2004 Statistics

Quarterback
Corey Bramlet returns after a breakout season and is poised to be one of the best in the conference with his size and drop-back skills. The Cowboys will it air out again, so look for this quick-study to expand his grasp on just what he can bring to the table in Laramie. Oh, and he can run it well to freeze LBs when he rolls out. The Pokes don't have an experienced backup like they did last season (Ratterink played significant time). Pure-passer Jacob Doss (shattered Tim Couch's Kentucky prep record for consecutive games with a TD) has the goods, but Karsten Sween mimics Bramlet more in approach. Sween, a highly touted quarterback from California who led the state in passing, is too quick not to play.

Running Back
The Cowboys have a 1-2 punch that is going to hit harder this year. Both Ivan Harrison and Joseph Harris will again share time, with Harrison the more regular of the two. He will again get the bulk of the carries, but don't think that discounts their worth in Harris, a bruising back who scored just one touchdown less than Harrison. Together, the duo averaged just over 100 yards per game. Another consistent season will come from the pair. J.R. Moore is a recruit from Oklahoma (Offensive Player of the Year) prototypically similar to the others, and is expected to have impact even as a freshman. Still, as long as Bramlet is Joe Glenn's guy, RBs won't be center-stage, especially if they again only move the rock 3.2 yards per clip. Wyoming ran the ball 55%, so you can measure how well the Cowboys are doing by noting whether their average here changes.

Receiver
Want exciting? Look for Jovon Bouknight, a well-sized receiver who can flat-out fly. He was the team's best offensive player besides Bramlet last year. Bouknight will force double-teams returning as the MWC's second-leading receiver. Bouknight also throws (two TDs) and runs it once per tilt, and the Pokes will use this versatility. There are plenty of other capable receivers on a team that thrives on aerial assaults. The top seven snarlers return to the nation's 36th-rated passing attack, so expect the development of routes and schemes to expand. And with "little dynamite" PR specialist Hoost Marsh listed on the two-deep, this crew will be unstoppable once in the flow.

Tight End / H-Back
The Pokes love to throw, but John Wadkowski didn't see as many as he can handle. After seeing him finish second-team-all-conference, the Cowboys will definitely get both he and Wade Betschart more than last year's four TDs. With only one back in a majority of the time, these two also have the push to make that dimension work, too.

Offensive Line
With four of five starters returning, experience here is going to have to make up for the lack of talent displayed last campaign. Only one returner, left tackle Chase Johnson, was named all-conference (Honorable Mention), making us realize why the marginally weak running average and 40 sacks allowed force so many question here. Senior RG Drew Severn answers one of them. He will likely be moved to the vacated center spot, so the assignments are clear. But only Johnson motivates his girth at the real-game speeds needed to be consistently effective. These guys can move ok, but the sophisticated nature of using quickness to effectively marble run- and pass-blocking is the gear-shifting this crew needs. With so many talented skill guys back, this unit will use its battle scars to establish an identity and raise the entire offensive impact to the "next level".

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
This is going to be one of the most efficient and productive passing games in college football. Bramlet is now the conference's top QB - he has a better supporting cast, with nine other guys who are already familiar with how he improvises, and what each needs to do when he does. Bouknight is a former quarterback that is a superior "slash" athlete. His talents, while around so many other strong receivers, can only help Bramlet make this embattled line look good. With two strong, capable RBs and eager depth behind them, that dimension's emergence will, too, make this line forget 2004's struggles. The running game just has to place in the top half for all I-A teams to make this offense unstoppable, so watch that stat to see how well this entire team does. Even with their explosive reputation, Joe Glenn already knows how to control the clock after getting ahead (TOP differential +3:10) and not give such chances away (19th in NCAA for TO-margin). This is going to be the best offense the state has seen since the days of Joe Tiller in the early 1990s.

Defensive Line
There is a major hole to fill here. Power-packed Dusty Hoffschneider, strong at a compact 5-10 but only 250lbs., still gets the job done in the middle with good push. John Flora, bigger than Dusty at one end, forced three fumbles as he forces plays to either be contained or have to go high to get around him to the outside. On the other side is "Buck" Aaron Robbins. Former TE/FB Robbins is a power-speed player who fills this unique role of being both a rush end and/or drop-back guy all-in-one. Both seniors can accomplish here, but over pursuit cannot again affect this position. As far as the other inside post, the Pokes are going to look for a number of capable, but inexperienced dudes. This is the same line, minus both one great (Morris) and one mundane (Bonde) part, that could only hold foes to 4.3 per carry and attain 19 sacks. Much falls to the LBs for responsibility, but since most are new starters there in '05, this unit tells-tale as to whether they can step up or not as the anchor that can hold its own as needed.

Linebacker
This is the biggest question mark on the entire team. Junior Austin Hall, left now as the only returning starter (SAM), was the weakest of the three here last time. He plays quick, but has not bulked past 215 and seems to chase the play more often than make it. Luke Chase is going to find somewhere to play after impressing as a frosh. The entire corps is light and fast, but seems to be run-stopping oriented, what is needed. Quick doesn't matter if you can't stop foes initial ground assault, so look for senior WLB Tatnall and junior MLB Prater to load the box as they are the biggest of the bunch. As mentioned for the line's unit, the run-stopping was weak enough such that the turnover here is likely a blessing. Tough new faces will make this corps strong again in both run- and pass-support.

Defensive Back
John Wendling and Derrick Martin are the main reasons it will be hard to get completions. Martin is a lockdown cover man (T-14th in all I-A for passes defended) who has uncanny blitzing/penetrating skills when playing the run inside, and CB-mate Terrance Butler does his job well enough (led team with four INTs). Ron Rockett returns to make the already-gelled unit complete. Surprise depth from newbie (former QB-RB) J.R. Moore will compliment the other, already-established DBs to make this an even better unit than the 47th-ranked in pass efficiency defense the just were in 2004. Their ability to genuinely help in the box and still do their required, drop-back roles will go a long way towards more effectively ushering in the new LBs, and therefore securing the flow on this side of the ball.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The defense is going to have trouble keeping up with the offense. There just isn't enough experienced talent coming back to make this a feared unit. The three front-seven players lost represent the teeth of what was, so just who steps up and how fast will tell us how far Wyoming goes as an entire team. But the key will be the DBs ability to bolster toughness on the inside, and just how long the LBs NEED this just to hold back the ground flood, so to speak. It is going to take some time for the defense to develop chemistry and fulfill its potential. Knowing they will score early and often, this D can grow into its own by keeping the play in front of them underneath, so the ball-hawking DBs can go deep as needed and keep Wyoming from losing those 'Wild West Aerial Shootouts'. This defense can be better than the last, but balance will found quickly, or the budding middle will never fully grow into its potential, affecting the rest of the cast as they are forced to support it.