GAME 1 PREVIEW: AKRON ZIPS

Game 1                      OHIO STATE v AKRON

                        September 3, 2011      Ohio Stadium              Columbus, OH

Akron Zips

Location: Akron, OH

Stadium: InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (30,000)

Coach: Rob Ianello (2^nd year): 1-11 at Akron/overall, 1-7 v MAC, 0-0 v OSU

Series: OSU 6, Akron 1

Last Meeting: 9/8/07: OSU 20, Akron 2

Last Akron win: 9/15/1894: Akron 12, OSU 6

2010 Akron Zips (1-11)(1-7)MAC               2010 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1)(7-1) Big 10

            3          Syracuse                      29                    45        Marshall                        7

37        Gardner-Webb            38                    36        Miami                          24

10        at Kentucky                47                    43        Ohio University              7

20        at Indiana                    35                    73        Eastern Michigan         20

14        Northern Illinois          50                    24        at Illinois                      13

17        at Kent                       28                    38        Indiana                        10

10        at Ohio University      38                    18        at Wisconsin                 31

10        Western Michigan     56                     49        Purdue                           0

  0        at Temple                  30                    52        at Minnesota                10

30        at Ball State              37                     38        Penn State                    14

14        Miami University       19                     20        at Iowa                        17

22        Buffalo                      14                     37        Michigan                       7

                                                                                  31        Arkansas                     26

                                                                                              (Sugar Bowl)

2011 Akron Zips                                            2011 Ohio State Buckeyes

S3        at Ohio State                                                   Akron

S10      Temple                                                            Toledo

S17      at Cincinnati                                                    at Miami

S24      VMI                                                                Colorado

O1       at Eastern Michigan                                        Michigan State

O8       Florida International                                       at Nebraska

O15                                                                             at Illinois

O22     Ohio University

O29     Central Michigan                                            Wisconsin

N5       at Miami University (TH N3)                           Indiana

N12     Kent                                                               at Purdue

N19     at Buffalo                                                        Penn State

N26     at Western Michigan (FR N25)                      at Michigan

 

                Things do not look well for Akron this year and many have forecasted them to finish last again in the MAC East.  They have 14 returning starters, but lose a lot of depth on both sides of the ball.  Akron averaged less than 16 points per game last year, while the defense surrendered an average of 35 points per game, both worst in the MAC.  However, things look brighter under center where the Zips gain an experienced junior college transfer in Clayton Moore.  Antoine Russell returns as the top receiver.  These two highlight a very young offensive unit without much experience.  Akron looks much better on the defensive side, returning three starters in the secondary, and two experienced linebackers in Brian Wagner and Troy Gilmer.  The defensive line adds Michigan State transfer Oren Wilson and Dan Marcoux returns to shore up an experienced line.  Akron’s defensive line and linebackers should be better at stopping the run this year.  The Zips will use a base 4-3 and stunt the linemen quite a bit, figuring it will be their only chance to slow down the OSU running game.  Ohio State will use their superior athleticism to wear down Akron’s defense that does not have much depth.  Due to the QB situation, look for OSU’s offense to establish the run and use at least three or four runners and the athleticism of Braxton Miller.  The sheer athleticism and speed will be too much for the Zips.  Offensively, the Zips, due to the lack of experienced players, will have a tough time getting much of any rhythm going. 

This game could get ugly before halftime, assuming Ohio State doesn’t have a rash of turnovers.

                                               OHIO STATE 44, AKRON 7

Akron Zips Offense						Ohio State Defense
Pos		Player	Ht	Wt	Cl		Pos		Player	Ht	Wt	Cl
WR	81	Anthony Meriweather	6-1	199	Jr		DE	43	Nathan Williams	6-3	255	Sr
T	76	Jarrod Pughsley	6-4	290	So		DT	53	Garrett Goebel	6-3	290	Jr
G	70	Paul Simkovich	6-3	293	Sr		DT	52	Johnathan Hankins	6-3	335	So
C	65	Adam Bice	6-4	287	Jr		DE	54	John Simon	6-2	270	Jr
G	72	Zac Kasparek	6-5	308	Sr		LB	42	Andrew Sweat	6-2	238	Sr
T	73	Jake Anderson	6-6	305	Sr		LB	32	Storm Kline	6-2	230	So
TE	84	Rhyne Ladrach	6-5	247	Jr		LB	6	Etienne Sabino	6-3	242	Jr
WR	35	Keith Sconiers	6-1	185	So		CB	7	Travis Howard	6-1	190	Jr
RB	2	Broderick Alexander	6-1	221	So		CB	25	Bradley Roby	5-11	185	Fr
FB	1	Nick Rossi	6-0	231	Fr		SS	19	Orhian Johnson	6-2	205	Jr
QB	8	Clayton Moore	6-1	209	So		FS	4	C.J. Barnett	6-0	190	So
K	13	T.J. Marchese	5-11	189	Jr		P	17	Ben Buchanan	6-0	180	Jr

Akron Zips Defense						Ohio State Offense
Pos		Player	Ht	Wt	Cl		Pos		Player	Ht	Wt	Cl
DE	58	Nico Caponi	6-2	266	So		WR	9	Verlon Reed	6-0	195	Fr
DT	60	Dan Marcoux	6-3	275	Sr		T	78	Andrew Norwell	6-5	308	So
DT	80	Oren Wilson	6-3	295	Sr		G	74	Jack Mewhart	6-6	303	So
DE	96	Hasan Hazime	6-5	270	Sr		C	50	Mike Brewster	6-5	305	Sr
LB	32	Sheldon Miller	6-0	210	So		G	79	Marcus Hall	6-5	315	So
LB	34	Brian Wagner	6-0	235	Jr		T	76	J.B. Shugarts	6-7	300	Sr
LB	5	Troy Gilmer	6-1	223	Jr		TE	11	Jake Stoneburner	6-5	245	Jr
CB	6	Manley Waller	5-8	170	Sr		WR	10	Corey Brown	5-11	182	So
CB	31	Emmanuel Lartey	5-11	181	Jr		RB	7	Jordan Hall	5-9	195	Jr
SS	33	Josh Richmond	5-11	190	Jr		FB	44	Zach Boren	6-0	252	Jr
FS	30	L.T. Smith	6-0	199	Fr		QB	14	Joe Bauserman	6-1	230	Sr
P	8	Zack Campbell	6-2	198	Sr		K	24	Drew Basil	6-1	212	So