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Falcons' Sheehan poses a different challenge as a pocket passer
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Oct 10, 2008
The University of Akron defense is facing a change of focus this week, moving its approach from spy and contain to rush and cover.
In a 30-27 double-overtime victory over Kent State Saturday, the Zips had to deal with quarterback Julian Edelman, whose ability to scramble and run is a concern for any opponent.
The Zips often used a linebacker as what is called a ''spy,'' meaning he followed Edelman everywhere in what loosely could be called man-to-man defense. Edelman did have 270 total yards (113 rushing, 157 passing), but KSU did not score a touchdown in the second half or the two overtimes.
On Saturday night in homecoming at the Rubber Bowl, the Zips will be facing Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan, a pocket passer who rarely runs and thrives when he throws to a stable of receivers in the Falcons' spread offense.
''He is a different challenge for us. He stays in the pocket and is pretty precise with his throws,'' said UA strong safety
Bryan Williams, a Buchtel High School graduate. ''We have to put a lot of pressure on him . . . force him to throw it away or get a couple of balls thrown our way.''
Sheehan, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior, is sixth in the Mid-American Conference in passing, completing 123-of-187 throws for 1,208 yards and six touchdowns. Last week, in a 24-21 upset loss to visiting Eastern Michigan, he threw to 10 receivers and was 27-of-34 for 297 yards and two touchdowns.
''He is a veteran guy that is extremely accurate,'' UA coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''He has a bunch of talented wideouts who have been in the system. They play extremely fast. They move the ball.''
In 2007, the host Falcons defeated the Zips 44-20. Sheehan completed 26-of-36 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
''We had a lot of trouble stopping him last year. He did a good job of picking us apart,'' Brookhart said. ''We have got to put a little heat on him. Last year, he sat back there and just nickle-and-dimed us.''
At quarterback, the Zips will counter with junior Chris Jacquemain, who did not play against the Falcons in 2007 because he was serving a one-game suspension.
Jacquemain, who has thrown for more than 200 yards in all six games in 2007, is close statistically with Sheehan. He is fifth in the MAC in passing, completing 124-of-210 for 1,457 yards and 10 touchdowns.
''Last year, we didn't face Jacquemain in our game here, so he is an unknown quality from that standpoint,'' Falcons coach Gregg Brandon said. ''From what I have seen on film, he can make timely throws and execute the offense.''
With the possibility the quarterbacks will contribute equally Saturday, the running game takes on added importance.
The Zips (3-3, 1-1) have a slight edge there, standing 10th in the MAC (120.3 yards per game) to 11th for Bowling Green (98.0). But UA, which is thin at running back, is coming off an effort at Kent State that netted only 58 rushing yards in 29 attempts. Dennis Kennedy led the Zips with 23 yards on 15 carries (1.5 average).
''I am extremely disappointed we didn't run the ball better,'' Brookhart said. ''They did some things defensively that they didn't do during the course of the year, and we tried to force some things. The running game, which has been decent all year, did not look very good.''
The game pits a Zips team which is tied for first place with Buffalo in the MAC East against a Bowling Green team that was the East's preseason favorite.
The Falcons (2-3, 0-1) opened with an upset of Pittsburgh (27-17), but then fell to Minnesota (42-17) and Boise State (20-7). A victory at Wyoming (45-16) seemed to get the Falcons on track, but that was followed by the upset to Eastern Michigan.
The Zips have had similar ups and downs, alternating losses and wins the first six weeks. UA also can't dodge the fact that all three of its victims — Syracuse, Army and Kent State — have one win apiece.
Brookhart does not think a repeat of last week's performance — when his team was outgained 413-301 by Kent State — will yield a second consecutive victory.
''We have to play a lot better football game than we did last week to have a chance to win,'' Brookhart said. ''We have to convert. We have to score points when given the opportunity. We can't give away big plays. We will have to play the best we have played.''
The game against the Falcons will be the last Saturday game at the Rubber Bowl for the Zips. Only two home games follow: a Wednesday (Nov. 5) against Toledo and a Thursday (Nov. 13) against Buffalo.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
The University of Akron defense is facing a change of focus this week, moving its approach from spy and contain to rush and cover.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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North Hill, OH
Posted 11:04 PM, 10/10/2008
go zips!
