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2018 Wyoming Football Expectations [WyoNation Blog]

It kind of feels like 2016 on Ofeense all over again. Questions all over the O-Line and new QB with receivers and tight ends that haven’t broken out.
 
Vapoke said:
It kind of feels like 2016 on Ofeense all over again. Questions all over the O-Line and new QB with receivers and tight ends that haven’t broken out.
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If you truly feel that way, and it legitimately ends up being this way, which it very well could and I could also see it being possible.....if it does end up being this way then there is absolutely no reason we cannot go undefeated with the defense we have. If we have an offense that can avg 28-32 points per game then we are most definitely in for the best season we have seen since 1996.
 
There will be no delay this year, we'll know right away what this team is made of. NMSU through the Fresno game, there are six loseable games, four of which the Pokes will be underdogs. This is as front-loaded a schedule as I can remember for Wyoming.

I think the three scenarios you laid out are pretty close to spot on. Finding success is step one, sustaining it is the tougher part. How will this young offense cope with that opening stretch of the season? Finally FFS it's almost time to watch.
 
I'll tell you how the entire season will go after the first 3 plays on offense. If our line gets pushed around on the first play we're screwed.

I remember Bohl's first two years the LOS would be instantaneously pushed two yards not in our favor. 2016 - the first play against NIU we actually got a decent push by our offensive line and got a good run from Brian. WE didn't necessarily dominate the LOS that year, but it wasn't like every other year Vigen/Bohl have been here where we got wrecked. Last year we got roughed up up front by our FCS foe! embarrassing.

So if the first play (which will be a run between the tackles) we get physically moved back three yards then our ceiling will be 6 wins.
 
W @ NMSU
W vs Washington State
L @ Missouri
W vs Wofford
L vs Boise State
L @ Hawaii
L @ Fresno State
W vs Utah State
W @ CSU
W vs SJSU
W vs Air Force
W vs New Mexico

The defense keeps us in every game. Pokes start strong and wear down with the top heavy schedule. Finish strong against weaker teams with inferior athletes. I think we match up poorly against Boise State because they can match our athletes on defense. Hawaii is a trap game and Fresno State is a travel nightmare against a good team. Second place in the Mountain Division with a chance at a better bowl if Boise State makes a New Years bowl.
 
Until we see differently on Saturday I would predict this team struggling to get bowl eligible. We’re starting 3 freshman on the o line and a freshman QB. Where are the points coming from? We aren’t beating everyone 12-6. The offense has to be able to score some points.
 
I have a legit question....are all you people being this pessimistic about this year's team to keep yourself from having a meltdown if we stink it up, or are you hoping for the opposite in that you can be impressed if they do well. Which is it?! This is a different team, and I can put my finger on two freshman QBs who came in and we're serviceable enough to lead their respective teams to bowl games. Why should VanderWahl be viewed any different "until" proven otherwise. I personally only see 3 games where we are guaranteed underdogs, and will have a tough time, and I don't see a single game where we won't compete.
 
aranderson said:
I have a legit question....are all you people being this pessimistic about this year's team to keep yourself from having a meltdown if we stink it up, or are you hoping for the opposite in that you can be impressed if they do well. Which is it?! This is a different team, and I can put my finger on two freshman QBs who came in and we're serviceable enough to lead their respective teams to bowl games. Why should VanderWahl be viewed any different "until" proven otherwise. I personally only see 3 games where we are guaranteed underdogs, and will have a tough time, and I don't see a single game where we won't compete.
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I think the overall vibe would be different if the first taste of life after Josh Allen weren't that AFA (2nd half), FSU, SJSU block of games from 2017. I mean, the Spartans were unbelievably bad. Wyoming was their only FBS win in 2017. That's what has people on edge.

Now, TVW could be way better than Smith. More than possible. But until people see that, I understand the skepticism.
 
J-Rod said:
aranderson said:
I have a legit question....are all you people being this pessimistic about this year's team to keep yourself from having a meltdown if we stink it up, or are you hoping for the opposite in that you can be impressed if they do well. Which is it?! This is a different team, and I can put my finger on two freshman QBs who came in and we're serviceable enough to lead their respective teams to bowl games. Why should VanderWahl be viewed any different "until" proven otherwise. I personally only see 3 games where we are guaranteed underdogs, and will have a tough time, and I don't see a single game where we won't compete.
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I think the overall vibe would be different if the first taste of life after Josh Allen weren't that AFA (2nd half), FSU, SJSU block of games from 2017. I mean, the Spartans were unbelievably bad. Wyoming was their only FBS win in 2017. That's what has people on edge.

