Oh my goodness what am I witnessing?
It looks like there are construction fences all around the Wyoming Football offices. The sign reads “Rebuilding Underway, Project to be completed in 2016.” Well isn’t that just lovely.
After the announcement of three starting offensive lineman leaving the program and having three more players move to linebacker from their original positions the writing is clearly on the wall. Wyoming football is due for another lackluster year.
Starting with the offensive line, three experienced starters are now gone. Senior guards Jake Jones and Austin Traphagan have decided to leave the program to be more centered with their schoolwork and other aspects of their lives. Head coach Craig Bohl said on KFBC 1240 AM’s show SportZone that Hardy was dismissed after breaking team rules.
Well, Brain Hill, I hope you can break tackles early at the line of scrimmage. Last year the hope for the Cowboy football future was that the offensive line was young and learning. That a year together will help them get better as a unit. Now, three of the young guys are completely gone. Our offensive line looks like a hockey rink, dump and change constantly. I anticipate another year of poor pass protection, which does not bode well for a Craig Bohl system at all. If the defense can just worry about stopping Hill and senior running back Shaun Wick, the play action roll out will not work. Downfield shots won’t work without protection. The Cowboys were limited on offense last year, and this upcoming season looks like more of the same.
Moving on, what does the defensive unit look like heading into spring football? The defense was a major ouch factor last season. They got two interceptions all year and both came in the same game against Fresno State. The secondary had a lot of injuries last year, and there was barely a consistent factor behind the linebackers. This year might look a little different. Bohl was very concerned about getting secondary players in recruitment and he did just that. Not to mention, former running back D.J. May will be playing safety now. I love this move. He has unbelievable ball skills and can open-field tackle based on everything I know.
The only concerns I have are the linebackers. Senior linebacker and pass rush specialist Eddie Yarbrough will be back, and hopefully better than ever. He’s a major cornerstone of the defense running their scheme. Without pressure, our defense will be chasing receivers all over the yard. But, former quarterback Tom Thorton and former tight end Eric Nzeocha will both be transitioning to linebacker. Are we that desperate? Is it so thin that Nzeocha has to take the reins from his brother?
As long as you wear a hard hat, feel free to enter the construction zone. There is a lot of building to be done.
