djm19
Well-known member
My gosh, reading this article makes it sound like UW is the next BCS Buster and Smith is on the Heisman watch list.
Very well-written. Coming from a Toledo writer, seems like no breaks for their home team. Meaning, shooting down every warm fuzzy they may have...
http://toledo.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1404799
I hope he is right.
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The Wyoming Cowboys, while playing in the Mountain West Conference, have a strong MAC flavor. Head Coach Dave Christensen served as an assistant coach under Gary Pinkel from 1992 to 2000 at the University of Toledo, mostly as the offensive coordinator. And then there is the Cowboys' second year offensive coordinator, Gregg Brandon, former head coach at Toledo arch-rival Bowling Green.
Sophomore running back Cassius McDowell has the speed to give Wyoming's defense trouble.
One way of looking at this Wyoming team is as a preview of the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos QB Alex Carder is all MAC in the eyes of most of the pre-season media. Wait to you get to see the Pokes sophomore Brett Smith in action.
Wyoming Offense
Like the team from Kalamazoo, the Cowboys favor the aerial assault over the ground game. And no wonder, given QB Brett Smith's accomplishments as a freshman. His superstar debut season was highlighted by completing 61 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards and 20 touchdowns. Smith was also the top rusher with 710 yards and other 10 TDs. He accounted for 3,332 yards of total offense. Consider these stats in light of Smith playing with an injured throwing hand and arm which caused him considerable pain over the last six games! As a true freshman, his honors included being named Mountain West Freshman of the Year and First Team Freshman All America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com. This year, Smith is the only sophomore QB on the 2012 Manning Award Watch List. Among the 25 QBs on the list, for sake of comparison, is WMU's Alex Carder.
Starting up front is a mostly veteran offensive line headed by outstanding senior center Nick Carlson. He is joined by several veterans including senior RT Kyle Magnuson and LT Josh Leonard. Returning starter LG Tyler Strong is joined by true freshman Josh Teeter who started against Texas at RG. This group does a good job of keeping QB sacks to a minimum. Case in point, the highly respected Texas D was able to sack Smith just once.
Brett Smith has top quality wide outs in Robert Herron and Dominic Rufran, the top two returning receivers. Joining them is senior Chris McNeill. The Cowboys deploy four WR in the spread offense. Unlike Arizona, no Wyoming wide out is taller than 6'1". Herron did burned the Horns secondary for two TD catches in the opener so the Rockets secondary need to be on alert.
The running game, in addition to Smith, is headed up by junior RB Brandon Miller (6'0", 193#) with freshman Shawn Wick (5'10", 190#) as backup. Miller is a former WR and figures in the Pokes passing attack. Against UT, the Cowboys managed just 69 yards on the ground.
Wyoming Defense
Not to be overlooked is a veteran defensive unit working under a new defensive coordinator, Chris Tormey. Tormey has implemented a 3-5-5 scheme this year. We saw that defense last Saturday at Arizona Stadium. The Cowboys will also use both a 4-3 and a 4-2-5 but in all cases they will use speed to the ball. Like the Rockets, they thrive on turnovers.
Up front, the Pokes feature two solid DTs in Mike Purcell (6'3", 303#) and Kurt Taufa'Asau (6'2", 284#). Defensive ends have limited experience due to injuries, departures, and position shuffling. Miraldo Michel (6'3" 265#) playing LDE, had a strong game against Texas recording half a dozen tackles. RFr Eddie Yarbrough made four solo tackles in a backup role.
The line backing corps has experience with senior Ghaali Muhammad, returning to his LB position after spending last year as a RB. The leaders of this group are Korey Jones and Devyn Harris. Both were starters last year and among the leading tacklers. The line backing depth was somewhat limited for the opener by injuries and inexperience.
The secondary, however, may be the strength of the Wyoming defense. This unit is led by senior free safety Luke Ruff, a second-team all-MW pick last year and the team's leading tackler. Sophomore CB Blair Burns and junior CB Marqueston Huff are returning starters at the corners. And then there's sophomore strong safety, Mark Nzeocha at 6'3", 220#, he has moved from LB last year with strong reviews in spring and fall camps.
Special Teams
Jumping out is the potential of Australian freshman punter Tim Gleeson. He has an Australian-rules football background involving kicking a heavier football. Results: practice punts routinely travelling more than 50 yards. In his collegiate debut he average less than 38 yards on five punts with a long of 54 yards.
Stuart Williams handles the kicking chores making a 33-yarder against Texas but his only PAT attempt was blocked.
Blair Burns, MW honorable mention last season, return punts while RB Shaun Hicks is returning kickoffs averaging nearly 13 ypr against the Longhorns.
What to Look For:
Brett Smith to resemble Chandler Harnish more than Alex Carder as he is elusive when on the move (Attention Coach Tuke!).
The Rockets defense will be fortunate to have one QB sack.
Brandon Miller to catch several passes out of the backfield.
Robert Herron on the flanker reverse.
The Rockets to outgain the Cowboys on the ground.
Outstanding offensive center play from Wyoming's Nick Carlson and the Rockets' Zac Kerin; they are both on the 2012 Rimington Trophy watch list.
Special team play of the Rockets to remain solid.
The Rockets to control the time of possession.
Both Toledo quarterbacks to connect on at least 60% of their passes.
Rocket receivers to get better separation from Cowboy defenders than in the opener against Arizona.
Wyoming to have fewer penalties than Toledo.
Smith to throw deep to Herron and Rufran.
Pokes free safety Luke Ruff to be all over the field.