Now, TVW could be way better than Smith. More than possible. But until people see that, I understand the skepticism.
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Exactly. People cannot get the SJSU game out of their minds. We lost to a team some teams in the RMAC could have beaten.
 
aranderson said:
I have a legit question....are all you people being this pessimistic about this year's team to keep yourself from having a meltdown if we stink it up, or are you hoping for the opposite in that you can be impressed if they do well. Which is it?! This is a different team, and I can put my finger on two freshman QBs who came in and we're serviceable enough to lead their respective teams to bowl games. Why should VanderWahl be viewed any different "until" proven otherwise. I personally only see 3 games where we are guaranteed underdogs, and will have a tough time, and I don't see a single game where we won't compete.
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I'm not letting myself get carried away, even with this once-in-a-generation defense, because I've seen enough of Vigen's tired, predictable offense to know that we have a high probability of sucking on offense. 3 out of 4 seasons he's been here we've been basically dog puke. The one season we didn't suck was when we had an NFL center, an NFL TE, an NFL RB, an NFL WR, another really good WR (Mulhardt) and a future top 10 pick NFL QB. I don't see that this year, sorry. I DO think we have lots of talent on offense, as much as any other team really, but they won't get to show it because of the coaches, terrible schemes and tired predictable playcalling. I wonder if we will run our "trump card" aka that play where the qb fakes a toss and goes in between the TE and tackle like 400 times this year?
 
Until I see different. I predict to be in every game and win every game. Conference Championship. Just the way I'm wired. I am an eternal optimist, especially if I haven't seen anything to counter my thoughts. An all time defense and lots of question marks on offense but almost everyone a year older. I'm a big boy I can take disappointment.
 
LanderPoke said:
I'll tell you how the entire season will go after the first 3 plays on offense. If our line gets pushed around on the first play we're screwed.
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I would love to be able to move the ball on the ground on the first three plays, but even good running teams use the run in the first half to wear down defenses and open up play action. I would say that our success running the ball in the second half of the NMSU game will be more informative. I suppose there is a difference between getting "pushed around" and establishing the run game.
 
LanderPoke said:
aranderson said:
I have a legit question....are all you people being this pessimistic about this year's team to keep yourself from having a meltdown if we stink it up, or are you hoping for the opposite in that you can be impressed if they do well. Which is it?! This is a different team, and I can put my finger on two freshman QBs who came in and we're serviceable enough to lead their respective teams to bowl games. Why should VanderWahl be viewed any different "until" proven otherwise. I personally only see 3 games where we are guaranteed underdogs, and will have a tough time, and I don't see a single game where we won't compete.
Click to expand...
I'm not letting myself get carried away, even with this once-in-a-generation defense, because I've seen enough of Vigen's tired, predictable offense to know that we have a high probability of sucking on offense. 3 out of 4 seasons he's been here we've been basically dog puke. The one season we didn't suck was when we had an NFL center, an NFL TE, an NFL RB, an NFL WR, another really good WR (Mulhardt) and a future top 10 pick NFL QB. I don't see that this year, sorry. I DO think we have lots of talent on offense, as much as any other team really, but they won't get to show it because of the coaches, terrible schemes and tired predictable playcalling. I wonder if we will run our "trump card" aka that play where the qb fakes a toss and goes in between the TE and tackle like 400 times this year?
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Why give it to a running back when you can have you quarterback run it, right? ;)
 
LanderPoke said:
I'm not letting myself get carried away, even with this once-in-a-generation defense, because I've seen enough of Vigen's tired, predictable offense to know that we have a high probability of sucking on offense. 3 out of 4 seasons he's been here we've been basically dog puke. The one season we didn't suck was when we had an NFL center, an NFL TE, an NFL RB, an NFL WR, another really good WR (Mulhardt) and a future top 10 pick NFL QB. I don't see that this year, sorry.
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So the one year you say we didn't suck, we had a top-end offense and bottom-end defense. This year, we may have a top-end defense and a bottom-end offense. Not sure what the difference is that changes your opinion of the program so drastically.
 
This offense seems to work if several key players are nfl-level talent. If we have that, it should be a good year. If we don't, the D keeps us in most games but will be a lot of how the ball bounces.
 
joshvanklomp said:
LanderPoke said:
I'm not letting myself get carried away, even with this once-in-a-generation defense, because I've seen enough of Vigen's tired, predictable offense to know that we have a high probability of sucking on offense. 3 out of 4 seasons he's been here we've been basically dog puke. The one season we didn't suck was when we had an NFL center, an NFL TE, an NFL RB, an NFL WR, another really good WR (Mulhardt) and a future top 10 pick NFL QB. I don't see that this year, sorry.
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So the one year you say we didn't suck, we had a top-end offense and bottom-end defense. This year, we may have a top-end defense and a bottom-end offense. Not sure what the difference is that changes your opinion of the program so drastically.
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First of all it's not drastic. 5-6 wins is where I think we'll end up. in 2016 our d was rated like ~100 and got lots of TOs with a ~50 rated (if I remember correctly) good offense. Our offense this year has the potential to be dead F****** last in the FBS like last year and if the d somehow regresses a bit, which is possible because I don't think the record TO thing is sustainable, then we're not going to be as good as last season. hence 5-6 wins, which isn't that great. Honestly all it would take is one personnel decision for us to be a top-flight FBS program right now. It's depressing kind of
 
Good to see a good conversation here. Was interested to see what others thought. Opinions all over the board because there are many questions. Can't wait for Saturday night.
 
I'm hoping our O-Line is a positive surprise. They almost need to be. There is a pretty big difference between redshirt freshmen and true freshmen, at least, so I'm very cautiously optimistic.

I suppose to be clear of my expectations, my expectations all depend on those three redshirt freshmen. If they do well, I think we'll compete for a title again because of our defense. Our offense only needs to be "okay" for us to do well.
 
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