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Do IT this week: Layering
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 02:38 p.m. EST, Nov 19, 2009
Locating Freddie Barnes will be the easy part for the University of Akron football team; stopping him is another matter entirely.
Barnes, a senior wide receiver for Bowling Green, will be the defensive focal point for the Zips on Friday in a Mid-American Conference game against the Falcons at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
The 6-foot, 206-pound Barnes leads all Football Bowl Subdivision receivers with a MAC-record 117 catches, is second nationally in receiving yards with 1,285 and is tied for 22nd nationally with 12 touchdown receptions. Those 117 catches are 31 more than the 86 of runner-up Keith Smith of Purdue.
''You have to be aware of where Barnes is on every single play,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''They do a great job of featuring him. It's definitely a challenge for us.''
The Falcons (5-5, 4-2) utilize Barnes in a variety of ways and in a dizzying number of formations. He has prospered because of his playmaking ability and because of the presence of senior quarterback Tyler Sheehan, a three-year starter whose 3,189 yards passing rank second in the country.
''They are just so multiple in what they do. They move Barnes around and find ways to get it to him,'' said Brookhart, whose team has lost seven of its last eight games. ''And Sheehan is a real good football player, has been for the last couple of years.
''You know what they are going to do, but he is still catching them. They are pretty creative in how they do it. The quarterback obviously has great trust in the kid.''
Sheehan has been throwing to Barnes for three years and the two have developed quite a bond, according to Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson.
''They have played a lot of football together . . . through the course of all the different spring practices and camps and games and game planning and summer workouts,'' Clawson said. ''When you get a quarterback and a receiver on the same page, it's fun to coach them.
''You can do so many different things with them. They know what each other is thinking.''
Clawson believes Sheehan, Barnes and the offense must be at their creative best today because the UA defense has proved to be the most reliable part of the team in this frustrating season.
The Zips (2-8, 1-5) were beaten at home by Temple 56-17 last Friday, but the Owls were able to score via some short fields and special-teams excellence.
Even in allowing 403 yards to Temple, the Zips are seventh (out of 13) in the MAC in total defense by allowing 361.8 yards per game. Even better for UA is a pass defense that is third in the MAC at 186.3 yards per game.
''We are going to throw the ball because that's what we do,'' Clawson said. ''Defensively, Akron is very good. They do a lot of things and they are good at what they do.
''They are physical up front and run to the football. It will be a good challenge for our guys.''
While the Zips defense continues to carry the team, the offense continues to struggle. With just one offensive touchdown and 247 yards against Temple, the Zips are 114th (out of 120) in the country in total offense at 287.1 yards per game.
Part of the reason — as most UA fans know — is that the Zips do not have a consistent featured back and are on their third starting quarterback.
That quarterback, freshman Patrick Nicely, has shown a strong arm and immense potential under trying circumstances.
''Akron is playing extremely hard. They have had a lot of tough breaks lately with their quarterback situation,'' Clawson said. ''That freshman Nicely is a very good player. You can see him getting better every week.
''As he gets more comfortable in their system, they are able to do more and more offensively.''
The Zips close the season next Friday afternoon with a home game against Eastern Michigan.
Short takes
Bowling Green has won the past two games between the teams and leads the series 10-7. . . . Freshman linebacker Brian Wagner of the Zips continues to lead the MAC and is 12th in the nation in total tackles with an average of 10.6 per game. . . . Barnes is one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Trophy that goes to the nation's best receiver.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Locating Freddie Barnes will be the easy part for the University of Akron football team; stopping him is another matter entirely.
Barnes, a senior wide receiver for Bowling Green, will be the defensive focal point for the Zips on Friday in a Mid-American Conference game against the Falcons at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
The 6-foot, 206-pound Barnes leads all Football Bowl Subdivision receivers with a MAC-record 117 catches, is second nationally in receiving yards with 1,285 and is tied for 22nd nationally with 12 touchdown receptions. Those 117 catches are 31 more than the 86 of runner-up Keith Smith of Purdue.
''You have to be aware of where Barnes is on every single play,'' Zips coach J.D. Brookhart said. ''They do a great job of featuring him. It's definitely a challenge for us.''
The Falcons (5-5, 4-2) utilize Barnes in a variety of ways and in a dizzying number of formations. He has prospered because of his playmaking ability and because of the presence of senior quarterback Tyler Sheehan, a three-year starter whose 3,189 yards passing rank second in the country.
''They are just so multiple in what they do. They move Barnes around and find ways to get it to him,'' said Brookhart, whose team has lost seven of its last eight games. ''And Sheehan is a real good football player, has been for the last couple of years.
''You know what they are going to do, but he is still catching them. They are pretty creative in how they do it. The quarterback obviously has great trust in the kid.''
Sheehan has been throwing to Barnes for three years and the two have developed quite a bond, according to Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson.
''They have played a lot of football together . . . through the course of all the different spring practices and camps and games and game planning and summer workouts,'' Clawson said. ''When you get a quarterback and a receiver on the same page, it's fun to coach them.
''You can do so many different things with them. They know what each other is thinking.''
Clawson believes Sheehan, Barnes and the offense must be at their creative best today because the UA defense has proved to be the most reliable part of the team in this frustrating season.
The Zips (2-8, 1-5) were beaten at home by Temple 56-17 last Friday, but the Owls were able to score via some short fields and special-teams excellence.
Even in allowing 403 yards to Temple, the Zips are seventh (out of 13) in the MAC in total defense by allowing 361.8 yards per game. Even better for UA is a pass defense that is third in the MAC at 186.3 yards per game.
''We are going to throw the ball because that's what we do,'' Clawson said. ''Defensively, Akron is very good. They do a lot of things and they are good at what they do.
''They are physical up front and run to the football. It will be a good challenge for our guys.''
While the Zips defense continues to carry the team, the offense continues to struggle. With just one offensive touchdown and 247 yards against Temple, the Zips are 114th (out of 120) in the country in total offense at 287.1 yards per game.
Part of the reason — as most UA fans know — is that the Zips do not have a consistent featured back and are on their third starting quarterback.
That quarterback, freshman Patrick Nicely, has shown a strong arm and immense potential under trying circumstances.
''Akron is playing extremely hard. They have had a lot of tough breaks lately with their quarterback situation,'' Clawson said. ''That freshman Nicely is a very good player. You can see him getting better every week.
''As he gets more comfortable in their system, they are able to do more and more offensively.''
The Zips close the season next Friday afternoon with a home game against Eastern Michigan.
Short takes
Bowling Green has won the past two games between the teams and leads the series 10-7. . . . Freshman linebacker Brian Wagner of the Zips continues to lead the MAC and is 12th in the nation in total tackles with an average of 10.6 per game. . . . Barnes is one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Trophy that goes to the nation's best receiver.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Highland Square, OH
Posted 03:15 PM, 11/19/2009
lets go zips soccer!
Kandi, SL
Posted 03:59 PM, 11/19/2009
Well put!
Canton, OH
Posted 10:28 PM, 11/19/2009
We'll "git r done". . .
