2006 Statistics

With the talent available, last season’s results on this side of scrimmage can only be seen as disappointing. The innovative spread looks had their moments, but since the passing game is a specialty of coach Glenn’s, ranking 85th with their aerial attack and 91st for total offense has to reflect on the coaching to some extent. Struggles like these shouldn’t be as prevalent this year, for the offseason progress of sophomore quarterback Karsten Sween will increase team production with so many talent position starters also back. Still, the revampings along the OL could keep the Cowboys from reaching their offensive potential. Sween showed poise, arm-strength and a keen ability to run the offense as he went 5-2 after replacing Jacob Doss at starter (Doss went 1-4). Well-sized, Sween isn’t quite the scrambler/runner Doss is, but neither is a threat to invade opponent’s secondaries due to his feet. Hopefully, the ’06 Freshman All-American (Honorable Mention, Sporting News) can stay under center so UW can have some momentum/continuity for 2008, but Doss being thrust back into the main role could also work (he just wouldn’t take this team quite as far as Sween probably would). The backfield is led by workhorse Wynel Seldon, though, smaller and stouter Devin Moore seems like the bigger threat to break a big run. The two juniors netted nearly the same amount of total yards, even with Moore only garnering a little more than half of the carries of Seldon. A direct comparison - Moore only lost six total yards while Seldon lost 51, and Moore’s longest run last year was 71 yards to go with his three rushing TDs while Seldon’s long was 22 yards to go with his lone score. Factor in Moore’s softer hands and we, like many, wonder why he isn’t the starter. Hulking senior H-back Wade Betschart (also lines up at TE) needs to have another all-MWC campaign if the Pokes are to again finish in the top half of the I-A listings for rushing. Mike Ford is a ‘go to’ type of receiver with his size-speed combo, and classmate Hoost Marsh provides the same solidity upon which the UW hurlers can bank. Expanding the production of the TE slot (two other 6’5 snarlers) will really open up the downfield proceedings for Ford, Hoost, and the rest of this well-sized corps. After giving up 40 sacks, it seems a mixed blessing that both starting tackles have been lost; Kyle Howard has been the line’s best producer and shifts over to fill one of these outside openings. Tim Bond will move back to center, which is where he spent a good part of 2006 after shifting from his guard slot to help the team compensate for injuries. Bond calling the blocking schemes will help the team break in the new faces, as will soph Russ Arnold getting a permanent spot after starting for three games at guard in ’06. That means the left side is a work-in-progress with four green underclassmen comprising the two-deep, and hence, there are no guarantees until these newbies are up to speed. This line can eventually be more than it was, but that will take time since the last group played consistently together for so long. Moreover, Glenn and coordinator Bill Cockhill’s seven-year relationship in leading their teams’ offenses (Montana before here) has fizzled somewhat as of late. Problems (like Wyoming’s 32% third-down efficiency rating and how they only scored a total of 35 first quarters points last year) have to show signs of improvement if Glenn and his staff are to prove the programs shortcomings aren’t their doings (or lack there of). And with only Glenn’s recruits now comprising the roster, the focus on him this way becomes clear.

The entire Cowboy team finished as well as they did last campaign mainly due to their stopping power. But whereas this defense did well holding foes to only 262 total yards per game (9th in I-A), they allowed points at a much higher rate (ranked 53rd in defensive scoring). The run defense loses all of its starters up front, but the back eight (in the loose 3-4 run here) gets most of its major components back to help the DL rebuild. The “biggest” job goes to NG Fred Givens, the only 300+-pound lineman on the two-deep. His showing as a RS frosh offers promise, but UW’s lack of other large middlemen has to be a concern. 6’6 John Fletcher is the designated DT, and earning three TFLs out of his nine total takedowns proves he is worthy of the start. Mitch Unrein is the third sophomore to be promoted; this walk-on impressed all spring and will have to produce to hold off converted-LB Mike Neuhaus. The depth up front looks more promising than proven, but recent trends amongst the Pokes make us believe this unit will quickly come together. The linebackers are a modest but effective bunch. All upperclassmen, three of whom started every game last year, this corps will again fuse the team’s well-rounded stopping efforts. Inside, Dobbs is all-MWC with speed for coverage, and the bigger Chase is better suited for run support. Senior Sean Claffey may be the best run-stopper of the group, and recently-promoted junior Mike Juergens saw extensive reps in ’06, so his new starting status isn’t a gamble for production. With depth that is as experienced as the starters, this linebacking corps may be the best in the Mountain West. The secondary, ranked 8th in pass defense, loses both safeties and two major cogs (Wendling, team’s top tackler in ’06, and Golston, tops in INTs). But the returning corner starters will keep the pass defense strong, especially all-conference Julius Stinson and his many contributions (third-best UW tackler). Fellow senior Mike Medina is a more traditional cover corner, and Troy Lewis knows the nickel role well. The safety slots cycle in two acclimated faces – Quincy Rogers, who has played every DB position, gets the bump as does Michael Ray, who trumpets in a smart approach to how he mans strong safety. The depth in the deep middle (two freshmen) has to step up quickly to keep any injury rashes here from affecting the entire defense. After holding six of their first eight foes last year to 17 points or less, this defense finally bowed and the last four all hit them for 24 or more. Two of those, TCU and BYU, were top 25 teams (both losses), but the offense bailed them out against San Diego and UNLV. The other four losses on the year were by a combined 21 points, so you can see how Wyoming was/is very close to a special season if just a few factors can be attained. If the line plays to last year’s standard (ranked 23rd for run stopping), the team should finish well over .500.