Second year head coach Dave Christensen has his hands full. Last year he brought Laramie the long awaited gift of a bowl appearance for the University of Wyoming faithful. As a bonus, the Cowboys topped Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl in OT.
The expectations for this season were set last year with the Cowboys 17-16 win over Colorado State that came late in the season to make them bowl eligible followed by their 35-28 bowl victory to finish the season at 7-6.
Saturday marks a cross roads for the Cowboys’ bowl plans this year. At 1-3 with TCU (4-0), Utah (4-0), BYU (1-3) and San Diego State (3-1) up next after Toledo, garnering five more Ws becomes a huge challenge. Getting the second win is essential and immediate for Christensen’s crew.
Wyoming on Offense
Points are hard to come by, about 18 ppg last year and less than 16 ppg this season. They have faced both Texas and Boise State back to back which is a hellacious first part of anyone’s schedule. But given they opened with Southern Utah (FCS) and just played conference foe Air Force, scoring a single TD in the first quarter and zero points in the fourth quarter, all games combined, indicates that the offense has yet to make huge strides over last year.
Sophomore QB Austyn Carta-Samuels (6‘2”, 215#) can be very effective if left alone in the pocket, similar to Austin Dantin in the first half in West Lafayette. In the Cowboys’ opener Carta-Samuels had a career game throwing for 319 yards, three touchdowns and completing 81.3 percent of his passes. His talent as a true freshman earned him the Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. Of course playing the likes of Boise State and Texas, he has been rather busy. To date his performance has been decent with an efficiency rating of 141.00 on 60 for 88 pass completions (68.2%) with four TDs and four INTs. Passing yardage per game, however, is just less than 180 yards per game.
The running game is still a work in progress. Sophomore RB Alvester Alexander (5’11”, 208#) is one of the Cowboys’ two featured backs. Alexander is averaging 3.7 ypr. The other half of the running tandem is QB Austyn Carta-Samuels. He’ll run nearly half as many times as he throws. The ground game is producing, on average, less than 70 yards rushing.
The offensive spark is provided by Cowboy receivers. Five receivers account for nearly three-fourths of the completions. Seniors WR Zach Bolger (5’10, 185#, 18.2 ypc) and WR David Leonard (6’4”, 203#, 11.3 ypc) top the Cowboy grabbers with 13 catches each. Sophomore WR Chris McNeill (6’1”175#, 8.0 ypc) has 10 grabs followed by community college transfer WR Mazi Obonna (6’1’, 194#, 10.4 ypc) with eight receptions. RB Alexander has caught seven passes out of the backfield for a 12.7 ypc average. In total, the passing game accounts for about 180 of the 240 yards of offense per game.
The offensive line, which has allowed 10 sacks, is in transition. A RG has been moved to RT and a backup RT to RG. Chemistry and consistency are yet to be established up front.
Wyoming on Defense
The strength of this group of Cowboys is the defense, particularly the secondary. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview ranked the Cowboy secondary No. 29 in the country.
Up front, the Pokes employee a 4-3 scheme with converted line backers playing DE trading a bit of size for speed. DE Gabe Knapton (6’3”, 248#) leads the front four with 29 tackles, 2 TFL and a sack. At the other defensive end position is Josh Biezuns (6’2”, 247#) with 20 tackles, 1.5 TFL. Sophomore Mike Purcell (6’3”, 279#) and RSF Patrick Mertens (6’5”. 269#), each with 16 tackles, are in the middle.
The line backing trio is led by Jr. standout MLB Brian Hendricks (6’1”. 228#, second in tackles with 44) the only returning starting LB. Sophomore Ghaali Muhammad (6’0”, 225#) has been impressive with 40 tackles. Muhammad is one of the fastest Cowboys and returns kick offs. Think Jalen Parmele on defense.
The leader of the secondary is FD Chris Prosinski, an All-MWC Second Team selection a year ago, ranked tenth in the nation in tackles per game. He is currently third with 41 tackles. The leading tackler is sophomore safety Shamiel Garywith a team high 48 tackles, 7th best in the country. That many tackles by the safeties means they are not getting enough help up front. The team has only two INTs through four games, one each by Prosinski and Garywith in the last two games. Jr CB Tashaun Gipson is very good in pass coverage.
The defense has been giving up lots of yardage on the ground (253) and through the air (213) but that has to be weighed against two top 10 opponents. The Wyoming D holds opponent scoring in check keeping the offense within striking distance. Last year they gave up 27 ppg. This year it’s 33 points per game.
Wyoming Special Teams
Last year, Cowboy punter Austin McCoy ranked 20th in the nation in punting as a sophomore, and earned Honorable Mention All-MWC honors as he averaged 43.3 yards per punt.
This season, McCoy is once again among the top punters in the nation as he currently ranks fifth in the nation, averaging 47.45 yards per punt. Wyoming punt coverage, however, is allowing nearly 15 yards per punt return.
Interestingly, the Cowboys have not attempted a field goal through four games. Ian Watts was a perfect 10-of-10 on kicks within in 40 yards and was two of his five from 40 yards and beyond last year.
Kickoff returns are handled by LB Ghaali Muhammad(24.9 ypr) and WR Zach Bolger (19.0 ypr). WR David Leonard has the lone punt return for the Cowboys for nine yards.
What to Look For:
• The Wyoming player selected to wear #12 in honor of Ruben Narcisse. Narcisse was a 19-year-old freshman linebacker for the Cowboys' football team. He was killed in an auto accident on Labor Day.
• At least two sacks by the Rocket defense.
• The Rocket OL to keep Dantin from being sacked.
• Cowboy penalties to be no more than six for the game.
• A number of missed tackles by the Pokes.
• Zero punt return yardage for the Pokes as the Rockets’ Bravo Unit continues to shine.
• Another Rocket INT putting their season total into double figures.
• QB Carta-Samuels attempting to get outside the pocket to run and throw from the edges.
• At least one Rocket punt return of 20 yards or more.
• The Rockets to merit their early -3 line.
