Report Card Grades for Cincinnati vs. Akron

After getting manhandled in Knoxville, Cincinnati returned home over the weekend and beat up on an Akron team that was clearly over matched. 

The Zips are one of the worst teams in the country and, coming into the game, they had only scored three points the entire season. 

Cincinnati was impressive in the early going and coasted to a 59-14 victory in preparation for a Thursday night showdown against N.C. State. 

Here is a position-by-position report card grade for the Bearcats' Week 3 victory. 

For the second time in three games, Zach Collaros did not see the field in the second half. 

He was impressive in the first half, completing 10 of 16 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. He also ran one in. 

Backups Munchie Legaux and Jordan Luallen went a combined 3 of 5 in a second half that saw a steady diet of running plays. 

While Collaros was solid, the Bearcats' offense did struggle at times and were benefited by three defensive touchdowns in the first half. 

Overall grade: B+

Ten different Bearcats carried the ball with true freshman Jamel Poteat getting the bulk of the carries. He rushed the ball 10 times for 55 yards and recorded his first career touchdown. 

Starter Isaiah Pead only played the first two drives in preparation for the Thursday game, carrying the ball just six times for one touchdown. 

A slew of other Bearcats carried the ball, including seven different running backs and three quarterbacks. 

The overall statistics for the running game were not that impressive but, with the lead disparity, all Cincinnati could do was run the ball in the second half and Akron was ready for it. 

Cincinnati finished with 164 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. 

Overall grade: C+

The starting wide receivers for Cincinnati were impressive when they got the chance to be. 

Senior D.J. Woods had two catches for 62 yards and sophomore Anthony McClung caught three passes for 42 yards. 

Fellow starter Kenbrell Thompkins also had three catches for 26 yards. 

Tight end Adrien Robinson's lone catch was a 15-yard touchdown reception.  

True freshman Shaquille Washington had the first two catches of his collegiate career. 

Overall grade: B+

While the offensive line did a great job of protecting the Bearcats' quarterbacks, they struggled opening up holes for the ground game. 

The Akron defense did not register any sacks the entire game and Collaros consistently had time to stand back in the pocket and pick apart the Akron defense. 

However, a 3.6 yards-per-carry average for a team that has found running the ball easy in the early going this season poses many questions. 

Without Pead in there from the middle of the first quarter on, it is hard to tell if they would have been able to run the football had their star running back played more. 

Overall grade: C+

The defense, as a whole, played their best game in nearly two seasons. 

They virtually shut out the Zips until two meaningless Akron touchdowns in the fourth quarter when the score was already 59-0. 

The defensive line recorded three sacks on Akron quarterbacks and the defense as a whole forced six turnovers.

Tackle Derek Wolfe had two sacks and one forced fumble.

Defensive End Dan Giordano had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, along with a sack.  

Akron did record 129 yards rushing, but a lot of that came in the second half.

If the Bearcats can get that type of consistent effort on the defense line, they should have no trouble taking down N.C. State on Thursday.

Overall grade: A-

The linebackers played the best of any group for the Bearcats. 

Maalik Bomar recovered a fumble and took it 54 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. 

Fellow linebacker J.K. Schaffer had an interception and the young reserves played great in the second half. 

Transfer Ben Pooler has also made a name for himself in recent weeks. 

Overall grade: A

If anybody came close to having as good of a game as the linebackers, it was the secondary. 

Dominique Battle had a 36-yard interception he returned for a touchdown and fellow cornerback Camerron Cheatham had a 53-yard pick he took to the house right before halftime. 

Cornerback Deven Drane also had an interception. 

Akron was able to amass a few yards through the air in the second half, but not until the third and fourth stringers were in the game. 

Overall grade: A

The Bearcats were much improved on special teams, particularly in the kicking game. 

After getting a field goal blocked in the first half, freshman Tony Miliano booted a 47-yarder in the third quarter. 

Cincinnati averaged over 17 yards on their three punt returns and were excellent in kick-off coverage throughout the game. 

Overall grade: B+

After what was a poor coaching effort in Week 2, Butch Jones had a much better time of it in Week 3. 

Jones found a way to play four quarterbacks and seven different running backs along with third and fourth stringers. 

He rested some of his key players with a short week ahead and managed to get out of the game with no significant injuries. 

Overall grade: B+