Akron Zips College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Akron Zips Biggest Key: Offense
The Zips finally have to generate a good passing game. It was one of the last-efficient passing games in the country and was 113th in yards per completion.
It was a struggle just to keep the chains moving, there weren’t enough big plays down the field, and there was little to no help for a running game that was dared to try producing against the stacked fronts.
There were a few big plays in the wild 69-35 loss to Kent State, but that was about it. The offense failed to average more than 5.2 yards per pass in four of the six games with just four touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Akron Zips Biggest Key: Defense
The pass defense has to come up with more big stops. It has to pick off passes, it has to make a play on third downs, and it has to just be better.
The Zips had one of the nation’s least-efficient pass defenses. Opposing quarterbacks averaged ten yards per attempt with 12 touchdown passes and just two picks. Bowling Green’s passing game didn’t work in the 31-3 loss, and Buffalo was the only other team that didn’t have success when needed.
The Bulls, though, were busy running for 428 yards and six touchdowns.
Just four years ago, Akron’s defense generated 19 interceptions, it came up with just five in 2019, and then last year it failed to come up with one until the final two games.
Akron Zips Key Player To A Successful Season
DT Bryce Wilson, Soph.
There isn’t a whole lot of bulk for the interior. 308-pound Nazir Sy was part of the rotation making nine tackles, and the 6-3, 285-pound Wilson made just seven stops in five games. Neither one generated a tackle for loss. They’ll combine to work on the nose and they need to do more for a run defense that struggled way too much.
Akron Zips Key Game To The 2021 Season
Ohio, Oct. 2
The Zips finally got a win in the Tom Arth era last year with the blowout over Bowling Green. That’s the second MAC game of the season, but first is a visit from a solid Ohio team that’s good enough to be in contention for the conference title.
Just how much has Akron improved over the last few years? It pushed Ohio hard in a 24-10 loss last year but got rocked 52-3 in 2019. The 2017 Zips won 37-34, and that’s been about it in a run of 12 losses in the last 13 games to the Bobcats. Pull this off at home, and it might just be the sign that everything is changing.
– Akron Zips Schedule Analysis
2020 Akron Zips Fun Stats
– Passing TDs: Opponents 12 – Akron 4
– Penalties: Opponents 38 for 374 yards – Akron 24 for 190 yards
– Average Rushing Yards Per Game: Opponents 248.2 – Akron 141.7