Not giving away any inside secrets here since the head coach stated all this info during the Big South Conference Coaches Teleconference yesterday morning but here are some of the details on the injury front.
1) Our 4 deep RB pool is severely hampered/depleted and we're only 1 week into the season. Starting RB Patrick Hall (leading 09 rusher and scorer of 12 tds) still bothered by high ankle sprain and didn't move very well in the early week practice session; primary back-up Kenny Little lost for the season with a multi-fractured collar bone; 3rd depth chart FR-RB DeJuan Blount had a breakout game in his 1st college rushing for over 130 yds and a TD but missed much time in camp and is still learning the whole offense/blitz pick-up schemes so play calling is somewhat limited; 4th depth chart FR-RB Nino Woolridge continues to be a question mark with a back injury and his status for this week is undetermined along with Patrick Hall.
2) Breaking in young QB's takes some time and plenty of patience. Due to RB inexperience/injury the playbook has been contracted so as not to put the young QB's under undue pressure from 6 or 7 men rush/blitz packages. Yet, the coaches know and want to get the ball in the receivers/TE playmakers hands more (T. Perry, M. Saunders, J. Patmon, J. Miller) and so would expect to see the ball in the air more than the 19 attempts from Game 1.
3) Defensively, the Dawgs must play with a tremendous amount of determination this weekend to slow up a BCS school's running game so that time of possession is not too unbalanced. The overall size and depth of a BCS school vs an FCS school can wear you down if you allow them to run the ball down your throat and maintain long drives.
4) Defensively, the Dawgs secondary must play well and not give up the big plays to keep the Dawgs in the game against the Zips.
This posters view is that the Dawgs must win the turnover battle, force the Zips 3 and out on at least 1/3 of their possessions, hold the Zips under 180 yds rushing and 350 total yards and score at least 24 points to have a shot at the upset. Weather forecast looks to be low 70's and partly cloudy so fatigue from depth differential shouldn't be influenced by hot, humid weather. Looking forward to the game in Akron's new InfoCision Stadium, hoping there's a big crowd and expecting a visit with some fellow dads to the Winking Lizard Tavern for a few cold beverages.
