Three Keys To a Wyoming Cowboys Victory vs. CSU
LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel said Monday his bare-minimum expectation from his offense is to score at least one touchdown per quarter.
Wyoming has pulled that off just one time this season. That came in a 31-7 victory over Northern Iowa in Week 2.
The second-year head coach reached his breaking point after last Saturday's outing, one that saw that unit put up just 21 points in a loss at Air Force. Entering the matchup, that defense had allowed an average of 40 points and 500 yards of total offense through six weeks, statistically the worst marks in the FBS.
The Cowboys scored on just three of their nine possessions and turned the ball over twice in the final frame, including a back-breaking interception at the Falcons' 3-yard line.
Sawvel didn't hate the play call. It was the execution that left him steaming postgame. Less than 24 hours later, he demoted offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and handed the reins of this much-maligned outfit to wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight.
"We haven't scored enough points," Sawvel said bluntly. "That was something that I had to take a hard look at. I look at these scenarios, you know, as a head coach, there's been five games that we've lost here the last two years by four points or less -- and these aren't 38-35 games. So that was where, I felt like to some degree, our talent this year offensively was out-matching our production.
"This year, I could look at it and say that our production hasn't matched what the expectation and the talent level is. So, we made that adjustment and we'll go forward from there."
Wyoming averages just 20 points an outing. In 28 quarters of football, that offense has found the end zone just 18 times and split the uprights on five others.
Enough said.
Here are a few things the Cowboys need to do Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium to come away with a Border War win over rival Colorado State:
1. ON YOUR MARKS ...
Score early --and often -- in this one, it could break the visitors' will.
Easier said than done.
Wyoming has come away with just two scores on opening drives this season, the latest coming last Saturday when Kaden Anderson and Co. marched 74 yards on nine plays, culminating with a 23-yard jaunt to the end zone by Terron Kellman.
Erik Sandvik also booted through a 36-yard field goal on the first possession against UNLV.
That one was a tad less impressive.
After quarterback Anthony Colandrea fumbled the opening snap on an attempted flea-flicker, the Cowboy offense managed just a single yard despite starting that drive at the Rebels' 19-yard line.
CSU is a fragile football team right now.
A 31-19 setback last Saturday against Hawaii in front of a record-breaking homecoming crowd inside Canvas Stadium was the final straw for the brass, who fired head coach Jay Norvell after three-plus seasons -- and an 18-26 overall record -- in Fort Collins.
Aside from a night when everything went right in a stunning 49-21 victory over Fresno State, the Rams have found plenty of creative ways to lose, coming off an eight-win season.
If it wasn't for a controversial overturned touchdown toss in the dying seconds against Northern Colorado, an FCS opponent from right across Interstate-25 in Greeley, CSU would have just one victory under its collective belt.
First halves have not been kind to the Rams this fall.
Just once they have taken a lead into the half. That came in the blowout win over the Bulldogs. Then starting quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi also led his team to a 14-14 tie at the break in the season opener at Washington.
That's the good news. The bad?
CSU has been outscored 110-72 over the first 30 minutes of its seven games. Take away that 35-point outburst against Fresno State and you're looking at a 73-point advantage for the opposition.
How much fight does that team have left? Will it be rejuvenated with a new boss at the helm? Will it wilt at the first sign of adversity?
MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:
* Will Wyoming's Senior Tight End be Ready to Go in Border War?
* Know Wyoming's Foe: Colorado State Rams
* PODCAST: Bizarre Border War Up Ahead?
* What Will Wyoming's Offense Look Like Under Jovon Bouknight?
* BREAKING: Jay Johnson Out as Offensive Coordinator at Wyoming
* Colorado State Notebook: Sawvel Looking For Border War 'Jolt'
* Tuck's Take: Crucial Mistakes Racking up for Wyoming Offense
* Costly Fourth-Quarter Interceptions Derail Pokes at Air Force
* Turning Point, Unsung Hero and What's Next for UW Football
* LIVE FILE: Air Force 24, Wyoming 21
* Rants and Raves: Air Force Edition
2. I'LL TAKE THAT
Wyoming is minus-4 in turnover margin.
Two fourth-quarter interceptions last Saturday put a halt to any chance of a victory at Air Force. One of those came near the goal line with a chance to take a seven-point lead. That miscue, coming on a trick play, of all things, led to an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that took 4:03 off the clock.
Anderson threw another pick on the ensuing possession. That turned into a 40-yard field goal six snaps later.
Ball game.
Eight. That's the total number of giveaways for the Cowboys over the last three weeks.
An Anderson fumble led to a UNLV field goal. A Samuel Harris fumble inside Rebel territory derailed a once-promising drive, too. You might recall, two touchdowns on that hail-covered field also came via the blocked punt.
Anderson tossed a pair of interceptions against San Jose State. The first led to a missed field goal. The second, well, linebacker Brayden Johnson repaid the favor, snagging a pick off a deflection and went 65 yards untouched into the end zone.
Punt returner Deion DeBlanc also misplayed a ball in the third quarter inside the Cowboys' 10-yard line. The defense again picked up the pieces when Tyce Westland hammered Walker Eget in the backfield, forcing a fumble that was scooped up by fellow edge rusher Chisolm Ifeanyi.
CSU has recovered three fumbles. That defense also has seven interceptions this fall, three courtesy of Jace Bellah.
In a nutshell, Wyoming needs to protect the football.
BORDER WAR THROWBACK STORIES VIA 7220SPORTS:
* CSU's Steve Addazio No Fan of Losing In-State Kids to Wyoming
* Fort Collins Native Gage Brook Living Out His Dream in Laramie
* Josh Allen Didn't Forget About 'Sheep Week'
* An Emotional Jayden Clemons Enters Border War Lore
* Fum McGraw: 'Don't Send My Boy To Wyoming U'
* A House Divided: Three Pokes Have Crossed the Border
* Wyoming's Zach Watts Seeks Fourth Border War Victory
* GALLERY: Border War Memories From the North Side
* Frank Crum: Love and Border War
3. BE PATIENT
No team in the FBS blitzes more than CSU.
When it works, it works. When it doesn't, ouch.
The Rams have been credited with 92 total quarterback pressures through seven games, including 63 hurries. Eighteen times the visitors have put a lick on the signal caller. As a team, they have 11 sacks, led by safety Lemondre Jones with 2.5.
Tyson Summers, who will likely still lead the defense Saturday night despite taking over as interim head coach, loves taking chances.
Wyoming, at least under former offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, loved running screens.
Those calls have popped, too.
Remember slot receiver Chris Durr's 35-yard dash to the end zone at Akron in the season opener? Or how about Sam Scott's 23-yard hookup in Boulder? The senior running back also rumbled 36 yards on the opening drive of the second half against UNLV.
Harris flew 52 yards down the west sideline late in the fourth quarter against San Jose State. That set up a memorable game-clinching touchdown run from Kellman in that 35-28 stunner.
The Cowboys' offensive front, despite the youth and inexperience at both tackle spots, has allowed just 11 sacks. That unit has also given up 37 tackles for loss.
The pressure is no doubt coming. How will Anderson and Co. handle it?