By Robert Gagliardi
WyoSports 

Big-play threat in passing game critical to UW's offensive success

 

August 7, 2018

COURTESY/ SHANNON BRODERICK/ Boomerang photographer

Wyoming quarterback Tyler Vander Waal makes a throw during practice Friday morning at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.

Who will be the quarterback, and how will he play?

Who will run the ball?

Will the offensive line be better?

Those are all legitimate questions about the University of Wyoming's offense heading into this season.

But there is another question that is key to the Cowboys' success offensively in 2018: Who is the big-play threat at wide receiver?

Among the seven receivers who caught passes last season, along with three tight ends, all return. However, junior receiver C.J. Johnson, who led UW with seven receiving touchdowns and 17.7 yards per catch, is out for most or all of the season from a knee injury suffered during the Cowboys' bowl victory over Central Michigan last December.

Johnson was second on the team with 30 catches, and his longest reception of 53 yards was best on the team. He was – on paper, at least – UW's best big-play receiver.

Why is this important to UW's offensive success?

Because the threat of a player – or players – with speed and big-play capabilities stretches the field and prevents defenses from stacking the box all the time with eight or nine defenders to stop the run, and even the short passing game. Teams did that a lot in 2015-16 when UW had running back Brian Hill, yet Hill rushed for 1,631 and 1,860 yards in those respective seasons.

When Hill rushed for 1,860 yards in 2016, UW won eight games, but also had a big-play threat at wide receiver in senior Tanner Gentry, who caught 72 passes for 1,326 yards and 14 touchdowns. Gentry averaged 18.4 yards per catch. UW's three leading receivers after that, which included senior tight end Jacob Hollister, averaged 15.7, 16.1 and 14.5 yards per catch.

UW doesn't have a proven back like Hill on the roster right now. And the foundation of its pro-style offense is based on running the ball first and foremost.

UW averaged only 108.8 rushing yards per game last season. It needs to be closer to 208.8 this season. Yes, a lot of that is predicated on who is running the ball and how the offensive line plays, but being able to spread defenses with the threat of a big play factors into that success.

In order to execute a big play in the passing game, you need a quarterback who can deliver the ball. Fifth-year coach Craig Bohl thinks the two players competing for the starting job – redshirt freshman Tyler Vander Waal and fifth-year senior Nick Smith – are both capable of throwing the ball deep. A starter hasn't been named, but all indications through the first week of fall camp is Vander Waal will be the starter.

So who will be UW's big-play threat(s)?

Junior wide receiver Austin Conway was the leading receiver last season with 62 catches for 553 yards, but his 8.9 yards-per-catch average doesn't indicate a big-play threat. However, Conway averaged 10.4 yards per punt return in 2018, including a long of 55, so he has that potential.

Conway is slot receiver, and UW has a couple of other speedy players there in sophomore Avante' Cox and junior Raghib Ismail Jr., a junior-college transfer. Cox played as a true freshman last season, but his playing time diminished as the season progressed and caught five passes for 79 yards. However, wide receivers coach Mike Grant said at the start of fall camp Cox may be the fastest of the Cowboys' wide receivers.

Ismail may give Cox a run for his money – no pun intended – in the speed department. Bohl has been impressed with Ismail's playmaking abilities early in camp.

Conway, Cox and Ismail all are between 5-10 and 6 feet, and are around 180 pounds. Getting off press coverage at the line of scrimmage can be a challenge for receivers that size. Once they get the ball in space, however, big plays can happen.

A wild card for UW could be James Price – the lone senior among the receivers. Price is bigger at 6-2 and about 215 pounds. A shoulder injury delayed the start of his 2017 season. In 10 games, Price caught 20 passes for 282 yards – a 14.1-yard average – and a long of 40. Price has 38 catches in his UW career, but if he saved his best for his last season, that would be a big boost for the offense.

Perhaps UW can rely on some bigger bodies to provide a big-play boost. Sophomore receiver Jared Scott is 6-6, and both of his catches last season resulted in touchdowns. Austin Fort of Gillette is one of three senior tight ends, and at 6-4, Bohl likes his ability to stretch defenses down the middle of the field with his size and athleticism.

But can those two get down field fast enough to be a big-play threat? Or should they be asked to use their abilities in other ways – both catching passes and blocking?

Much of all this will play out during the rest of camp and throughout the season, and a lot will depend on other aspects of the offense.

But for UW to be an efficient and more balanced offense in 2018, big-play threats at wide receiver and/or tight end must be found and executed.

 
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