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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: J.D. Brookhart (3rd season, 13-11) 2005 record: 7-6 (Lost to Memphis in Motor City Bowl) MAC finish: 5-3 (t-1st East) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 103rd (107.3 ypg) Passing: 21st (277.0 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 71st (159.0 ypg) Passing: 16th (180.9 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 at Penn State Sept. 9 at NC State Sept. 16 at Central Michigan Sept. 23 North Texas Sept. 30 at Kent State Oct. 7 at Cincinnati Oct. 21 Miami (OH) Oct. 28 at Toledo Nov. 4 Bowling Green Nov. 9 Buffalo Nov. 16 at Ohio Nov. 24 Western Michigan Depth Chart: Offense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 12 Jabari Arthur Jr. 21 Johnny Long Jr. WR 4 Stephon Fuqua So. 82 Jermaine Lindsay Fr. LT 72 Tim Crouch Sr. 68 Mike Schepp Jr. LG 73 Mike Donaldson Sr. 70 Garrett Brewster So. C 63 Andy Wills Sr. 64 Jim Holley Jr. RG 57 Andy Alleman Sr. 78 Zack Anderson Fr. RT 74 Chris Kemme So. 77 Keith Huebner Fr. TE 84 Kris Kasparek Jr. 83 Merce Poindexter So. QB 16 Luke Getsy Sr. 11 Chris Jacquemain Fr. FB 33 Joe McDaniel So. 42 Joe Tuzze Fr. RB 3 Dennis Kennedy So. 26 Alex Allen So. Depth Chart: Defense 10 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 99 Jermaine Reid Sr. 56 Clarence McPherson So. NG 97 Kiki Gonzalez Sr. 55 Jared Cecchetti Jr. DT 93 Eric Lively So. 95 Nate Robinson Jr. BAN 30 Kevin Grant So. 54 Doug Williams So. SLB 43 Brion Stokes Jr. 7 Parris McNeal Sr. MLB 44 Bryan Howe Jr. 96 Mark Groza Sr. ROV 19 John Mackey Jr. 27 Wayne Cobham Fr. CB 20 Reggie Corner Sr. 28 Brandon Anderson So. CB 5 Davanzo Tate Jr. 9 Dionte Henry Sr. SS 10 Chevin Pace Jr. 37 Jason Nedd Sr. FS 24 Chris Brown Jr. 8 Yamari Dixon Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 39 Matt Domonkos Jr. P 16 Andy Hildreth So. KR 3 Dennis Kennedy So. PR 82 Jermaine Lindsey Fr.

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After winning its first-ever MAC championship, Akron will find out if staying on top is indeed tougher than getting there in the first place. The Zips boast the league's best quarterback in Luke Getsy, but most of his skill position supporting cast is gone.

Getsy, however, will have the luxury of playing in front of an offensive line that returns intact. The task for head coach J.D. Brookhart is to sort out the skill people he has on hand. "We have a number of guys back from last season," Brookhart says. "But we have holes in some key areas. However, we feel good about some of the young people we have."

OFFENSE

With the league's best quarterback in Getsy, and a trench up front loaded with savvy veterans, the Zips should be able to consistently move the ball despite the loss of most of the skill position production. Getsy threw for 3,455 yards last season while leading his team to its first league championship. He is a veteran of the West Coast offense and manages the game masterfully.

Getsy has the luxury of performing behind the MAC's most experienced offensive line. Senior left tackle Tim Crouch (33 career starts) headlines a group that returns all five starters.

Dennis Kennedy will have the first crack at stepping in for 1,200-yard rusher Brett Biggs, but Alex Allen or Frank Berchie could land the role - unless Brookhart opts for a committee approach. The fast and powerful Kennedy, the leading returning rusher, is also a capable receiver coming out of the backfield.

Junior Jabari Arthur is the featured receiver for the Zips, and after he amassed 180 yards in receptions in Akron's loss in the Motor City Bowl, there's no question he can wear that mantle. Akron is looking at Johnny Long, Stephon Fuqua and Jermaine Lindsay to fill out its pass formations.

DEFENSE

The Zips enjoy a good mix of proven high-caliber guys and developing talent on a defense that was surprisingly sound against the pass (16th nationally).

The pressure from the front should be substantial with senior nose guard Kiki Gonzalez (second-team All-MAC in '05) and senior end Jermaine Reid back after helping the Zips tie for the MAC lead in sacks with 31.

With Kevin Grant, a freshman All-American last year, and Brion Stokes, a second-team All-MAC pick, at linebacker, that group looks formidable. Junior Bryan Howe can fill in the middle, with redshirt freshmen Michael Alphonse and Al-Teric Balaam in the playing rotation.

Most of a strong five-man secondary returns, led by senior Reggie Corner and junior Davanzo Tate, a West Virginia transfer who started the final nine games of 2005, at the corners, and junior rover John Mackey, the top tackler.

SPECIALISTS

The Zips expect to throw a couple of unproven players into the fire after both the kicking and punting positions were vacated. Punter Andy Hildreth and kicker Matt Domonkos will be pressed by two touted freshmen - kicker Igor Iveljic and punter John Stec.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Brookhart has plenty of players and more than a few good ones, but does he have the playmakers he'll need to keep the Zips on top of the MAC?

Outside of Getsy and Arthur, there are no proven skill position threats. But the coach of the defending league champs must take some solace in the fact that prior to last season's title run, not many knew who his playmakers were then, either.

The presence of the league's most experienced offensive line will make things a bit easier for the new skill guys. After finishing near the bottom of the MAC in total defense for a number of years, the Zips made huge strides, finishing No. 2 in the league and 32nd nationally (339.9 ypg) in 2005. Using an unconventional 3-3 stack formation, the Zips cut nearly 90 yards per game off the yardage they allowed the previous season. The Zips are experienced and stout against the pass - a must as they battle with pass-happy offenses like Miami and Bowling Green for the East title - and they welcome back their secondary virtually intact.

This is not a team without issues, but expect Brookhart to have his club in the thick of the division race once again.