Getting to know Akron

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Akron is 3-19 in its past 22 Mid-American Conference games.

Second-year coach Rob Ianello is still focused on improvement with the Zips.

“We need to keep looking at what we do well and maximize that,” Ianello said. “Continue to work on things we haven’t done well and improve on that. We’re focused about the process of improvement.”

Improvement is hard to see as the Zips rank second-to-last in scoring offense and defense in the MAC. For the Chippewas, they’re looking at Akron similar to their past two games, which they lost.

“They’re pretty similar to the last two teams we played as far as coverage-wise and defensively,” said CMU quarterback Ryan Radcliff. “It’s kind of like playing the same team for the second and almost third-straight week.”

Radcliff has thrown for 787 yards the past two games and Akron is last in the MAC for passing defense. The Zips have allowed 264 yards per game through the air.

One problem Ianello has been particularly working on is getting his defense off the field on third downs. The Zips have allowed the opposing team to pick up first downs 43 percent of the time when in a third down situation.

“It’s apparent to everyone that we’re a work in progress on third down,” Ianello said. “Certainly we have to improve.”

Even with a 1-6 record, CMU head coach Dan Enos is impressed with the Zips.

“I’m impressed with their offensive line and running back,” Enos said. “(Jawon Chisholm) runs well and has good size.”

Chisholm, a redshirt freshman, averages 4.6 yards per carry for 623 yards and three touchdowns.

“They have good size,” said CMU linebacker Justin Cherocci. “Whoever executes the best, its going to be a tough close game, so it comes down to who finishes. We’re going after it and I think we’ll win.”

Akron has a much better turnover margin than CMU’s.

The Zips defense has 16 take-aways while the offense has turned it over 22 times. CMU has lost 11 more turnovers than it has because of 18 interceptions.

“Takeaways are a very important part of the game,” Ianello said. “When your defense rallies to the football and plays with great effort, those things tend to happen.”