 The Akron Zips may be just 1-4 in this 2011 season, but one can see improvement in head coach Rob Ianello’s team every week, especially on the offensive side of the football.
After gaining just 90 total yards in the season opener against Ohio State, UA has amassed 1,454 yards over the last four games. The Zips are averaging 363.5 yards per game over that span and have had over 300 yards in total offense the last three games
TURNING POINT IN CINCINNATI?
“I think since the second half of the Cincinnati game, we have been playing better offensively” Ianello said. The offense had 534 yards in UA’s lone win of the season over VMI, 36-13, on September 24, marking the first time an Akron offense has gained over 500 yards in a game since 2008 against Eastern Michigan.
Most of the yards have come through the running game. After having just 87 yards in the first two games (against OSU and Temple), the Zips have gained 562 yards on the ground in the last three games, an average of 187.3 yards per contest.
Redshirt freshman Jawon Chisholm has been the workhorse in the Zips running game. He has 532 yards on the season, second in the Mid-American Conference to Bernard Pierce of Temple, who has 571 yards.
Chisholm, a native of Harrisburg, Pa. has had three consecutive 100-yard rushing games after gaining 122 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown in the 31-23 loss last Saturday at EMU. Last season, Alex Allen had three straight 100-yard ground games. “Jawon has improved in his abilities.” Ianello said. “That’s a great place to start with a guy who can dot the i.”
PASSING GAME STILL WORK IN PROGRESS
One part of the offense, though, that needs to get on track is the passing game. Over the first five games of the season, sophomore quarterback Clayton Moore has been around 50 percent accuracy on his throws (61-for-128 .477) for 837 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions.
“We are developing an identity as a team that will start with the run.” Ianello said. “To compliment that, we have to throw (the football) better. That’s got to be, in the next seven games, what we grow up with.”
Moore’s highest yardage game of the season was 223 with three touchdowns against VMI, while the most completions he had was 16 in the loss at Cincinnati. In addition, all six of Moore’s touchdown passes have come in the last three games, and he has not thrown a pick in the last two.
“Our drop-back passing game has further to go. Our play-action has been fine.” Ianello said. “That is on everybody. Making sure we are devising good effective schemes in the staff room, protecting him (Moore) route running. There are enough variables around for everybody to improve upon.”
SOPHOMORE LEADING ZIPS RECEIVER
One key player who Moore has in the passing game is sophomore wide receiver Keith Sconiers, who leads the Zips with 24 receptions for 420 yards. He has four touchdowns and has led UA receivers in catches the past three games with 20 over that span.
Another factor in the passing game is the play of the offensive line and their ability to give Moore time to throw. In the first two games, the line gave up 13 sacks. Over the last three games, it has allowed just eight.
INJURIES HIT LINE
However, the line took an injury hit last Saturday against the Eagles with two starters -- junior center Adam Bice, and senior right guard Zac Kasparek -- both injured in the game and expected to miss significant time. In their place, senior Paul Simkovich fills Bice’s void at center, and junior Vinnie Rizzo steps for Kasparek at right guard.
This Saturday is homecoming on the UA campus, and the Zips complete the non-conference portion of their schedule as the Panthers of Florida International out of the Sun Belt Conference pay a visit to InfoCision Stadium for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
FIU, under sixth-year head coach Mario Cristobal, had their first winning season in school history last season. The Panthers went 7-6, capped by a 34-32 win over Toledo at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, the first ever bowl appearance for the school.
“I have great respect and admiration for Coach Cristobal.” Ianello said. “He started his career at 0-11 (2006), then won his last game of his first season and has gone on from there.” Last season, Ianello started 0-11 and then picked up his first win when Akron defeated Buffalo in the season finale, 17-10.
FIU WAS PRESEASON FAVORITE
In the preseason, FIU was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference. It started strong, winning its opening three games for the first time in school history. Included in those wins was a 24-17 win at Louisville before a national television audience. Since then, the Panthers have lost two straight home games to Louisiana-Lafayette and, last week, Duke.
FIU runs the spread offense, which will give the Zips a different scheme than previous opponents have played so far this season. The Panthers have one of the best wide receivers in all of college football in senior T.Y. Hilton, who has 25 receptions so far in 2011 for 497 yards and four touchdowns. “They are extremely fast,” Ianello said.
When asked about the Zips, Cristobal said “They are really committed to being a very physical football team. They have one of the best linebackers in the MAC (junior Brian Wagner). They are versatile when they run the football and (will try) to establish running the football. They are a real good opponent, a great challenge and opportunity for our team.”
Cristobal, a Miami native who played and was an assistant coach at the University of Miami before taking the FIU job, also said he likes Chisholm’s running style. He also had some high praise for senior right tackle Jake Anderson saying “He is a real physical guy, very good in both the run game, and in pass protection.”
Saturday’s game starts a three-game homestand for the Zips, who can enjoy home turf in four of the next five contests. With the bye week coming up, they would like a victory over a quality opponent to build some momentum before resuming MAC play against a very strong Ohio University team October 22.
NOTES: The game is the first ever meeting between the two schools…The two teams will meet again next season at FIU Field in Miami…UA leads the MAC in pass defense allowing just 163 yards a game…Brian Wagner-UA leads the MAC in tackles with 59 (21 solo) and is tied for seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision…UA is 11-10-2 lifetime against the Sun Belt Conference (last game coming in 2008 vs. Arkansas State)…T.Y. Hilton-FIU holds 15 school records including the receiving and all-purpose yardage records…FIU is the first Sun Belt team and 14th different school to play the Zips in InfoCision Stadium…FIU is 5-5 lifetime against the MAC….FIU has been playing football only since 2002, moving to the FBS in 2005 -- the fastest time ever for a current school that started a football program.
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