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2008 Akron Zips Football Preview

Akron's Strengths:

• Kevin Grant and Doug Williams make up a solid duo at linebacker. Both will contend for all-conference honors. Toss in DE Almondo Sewell, a 2nd team all-conference selection a year ago, and the defense has a solid nucleus of talent to build around.
• Bryan Williams was the MAC leader in kickoff returns averaging 32 yards per return in 2007.
• Eight starters return on offense while the Zips should have some solid special teams with the return of PK Igor Iveljic and punter John Stec.

Akron's Weaknesses:

• QB Chris Jacquemain is going to have to step up his production. Last year he tossed 11 TDs with 10 INTs. Jacquemain should benefit from former Akron QB standout Luke Getsy, who joined the program as a graduate assistant coach, although Jacquemain threw three INTs in the spring game. There is limited depth at quarterback behind him.
• Akron graduated nearly their entire secondary from last year. There will be considerable transition this fall in that entire unit. After ranking 53rd in the country in pass defense last season, that may drop significantly this fall unless several unproven players step up quickly.
• Akron lost three MAC games last year by 7 points or fewer in finishing 4-8. The Zips were not that far away from a 7-5 (6-1 MAC) campaign. Winning close games is a must given the very difficult schedule this year. An offense that lacks an identity and averaged just 21 points per game (97th nationally) will need to improve drastically.

Akron's 2008 Opportunities:

• Several big-name transfers should bring immediate impact to some key areas of the team. RB Andrew Johnson come to Akron from Miami (FL) and brings rare size (5-10, 215) and speed to the UA backfield. Ryan Bain (6-2, 305), a transfer from Iowa, looks to start at DT while West Virginia transfer Jeremy Bruce adds depth at WR.
• There is now so much depth at RB that Akron’s top rusher from a year ago, Bryan Williams, has been moved to DB. Dennis Kennedy rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in 2006 returns after an injury-plagued ’07 campaign. Alex Allen is a very productive veteran while Gary Pride and Andrew Johnson each will see playing time. The Zips running game should be much improved from last year’s 128-yard per game output.
• Four starters return along the offensive line and there is much more depth in the trenches than a year ago. Akron also has two of the top TE players in the MAC with Merce Poindexter and Jose Cruz.

Akron's Threats:

• While six of Akron’s top eight pass-catchers return, the big void is the graduation of Jabari Arthur. All Arthur did last year was rank #3 in the MAC in receptions per game and #2 in the league in receiving yards per contest. In fact, he accounted for half of the entire Zip receiving output in 2007. The other player lost was RB Bryan Williams – see below.
• Bryan Williams was the teams leading rusher last year and established himself as a quality receiver in the offense too. Moving him to DB certainly adds immediate athleticism to that unit, but how much scoring was lost to an already offensive-challenged team?
• Also on the move was Andre Jones, who left his starting free safety position and goes to WR. There is extremely limited playing experience returning to the DB unit entering the season.

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The Big Game(s) for the Zips:

October 4th at Kent State is not only the rivalry game for both programs, it’s the game that will kick start the MAC East games for the Zips. Hosting BGSU the following week will mean something if Akron can beat Kent State. The Zips get a break by not playing Miami this year in divisional play.

Final Analysis of Akron in 2008:

The Zips are in need of a rebound after a pair of losing seasons. That will be difficult with an early schedule that features Wisconsin, Syracuse, Ball State and Cincinnati all before the end of September as Akron will not be favored in any of those contests. Offensive innovation and better execution is a must as Akron ranked 111th nationally in total offense in 2007. With a beautiful new on campus stadium being built for the 2009 campaign, Coach JD Brookhart is in a must-win situation this year in order to generate the needed excitement before going into their new home next fall. A .500 season with this schedule would have to be considered a success.

By Nick Gerogosian
published 07.07.2008