Akron Zips defense looks to build on promising opening-game performance

Along with the noticeable improvement in the way the University of Akron football team’s defense played in its first game of the season in a victory over St. Francis, came a lot of new contributors.

A significant number of players made plays to help the Zips win in overtime – many of them new and most of them transfers.

“They allowed them here since January so they had an opportunity to be with your coaching staff, our strength and conditioning guys and get to know their teammates,” UA coach Joe Moorhead said in his weekly press conference, “so it was good to see them come out and make an immediate contribution.”

The Zips allowed 23 points (16 fewer than last season’s average) and 189 rushing yards (more than 50 yards fewer than last season’s average). Scoring and rushing defense were the team’s weakest areas last season.

Akron Zips blend new with the old on defense

A familiar name – linebacker Bubba Arslanian – led the defense with eight tackles, but he was joined by a newcomer, transfer Victor Jones, who made an impact from his defensive end position, matching Arslanian.

“I think Victor Jones did the best job - probably had the most complete game of all the transfers on the defensive side,” Moorhead said. “He's a guy that had a great camp, had a great career at Wyoming prior to entering the portal. He certainly has a lot more in him. We're expecting him to continually improve as the weeks progress, but it was a real nice start.”

Jones gave credit to his defensive teammates for the success he enjoyed in the opener.

“It's been fun. It's a new team. It's a team full of new experiences - creating brand new chemistry, creating chemistry with everyone on the defense, being able to rush with my D-tackles and D-ends, being on that same page. Really, just creating the chemistry,” he said.

Was chemistry the missing piece for Akron Zips defense?

Perhaps that what was missing in prior years – chemistry. That concept in itself cannot be quantified, but for safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell, who was with the Zips last year but arrived as a transfer, offered an explanation.

“Chemistry works if you just do your job,” he said. “If you don't do your job there's no chemistry. As long as you do your job that's all that matters.”

Even Kelly-Powell noticed a fundamental difference that Arslanian mentioned in his postgame interview when he said the defense would keep fighting.

“Previous years, we get scored on and everybody throws in the towel,” he said. “This year, it's not like that. We get scored on, the game's not over.”

Jones said he has bonded with his teammates and seems to have an understanding of the psychological side of what the team faces.

“Sometimes it’s not about the opponent,” he said. “It’s us vs. us.”

Making things less about an inner-psychological battle and more about their opponent could be the key for the Zips to build on their early success. A small, but not insignificant step.

The Akron Zips begin brutal stretch

One game is a miniscule sample size and a schedule that in the next three weeks includes Michigan State, Tennessee and Liberty, will certainly prove challenging. And, yes, the prospect of UA's defensive statistics ballooning, while losses mount is certainly there, but the non-conference schedule generally tends to be a different beast than the Mid-American Conference.

Michigan State has been revitalized under the guidance of coach Mel Turner and his staff in recent years and will be coming off a 35-13 win over another MAC opponent – Western Michigan.

Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne produced a mixed day in the air, but can inflict damage. He completed 12 of 24 passes for 233 yards and four touchdown passes to four receivers.

“Defensive backs have to have great eye discipline when we're in zone and when we're in press we have to do a good job because the receivers all have size and play the ball well in the air,” Moorhead said.

Moorhead said Thorne uses play-action to great effect and has a big offensive line that averages 6-foot-5.

The offense is balanced with a running back in 6-foot-1, 215-pound Jalen Berger who produced 120 yards on the ground and a touchdown to lead a rushing attack that amassed 207 yards.

In short. the proving ground continues for the UA defense.

Reach George M. Thomas at gthomas@thebeaconjournal.com or on Twitter @ByGeorgeThomas

Akron at Michigan State

Time: 4 p.m. Saturday

TV: BTN

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips defense benefits from transfers in first outing