The Akron-Iowa Preview I made earlier in the year was poorly done and I was in a hurry.
I found time to revise, update, and add on to make it more understandable - and better!
Check it out when you can!
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/zipsrock" target="_blank">www.geocities.com/zipsrock</a>
Passing - I'll give Akron the advantage based solely on experience. Banks had a QB rating of 145+ last year but he only took about 20% if the snaps.
Rushing - Meet Aaron Greving...Super Prep All-American, Iowa and Central Region Player of the Year, Alamo Bowl Offensive Player of the Game (25/115), etc. Ask Kent State about him. He touched the ball three times for 41 yards and 3 TDs against them in the 51-0 blowout. Averaged 6.5 yards per carry last year.
Receiver - I'm looking at the returning players for Akron and the only one with more than 7 receptions last season is Cherry. CJ Jones had 34 catches last year after being a JUCO all-american the year before. Tight Ends don't seem to have made it into your evaluation at all so I'll include them here...Dallas Clark is an All-American candidate at TE and had 34 catches last year as well. Ed Hinkel is possibly going to start as a freshman, he was the star at the spring game. I'll take Iowa on this one.
Offensive Line - Iowa has a loaded offensive line. The tackles combined to start 23 of 24 games last year. Eric Steinbach was 1st team Big Ten at Guard. Bruce Nelson has started 35 consecutive games at center. They average about 6'6". Converted TE's all over the place. They're big, athletic, and one of the premier lines in the conference, and quite possibly the country. Big advantage Iowa, and it will lead to advantages at QB and RB as they open things up.
Defensive Line - I don't know much about your DL but if this is one of the few areas you give Iowa the advantage in, then it's going to be a long afternoon for the Zips. The OL will just push them around all day long. With the exception of Colin Cole the Iowa DL is young and inexperienced. Push.
Linebacker - Lol.
Defensive Backfield - One of Iowa's top DBs was dismissed from the team. But he's not the best DB on the team. Demond Sanders is one of the 5-10 best safeties in the nation. First Team All-Big Ten last season as a sophomore. All-American candidate this year. One of the hardest hitters in the country. Ask Eric McCoo. Jeremire Roberts is a highly regarded Juco(?). Antwan Allen could make an impact as a freshman. But the corners will be inexperienced without Bennie Sapp. If there is a place to attack Iowa it's going to be on the corners. Sanders is much improved in pass coverage now but the CBs are seriously lacking experience. adv Iowa.
Special Teams - Well Iowa's punter was awful. He was also a freshman converted QB. He should be better, but who knows. Nate Kaeding is an All-American candidate this season, missed one PAT and scored 72 points. The return men should be dangerous, but overall special teams were a downer last year. I'll call it a push based on the fact that not many kickers are as good as Nate Kaeding and he could make up for some of the other shortcomings. Otherwise it would be Akron's advantage.
That makes it 5-1-2 Iowa by my count. Should be interesting to see how it turns out. I think you're selling Iowa short. I'm sure you think I'm not giving Akron's players enough credit. Such is life. I think staying within 30 would be an accomplishment.
<small>[ August 14, 2002, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: tha_prophet ]</small>
Anyone here who thinks Akron can handle the Hawkeyes in Iowa City is just plain stupid.
The Zips can handle Iowa in Iowa City. Iowa can't hold a candle to a Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Ohio State -etc.
The players have gone through much worse before, Iowa won't be a problem.
AO, Please get a grip. I hope that you are planning to make the trip to IC. Please check out what Mel Kiper say about Kinnick Stadium. And yes it does hold a candle to OSU, VT, and NU.
<a href="http://espn.go.com/melkiper/s/2002/0711/1404492.html" target="_blank">http://espn.go.com/melkiper/s/2002/0711/1404492.html</a>
<small>[ August 16, 2002, 08:50 AM: Message edited by: Herky3 ]</small>