Wyoming Football: Bowl bid in 2020 would do wonders for program
Cowboys look for stability on offense
The Cowboys are going into the 2020 season with a more determined mindset to get better on the offensive side of the ball.
Last season, they finished the season ranked 91st (eight in the conference) in points (25.4) and 106th (11th in the conference) in total yards (350.9).
For the Cowboys’ offense, their biggest problem with the lack of finding some rhythm throughout the season. They failed to score more than 23 points in any of the road games, outside of their bowl.
Brent Vigen enters his seventh season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as he was hired by Craig Bohl on day one. While they haven’t been the most elite offense in the conference, they have been seeing improvement overall. They return six players that started a majority of the games last season.
Last season, the Cowboys did not create any production in the passing game as they were ranked 123rd (11th in the conference) in passing yards (136.2). Freshman quarterback Sean Chambers started eight games and passed for 915 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions on a sub-50 percent completion rate. He also rushed for 567 yards and 10 touchdowns on 90 carries.
True freshman dual-threat quarterback Levi Williams played in the last three games of the season after an injury to Chambers. He started the Arizona Bowl where the Cowboys beat Georgia State 38-17. Williams is the more productive dual-threat playmaker in the RPO with Chambers having potential in the passing game.
Key playmakers in the run game from last season’s offense that was ranked 23rd (second in the Mountain West) in rushing yards per game (214.8). Junior running back Xazavian Valladay returns as the starter and last season, he rushed for 1,265 yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries. He also caught 11 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason first-team All-Mountain West. The Cowboys return their fullback in Skyler Miller.
Wyoming needs serious help in producing a passing offense as it lost its top three receivers. The lead returning pass-catcher is Valladay after having 211 yards. Their top returning wide out is Ayden Eberhardt who caught eight passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. They are expected to have Wyoming-native Dontae Crow to start for the first time at receiver.
If the Cowboys want to progress their offense and their passing game, they will need more impact from junior tight end Nate Weinman.
On the line, Wyoming returns four players that started at least eight games this past season. The offensive line is the position group of the offense where the Cowboys have the most confidence in due to their experience.
While they were great in creating an efficient push for the run game, they will need to be more efficient in pass protection as they gave up 21 sacks last season. Junior center Keegan Cryder is the solid leader of the line as he started all 13 games in 2019 and 12 games in 2018. He was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason first-team All-Mountain West.
Senior right guard Logan Harris started 11 games this past season as well as all 13 games in 2017. He was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason second-team All-Mountain West.