Wyoming punter Gleeson to settle in on home turf and up his punting average
Very well-written. Coming from a Toledo writer, seems like no breaks for their home team. Meaning, shooting down every warm fuzzy they may have...
http://toledo.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1404799
I hope he is right.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Wyoming Cowboys, while playing in the Mountain West Conference, have a strong MAC flavor. Head Coach Dave Christensen served as an assistant coach under Gary Pinkel from 1992 to 2000 at the University of Toledo, mostly as the offensive coordinator. And then there is the Cowboys' second year offensive coordinator, Gregg Brandon, former head coach at Toledo arch-rival Bowling Green.
Sophomore running back Cassius McDowell has the speed to give Wyoming's defense trouble.
One way of looking at this Wyoming team is as a preview of the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos QB Alex Carder is all MAC in the eyes of most of the pre-season media. Wait to you get to see the Pokes sophomore Brett Smith in action.
Wyoming Offense
Like the team from Kalamazoo, the Cowboys favor the aerial assault over the ground game. And no wonder, given QB Brett Smith's accomplishments as a freshman. His superstar debut season was highlighted by completing 61 percent of his passes for 2,622 yards and 20 touchdowns. Smith was also the top rusher with 710 yards and other 10 TDs. He accounted for 3,332 yards of total offense. Consider these stats in light of Smith playing with an injured throwing hand and arm which caused him considerable pain over the last six games! As a true freshman, his honors included being named Mountain West Freshman of the Year and First Team Freshman All America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com. This year, Smith is the only sophomore QB on the 2012 Manning Award Watch List. Among the 25 QBs on the list, for sake of comparison, is WMU's Alex Carder.
Starting up front is a mostly veteran offensive line headed by outstanding senior center Nick Carlson. He is joined by several veterans including senior RT Kyle Magnuson and LT Josh Leonard. Returning starter LG Tyler Strong is joined by true freshman Josh Teeter who started against Texas at RG. This group does a good job of keeping QB sacks to a minimum. Case in point, the highly respected Texas D was able to sack Smith just once.
Brett Smith has top quality wide outs in Robert Herron and Dominic Rufran, the top two returning receivers. Joining them is senior Chris McNeill. The Cowboys deploy four WR in the spread offense. Unlike Arizona, no Wyoming wide out is taller than 6'1". Herron did burned the Horns secondary for two TD catches in the opener so the Rockets secondary need to be on alert.
The running game, in addition to Smith, is headed up by junior RB Brandon Miller (6'0", 193#) with freshman Shawn Wick (5'10", 190#) as backup. Miller is a former WR and figures in the Pokes passing attack. Against UT, the Cowboys managed just 69 yards on the ground.
Wyoming Defense
Not to be overlooked is a veteran defensive unit working under a new defensive coordinator, Chris Tormey. Tormey has implemented a 3-5-5 scheme this year. We saw that defense last Saturday at Arizona Stadium. The Cowboys will also use both a 4-3 and a 4-2-5 but in all cases they will use speed to the ball. Like the Rockets, they thrive on turnovers.
Up front, the Pokes feature two solid DTs in Mike Purcell (6'3", 303#) and Kurt Taufa'Asau (6'2", 284#). Defensive ends have limited experience due to injuries, departures, and position shuffling. Miraldo Michel (6'3" 265#) playing LDE, had a strong game against Texas recording half a dozen tackles. RFr Eddie Yarbrough made four solo tackles in a backup role.
The line backing corps has experience with senior Ghaali Muhammad, returning to his LB position after spending last year as a RB. The leaders of this group are Korey Jones and Devyn Harris. Both were starters last year and among the leading tacklers. The line backing depth was somewhat limited for the opener by injuries and inexperience.
The secondary, however, may be the strength of the Wyoming defense. This unit is led by senior free safety Luke Ruff, a second-team all-MW pick last year and the team's leading tackler. Sophomore CB Blair Burns and junior CB Marqueston Huff are returning starters at the corners. And then there's sophomore strong safety, Mark Nzeocha at 6'3", 220#, he has moved from LB last year with strong reviews in spring and fall camps.
Special Teams
Jumping out is the potential of Australian freshman punter Tim Gleeson. He has an Australian-rules football background involving kicking a heavier football. Results: practice punts routinely travelling more than 50 yards. In his collegiate debut he average less than 38 yards on five punts with a long of 54 yards.
Stuart Williams handles the kicking chores making a 33-yarder against Texas but his only PAT attempt was blocked.
Blair Burns, MW honorable mention last season, return punts while RB Shaun Hicks is returning kickoffs averaging nearly 13 ypr against the Longhorns.
What to Look For:
Brett Smith to resemble Chandler Harnish more than Alex Carder as he is elusive when on the move (Attention Coach Tuke!).
The Rockets defense will be fortunate to have one QB sack.
Brandon Miller to catch several passes out of the backfield.
Robert Herron on the flanker reverse.
The Rockets to outgain the Cowboys on the ground.
Outstanding offensive center play from Wyoming's Nick Carlson and the Rockets' Zac Kerin; they are both on the 2012 Rimington Trophy watch list.
Special team play of the Rockets to remain solid.
The Rockets to control the time of possession.
Both Toledo quarterbacks to connect on at least 60% of their passes.
Rocket receivers to get better separation from Cowboy defenders than in the opener against Arizona.
Wyoming to have fewer penalties than Toledo.
Smith to throw deep to Herron and Rufran.
Pokes free safety Luke Ruff to be all over the field.
Wyoming punter Gleeson to settle in on home turf and up his punting average
