Week 8: Akron Zips at Syracuse Orange
Syracuse is back in action after a bye week. It will be real interesting to see how the team responds to a team that gave them a demoralizing beat down in last season’s home opener. Read on as LvilleOrange gets you up to speed on this week’s matchup.
When: Saturday October 24rd, 2009 – 3:30 PM Eastern
Where: Syracuse, New York in the Carrier Dome
Capacity: 49,262
Television: Time Warner
Tailgating information: TexanMarks Tailgate Guide
Akron Reading Material (via pacusefan): Akron reading Material
The Spread: Syracuse -10.5.
Rivalry info: This will be the second meeting between these schools. Akron won last year’s game 42-283 triumph. Syracuse is 676-476-49 all time. Akron is 483-470-37 all time.
Coaches: Akron – JD Brookhart – 6th season at Akron (28-38 overall.) Syracuse- Doug Marrone – 1st season at Syracuse (2-4 overall.)
Syracuse Offense vs Akron Defense: The Orange offense has had a week to regroup, rest and recover. No player needed that rest more than QB Greg Paulus. Greg threw 6 INTs the last two weeks against WV and USF. The offensive line looks like it has had a chance to regroup with Ryan Bartholomew moving to center in place of injured Jim MacKenzie. Josh White and Adam Rosner are also getting a chance to break the starting lineup. The line has been a sore subject for much of the year as the unit has been unable to move opponents off the ball and get Syracuse a 100 yard rusher. There is also the concern of an influential starter being suspended for this game. The Orange welcome Cody Catalina back at TE. He should help give Paulus another target downfield. I believe there will be more emphasis on getting the running game going and just building some confidence in an offensive unit that has been just terrible converting on 3rd downs. If the Orange goes 1 – 12 on third down this week, this game will be interesting for all the wrong reasons.
The Zips may have a 1-5 record but the defensive side of the ball has done all it can do to prevent it. The Zips rank second in the MAC and 25th in the NCAA in red zone defense. Opponents are scoring just 72 percent of the time when getting inside Akron’s 20-yard line. LB Brian Wagner has been a tackling machine. The true freshman has racked up 67 tackles in 6 games so far this season. He is the only linebacker, all classes included, to rank among the nation’s top 56 in tacklers, interceptions, forced fumbles and fumbles recovered. More pressure will be on Wagner as starting LB Aaron Williams was lost for the season with a broken arm. The Zips have lost 13 players to injury or suspension this season and must also deal with CB Manley Waller who is questionable with an ankle.
Akron Offense vs Syracuse Defense: It’s been a rough season for the Zips offense and the season is only half over. Starting QB Chris Jacqueman was suspended from the team for breaking team rules (fighting). Next backup QB Matt Rodgers tore his ACL and is out for the year. Now add WR Deryn Bowser to the list of the injured. The star receiver is done for the year following a broken fibula sustained last week against Buffalo. What makes his injury so bad is, that he had every receiving TD the Zips have this year. If not for the insertion of Da’mon Merkerson in the secondary, we could have seen the battle of same last names (the Scotts) versus the same first names in Jeremy LaFrance and Jeremy Bruce. Although versatile CB Andre Jones is expected to also move into the starting lineup at WR. On the ground, it is running back by committee. Joe Tuzze is the leading rusher at 167 yards on the season, but expect Davoe Torrance, Alex Allen, and Norman Shuford to split the touches. Third string QB Patrick Nicely will be making his sec0nd career start. Staying upright will be a priority for Nicely as the Zips have yielded 15 sacks through 6 games.
For Syracuse, the key this week will be sustained intensity. The Zips are working with depth that was not expected to see the field. I expect Akron to pull out all their tricks in the playbook, much like Maine did earlier in the year. The secondary cannot allow any big plays and the LBs must stay cognizant of the draw plays that killed the Orange last season. The Zips QBs are expected to run with football, the QB position actually leads the team in rushing attempts. Getting them off the field will go along way to securing a victory.
Why Syracuse will win: The Orange will have seen and heard enough about last year’s game to make them want to atone in a big way. The running game gets going and the defense totally shuts down an injured depleted Zip offense.
Why Akron will win: The Zips get improved play from Nicely and the Orange offense continues to struggle to convert 3rd downs. Paulus feels the pressure to make a big play and turns the ball over at critical times.
Syracuse player to watch: Greg Paulus. People have questioned Greg’s ability after struggling the last two weeks. How he handles himself this week will set the tone for the Orange offense.
Akron player to watch: Andre Jones. The versatile Jones is asked to do alot of everything for the Zips. He has played the CB, nickel and safety slots and will now also move to WR for this game. Expect to see Jones on both sides of the ball for the rest of season.
LVO Prediction: If the Cuse doesn’t roll I’ll be surprised. Besides a poor showing this week will send the fan base right into basketball season as exhibition action starts this Sunday! Orange big 37-14
