LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Wyoming gave up an average of 442.6 yards a
game last season, but that's not the number Cowboys defensive
coordinator Mike Breske is concerned about.
What makes Breske wince is the 30 points per game and the 4-8
team record.
"I'm not a big goals' person in terms of stats. Stats are for
losers, in my mind," Breske said Wednesday. "We have to win, and
that's my goal: to win. My main concern is what can we do from a
defensive point of view to achieve winning? I don't get wrapped up
in yards given up per game. I really don't care. What we do,
though, is push turnovers where we want to average three per game.
If we get three takeaways a game and hold our opponents to 18 to 20
points, we're going to be there."
Breske said the key to improving the defense is developing more
consistency in terms of each person understanding his role on
defense.
"We don't need any supermen out there, just take care of their
own job and we'll be much better. I think we are getting that
concept understood this spring."
The Cowboys conclude spring practice with the spring game at 1
p.m. Saturday at the practice fields behind the baseball stadium.
Breske said the two areas where his Cowboy defense needs to
improve are in execution and stopping the run. The execution comes
not only from repetition, but depth and competition as well.
"When you have competition at every position, you can put
another guy in if someone is not performing up to expectations. But
when you don't have that situation, your hands are tied," he said.
"We're developing that depth, but it's going to take time."
Stopping the run is a matter of talent and size, combined with
the scheme.
"We have to improve there to get our opponents to spread out in
a one-back set and try to throw more. We're making good strides
there."
Although Breske feels the Cowboy defense will be much improved
next fall, it's still a couple of years away from realizing its
full potential simply because of numbers and experience.
The current Cowboy depth chart has 28 players listed on defense,
but there are only five seniors and six juniors.
The emergence of junior newcomers Dusty Hoffschneider (nose
guard) and Aaron Robbins (buck) has made the defensive line more
athletic. They join veterans Zach Morris (tackle) and John Flora
(end) as starters for a solid mix.
"We want to play with eight guys up front. That's what we would
feel comfortable with," Breske said. "So, we need the guys behind
them to step up to get into that position. The problem, other than
Jake Bonde (senior noseguard), is we are still young there. We
don't have the time to put on another 20 or 30 pounds."
At linebacker, the Cowboys have two senior starters in Randy
Tscharner (MLB) and Guy Tuell (WLB), but the remainder of the corps
is either inexperienced or young.
The same holds true in the secondary where the Cowboys are very
thin at the cornerback position. The two starters are junior
Terrance Butler (FCB) and sophomore Derrick Martin (BCB). The
backups include sophomore Dorsey Golston, who is also working at
safety, and two redshirt freshmen.
The situation is slightly more comfortable at the two safety
spots where senior Jay McNeal and sophomore Marcial Rosales give
the Cowboys a very good 1-2 punch at the free spot and sophomore
John Wendling and Golston on the strong side.
"Those guys are getting better and better, but we are still
thin," Breske added.
Junior college transfers Brandon Bell and Ron Rockett should
provide immediate help in terms of depth in the fall.
Meantime, redshirt freshman backup center Ben Penfold was
dismissed from the squad Wednesday for "violation of team rules."
Junior Drew Severn and sophomore Mark Schwarz will now be snapping
the ball behind senior starter Trenton Franz.