Well...conference season season begins ... how did we get here?
I did not think Wyoming would have three wins at this point. In fact, I would have put 3 losses as more likely than 3 wins before the season began. Through 4 games this Cowboy defense is as advertised. They are able to stand up to elite speed and power and will be among the best or the best in the conference this year. Special teams has been very good with Hoyland being great. Which brings us to the offense...at this point...it looks like the offense is just trying not to lose games. Bohl is not a good offensive coach but he does understand that this offense could make the defense worse if they are not careful. My guess is that he is going to try and lean on the defense and special teams and anything the offense gives us will be gravy. From what I can see...the issues with the offense are squarely in the inability to pass the ball with efficiency. The running game has a tough task since everybody loads up against it, but they do manage. As long as they don't get procedure penalties...I think we can avoid going 3 and out a lot but we won't be lighting up any MWC scoreboards. The problem with passing the ball is deeper than the Svoboda vs Peasley debate....Svoboda has some qualities that Peasley does not but I'm pretty much convinced that switching them doesn't make us into a functional passing offense. The WR corps is there to block and it shows. None of them would see the two deep at any other MW team outside of Air Force. The coaching staff does them no favors here as they consistently put them in position to fail. The failings in that area are not a function of "pride" or "stubbornness"...they just don't focus on it....they know how to scheme a run game and that is what they do. In Craig Bohl's 10th year, I am not holding my breath they he will find religion on the need for a competent passing game.
What about conference play? I think Wyoming can beat anybody...but they probably won't. The usual suspects will be very difficult to beat but nobody just outclasses us. The problem I see is that...in football it is very hard to be in the upper echelon of the conference when your offense might be the bottom of the league, no matter how good your defense and special teams are. Now, are they the worst offense in the conference? At this point they are dead last in yards/game and 9th out of 12 in scoring. If they are not the worst...they are close. As much as I have enjoyed watching the cowboys in every game so far this season, I don't see a conference champion (yet). The offense has not been utterly hapless...the App St game was really bad but that doesn't mean it will always be that way. I'm more optimistic than I was at the beginning of the season. Bohl frustrates me in that he can't put an offense together but he's doing much more right than wrong in Laramie..I think this is a 5-3 or 6-2 MWC team....leaning towards 5-3.
I did not think Wyoming would have three wins at this point. In fact, I would have put 3 losses as more likely than 3 wins before the season began. Through 4 games this Cowboy defense is as advertised. They are able to stand up to elite speed and power and will be among the best or the best in the conference this year. Special teams has been very good with Hoyland being great. Which brings us to the offense...at this point...it looks like the offense is just trying not to lose games. Bohl is not a good offensive coach but he does understand that this offense could make the defense worse if they are not careful. My guess is that he is going to try and lean on the defense and special teams and anything the offense gives us will be gravy. From what I can see...the issues with the offense are squarely in the inability to pass the ball with efficiency. The running game has a tough task since everybody loads up against it, but they do manage. As long as they don't get procedure penalties...I think we can avoid going 3 and out a lot but we won't be lighting up any MWC scoreboards. The problem with passing the ball is deeper than the Svoboda vs Peasley debate....Svoboda has some qualities that Peasley does not but I'm pretty much convinced that switching them doesn't make us into a functional passing offense. The WR corps is there to block and it shows. None of them would see the two deep at any other MW team outside of Air Force. The coaching staff does them no favors here as they consistently put them in position to fail. The failings in that area are not a function of "pride" or "stubbornness"...they just don't focus on it....they know how to scheme a run game and that is what they do. In Craig Bohl's 10th year, I am not holding my breath they he will find religion on the need for a competent passing game.
What about conference play? I think Wyoming can beat anybody...but they probably won't. The usual suspects will be very difficult to beat but nobody just outclasses us. The problem I see is that...in football it is very hard to be in the upper echelon of the conference when your offense might be the bottom of the league, no matter how good your defense and special teams are. Now, are they the worst offense in the conference? At this point they are dead last in yards/game and 9th out of 12 in scoring. If they are not the worst...they are close. As much as I have enjoyed watching the cowboys in every game so far this season, I don't see a conference champion (yet). The offense has not been utterly hapless...the App St game was really bad but that doesn't mean it will always be that way. I'm more optimistic than I was at the beginning of the season. Bohl frustrates me in that he can't put an offense together but he's doing much more right than wrong in Laramie..I think this is a 5-3 or 6-2 MWC team....leaning towards 5-3.
