SYRACUSE — Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson is sure of one thing heading into today's home opener against Akron.

Robinson understands Zips head coach J.D. Brookhart better than most. He should, since he helped Brookhart land his first Division I coaching job.

A persuasive Robinson played a major role in Brookhart landing an assistant coaching position at Pittsburgh in 1997. Over a decade later, the mentor and student will face off at 3:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

"J.D. is an outstanding person," Robinson said. "He's an outstanding family man, and on top of that, a great football coach."

Robinson met an energized Brookhart when Robinson was a defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 1995. Robinson admired Brookhart's enthusiasm, even though he was working for free in a low-level position. He gave Brookhart more coaching assignments with the defense and influenced Walt Harris, then the Pitt coach, to hire Brookhart two years later.

Since then, the respect between the two coaches hasn't wavered. But it doesn't mean Robinson will take it easy on Brookhart and the Zips.

"I have no problem at all playing J.D," Robinson said with a smile.

The Orange have the benefit of playing its next four games at home. Robinson said it gives the team a chance to recover from a season-opening defeat at Northwestern. After Akron, SU hosts Penn State, Northeastern and Pittsburgh.

"It's an opportunity to really put ourselves in a good position for the Big East," Robinson said. "That's really how it is. We've got a chance to really work ourselves into a groove to get where we need to be."

Robinson said the team can improve "in a hurry," but the opener revealed many of the same weaknesses from a year ago. The glaring holes came on defense, where several missed tackles and assignments allowed Northwestern to rack up 484 yards of total offense.

"These missed tackles were situations where we had three or four different people making contact with each other as opposed to making contact with the ball carrier," Robinson said. "I attribute a lot of that to possibly trying a little too hard."

The defense wasn't a complete disaster. Defensive end Vincenzo Giruzzi tallied a career-best nine tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery. Fellow end Jared Kimmel forced the fumble that led to Syracuse's only touchdown and a brief lead in the third quarter. Safeties A.J. Brown and Randy McKinnon also supplied some of the best hits.

While the Orange struggled to mount a passing attack, SU's running backs should be encouraged by the Zips' recent futility. Akron surrendered 404 rushing yards to Wisconsin in its opener. Syracuse rushed for 122 yards last week and had a couple long runs.

The Zips implemented a spread offense against the Badgers last week. Quarterback Chris Jacquemain completed 22 of 36 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Robinson called Jacquemain "a pinpoint passer," who's also very accurate with a quick release. It could be the second spread formation Syracuse faces in as many weeks.

But like the Orange, Akron has quality depth at running back. Robinson said an early deficit and the Badgers' strong front seven may have forced the Zips to abandon the run.

"If I know J.D., I know we better not take the running game lightly," Robinson said. "I think they'd love to have balance."

And if anyone knows Brookhart by now, it's Robinson.