Take the Spring depth chart with a grain of salt!

[McPeachy]

There will be quite a few changes come August. Here is the current Spring depth chart from Wyomingathletics.com:

http://www.wyomingathletics.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/wyo/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/depth-chart

If you click on "complete version" you will get a better view, but it is easy to just print it.

 

[Bryoming]

A few observations:

We're very undersized on the D line. Hopefully the coaches get those boys into the weight/lunch rooms and get some meat on them.

It looks like we have fully transitioned to the spread offense. We have 4 wideout positions listed, no tight end, no fullback, and 1 running back position.

I sincerely hope that someone passes Marcell as a kick returner and a cornerback. I feel like he'd be a good nickle/dime back, but he shouldn't be starting. He's not fast enough to start at corner, and he's got butter fingers too badly to be returning kicks.

Zach Bolger as a long snapper?! May want to put a little more size at that position than Zach has to offer.

 

[McPeachy]

Absolutely correct...that is why the depth chart (right now) is kind of a "living document".

We have these folks rolling in to help on the D Line, and I expect all three to see the field quite a bit:

JUCO B.J. Sumter, 6-1 310
JUCO Kurt Taufa'asau 6-2 285
FR Tyler Strong 6-3 275

And these 2...who knows, probably redshirt:

FR Riley Lange 6-3 245
FR Sonny Puletasi 6-3 220

I agree, hope that somebody is allowed to return other than Gipson. Maybe Mazi or DeJay will step up. If not, I say Alvester is the man.

http://www.wyomingathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020310aad.html

 

[TheRealUW]

He's not fast enough to start at corner

What? I believe the guy had the fastest 40 on the team at the "pro-day" held earlier this spring.

That being said, he does lack in other areas which cause him to struggle at the CB position. Speed isn't one of those though.

 

[McPeachy]

What? I believe the guy had the fastest 40 on the team at the "pro-day" held earlier this spring.

That being said, he does lack in other areas which cause him to struggle at the CB position. Speed isn't one of those though.

True. He is fast. A couple of other areas, yes as well. Like just plain being tough and mixing it up. His brother T #4 (which I am convinced fans confuse them) can deliver a hit. Marcell #2...not so much...more like a bull-fighter trying to get out of the way (see TCU, SDSU, CSewe game replays for instance).

 

[TheRealUW]

And these 2...who knows, probably redshirt:

FR Riley Lange 6-3 245
FR Sonny Puletasi 6-3 220

Both of these guys are very good players. If they put in work this summer and add some weight, there is a good chance both of them will see the field this fall. Lange especially is already very sound fundamentally. If he has the work ethic, the football IQ and skills are already there for him. On the down side, he seems like one of those guys that doesn't have much room for improvement throughout his career at UW. He already gets the most out of his given skills, so I actually see him making more of an impact in his younger years. If we continue to upgrade our talent level, he may get passed on the depth chart in the coming years.

If I had to guess, Puletasi has the making of an all-conference player. The kid has a ton of upside. It will be interesting to see how quickly the staff can develop him. He needs to become a little bit more sound in his technique, but he has the skills to wreak havoc on opposing offensive tackles. If the staff decides to put him on the field this fall...watch out. I think he may be one of our most underrated recruits. Overall, I think we will end up seeing a 5 or 6 man roatation on the defensive line.

As far as Marcell goes, I would be in favor of letting him see some time at strong safety along with Gary. The JC corner back that we picked up in this recruiting class, Austin Daniels, has the athleticism to unseat Marcell for the starting CB job. If he is able to pick up the defensive schemes this fall and show the coaches he isn't a mental liability on the field, I think he may grab the spot from Marcell.

 

[gopokes1399]

and Purcell and Stover are hurt... the snow guys are low on the charts any idea why? Also interesting that Muhammad is a LB but 4th for PR

 

[laxwyo]

I would say that the older guys are given the benefit of the doubt after two practices. Who knows what the high school kids might do when they get here.

 

[TheRealUW]

and Purcell and Stover are hurt... the snow guys are low on the charts any idea why? Also interesting that Muhammad is a LB but 4th for PR

I'm sure the Snow WR's are low because they aren't going to give anybody a starting job without them first earning it. Look for them both to move up the chart as the spring goes on. Christensen is known to release a different depth chart after every practice that refelects basically how that one practice went. Plus, it is just spring. The depth chart will become much clearer come fall practice.

Although Muhammad is a LB, he has a lot of quickness and athleticism and some decent speed. A good punt returner isn't necesarily someone with blazing speed like you would want at the kickoff return spot. Rarely does a punt returner get a running start on the return, but they need to be shifty and good at making a couple people miss. Most importantly, they need to be able to hold onto the ball. Many teams would be using Muhammad at a safety spot, but Christensen has made it a point to get speed on the field. That was really the driving point for the switch to the 4-3. It allowed us to take some of our bigger, slower backers and put them down on the line and bring in some smaller, speedier LB's. I think its a good move overall with all the spread offenses that are out there now-a-days. It will be interesting to see what happens when we run into a power football team though.

If Purcell and Stover can stay healthy, that would really help out along the defensive line. Stover especially has had the injury bug throughout his career. Add in the two JC tackles and we have 4 or 5 guys who can contribute at the defensive tackle position. It looks as though they are going to give Biezuns and Knapton the inside track to the starting spots at the DE position. It will be interesting to see if Mark Willis is able to pass Biezuns by the end of the spring. I don't think it will really matter though, as I think both of them will see significant time on the field depending on the situation. It appears to me that Willis is a better pass rusher and Biezuns better at defending the run. Add in Lange and Puletasi at the DE position and we have built some decent depth there as well.

 

[ELKMT]

I don't think anyone will take Marcel's spot. He had the fastes forty time on the team and will be a three year starter. He has never had an int but thats probably why he is on defense. However he had 71 tackles, led the team in pass break ups, had two sacks, and forced three fumbles. (Sorry Mcpeach, any corner who has three forced fumbles probly hits decent). Actually pretty decent stats for a corner, but i would like him to pull in a couple int's. One thing that we as fans miss sometimes that cause corners to look bad is poor help from linebackers and safeties. I think this problem gets solved by going to the 4-3 and having safeties moving into linebacker spots. (IE Muhammad and keith lewis.)