ohio State has tremendous personel at every position. They will be ready to play on Saturday. I have no doubt. “I think it’s a neat thing that most of my team is from Ohio and we are playing in the state. That is a great thing for our program and our team. The state of Ohio is our number one recruiting base. This will be an opportunity for our fans to see us play. There is a lot of positives to Akron playing this game.”
Despite that fact, it will be near impossible for the Zips to come out victorious on the scoreboard on Saturday. There are more than a few people thinking though that this is the year that Akron gets back to winning ways.
Buckeye Notes:
— Running Back Jaamal Berry is still hampered by a injured hamstring. At this point, the indication is that he wont play in week one. That means the carries for Jordan Hall, Rod Smith and Carlos Hyde could all go up. Berry is listed as a kick returner but would be replaced by Chris Fields if Berry doesn’t play. Also missing from Saturday’s game will be offensive lineman Corey Linsley, who has been suspended from game one of the season. Linsley will most likely miss week two against Toledo after reportedly violating team rules. That means all five backups on the 2 deep are either freshman or walk-ons.
— LONG-SNAPPER UPDATE: Incoming freshman Bryce Haynes is listed as the backup to start the 2011 campaign. RS Sophomore George Makridis will get the start against Akron. Nothing drastic, just have to make sure our main man Mali is updated on the latest long snappin’ action.
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