Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Akron Zips season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Akron Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in MAC
Head Coach: Tom Arth
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AKRON OFFENSE
– New offensive coordinator Tommy Zagorski comes in from Eastern Kentucky, where his Colonel attack was great at controlling the ball and the clock with a good ground game, but didn’t do much for the downfield passing game. New head coach Tom Arth’s Chattanooga team last season couldn’t run the ball a lick, but had an efficient passing game. Akron – with the 126th best offense in the country last season – will be somewhere in between.
– Kato Nelson isn’t Tom Brady, but he’s a decent, experienced quarterback who can run a little bit. Now he has to keep thing moving, especially on third downs for an attack that really, really, really couldn’t score. The O line was too leaky and has to do more for the ground game, but three starters are back. Give Nelson time, and he’ll be fine.
– The running backs need to step up with leading rusher Van Edwards gone, and any production will be welcome after the O ran for five scores and finished with just 1,143 yards. On the plus side, Andre Willians and the receiving corps gets back four of the five best targets. Again, give Nelson time, and the passing game will start to work.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE AKRON DEFENSE
– There are rebuilds, and there’s what Akron has to do. Just three starters return from a decent defense that was good at getting into the backfield, but didn’t do enough to pressure the quarterback. Leading pass rusher Jamal Davis is done, but Josh Ward is a decent do-it-all outside presence who’s the new leader up front.
– Alvin Davis might be the MAC’s best defensive back, and he’s one of the best returning statistical playmakers in the country. He’s going to have to do even more for a secondary that loses three starters and needs to find a few backup options in a big hurry.
– The linebacking corps should be a plus early on – at least relative to the rest of the defense – with some quick young options ready to step up in two of the open spots. 126-tackle veteran John Lako is back, but in all six of the top eight tacklers are gone from the D.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP AKRON PLAYERS
Best Akron Offensive Player
QB Kato Nelson, Sr.
The quarterback situation isn’t 100% settled under the new coaching staff, but the 6-1, 215-pound Nelson is one of the few parts of the team’s puzzle to bring a little bit of continuity. He’s a mobile, good runner who finished with 303 yards and a score, and he threw for 2,329 yards, but he only hit 52% of his passes with eight picks.
2. WR Andre Wilson, Jr.
3. WR Jonah Morris, Sr.
4. RB Deltron Sands, Sr.
5. OT Trevor Brown, Sr.
Best Akron Defensive Player
S Alvin Davis, Sr.
He could work as a corner or as a free safety, and he’ll produce. The 5-9, 175-pounder out of Florida turned in an all-star season with good hitting ability for his size – making 75 tackles – to go along with four interceptions, taking two for scores against Northwestern. Quick, aggressive, and experienced, he’ll be a mortal lock for another All-MAC season if he can stay in one piece.
2. LB John Lako, Sr.
3. DE Josh Ward, Sr.
4. DT Davon’te Jest, Sr.
5. DE Justin Sampson, Jr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Akron Offense
Score points. Coming up with a third down conversion would be pleasant – the Zips were next-to-last in America at doing that – and there needs to be an offensive identity, but let’s just make this easy … score. They average fewer than 19 points per game, and managed to score 17 or fewer seven times. Considering how much work there is to do on the defensive side, the offense has to start pulling its weight.
Biggest Key To The Akron Defense
The run defense has to hold up early on. The starting rotation in the front four – or whatever the alignment is based on the gameplan – has to be solid with little in the way of depth. Davon’te Jest is a 300-pounder, but side is an issue – this group will get beaten on early on after allowing 200 rushing yards or more in six of the last nine games.
Key Player To A Successful Season
RB Deltron Sands, Sr.
Or Keyondre White, or Devanier Floyd. One of the running backs has to grow into a go-to back right away to take the pressure off the rest of the attack. This is a painfully thin position, and the 5-8, 195-pound Sands isn’t going to be a workhorse. However, he’s quick enough and experienced enough too tart getting the ball in his hands at least 15 times a game.
Key Game To The Akron Season
at Central Michigan, Sept. 14
The Zips will have two games under their belt before kicking off the MAC season. There are enough winnable games ahead to pull off a few good moments as long they keep on progressing, but getting a win over a rebuilding CMU team on the road would be a huge boost considering the next conference game is against Kent State after getting a week off. After winning just two MAC games last season, beat the Chippewas, and a 2-0 conference start is possible.
– Akron Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Akron Fun Stats
– 4th Quarter Scoring: Opponents 91 – Akron 27
– 3rd Down Conversions: Opponents 70-of-189 (37%) – Akron 49-of-169 (29%)
– Red Zone Scores: Akron 20-of-21 (95%) – Opponents 43-of-53 (81%)
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. AKRON WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
There’s a whole lot of work to do for new head man Tom Arth. He’s a young head man – just 38 going into the season – but he already has six years of coaching experience. This year, he’s going to need to show he can rebuild.
Depth is the biggest overall issue. even with all of the huge losses on a defense that gets back just three starters, the starting 11 will be okay in time. There are all-star talents to build around, but again, the backups are questionable, especially up front.
QB Kato Nelson and the passing game have the parts – the receiving corps should be one of the team’s biggest strengths early on – but the accuracy and downfield plays have to come. The rushing attack has to go from non-existent to at least being somewhat productive, but that will take a few games.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 3
The Zips play six teams that didn’t go bowling last season, and at least a two of the other games should be gettable on the right day.
The lack of home games is a big, big issue. UAB is rebuilding, but that’s no pushover. Troy will be okay, and Buffalo and Ohio are going to be players in the MAC. But Akron should be able to take care of Kent State and it should pull off a win over an Eastern Michigan at home or win on the road at Central Michigan or Bowling Green.
The Zips will get to three wins, but 2019 is a work in progress for 2020.
What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
