Wyoming’s switch this season from its trademark 4-3 defense to a 3-4 alignment might have been easier if Cowboys coach Joe Glenn could dust off an old playbook.
But Glenn hasn’t coached a team that primarily employed a defensive formation of three linemen and four linebackers since 1989 at Northern Colorado.
“It’s been a long time,” Glenn said. “But you know what? We’ve got 17 linebackers on our roster. Some of our better athletes are linebackers. We’ve had a lot of success recruiting the 6-foot-2, 6-3 guy that’s 225 to 235 pounds.”
It might be a little lonely in the trenches for nose guard Jake Mayes (6-3, 292), defensive tackle Aaron Robbins (6-4, 256) and defensive end Corey Mace (6-3, 287) in Saturday’s opener against Utah State at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. But watching their backs will be a quartet of active linebackers: Ward Dobbs (6-0, 242) and Luke Chase (6-1, 240) on the inside and Austin Hall (6-2, 225) and Sean Claffey (6-3, 240) on the outside.
It’s no secret that recruiting linebackers is a much easier task than filling four spots up front. Burly high school linemen with quick enough feet to play defense are in short supply.
Even the wish lists of marquee programs almost always include down linemen.
“You can find some big, athletic kids, but there’s a pecking order (in recruiting),” Wyoming defensive coordinator Mike Breske said. “Wyoming is not high enough in that pecking order. That’s just the way it is.”
In searching for linebackers, however, there are plenty of diamonds in the rough waiting to be discovered.
Dobbs is a case in point. A sophomore from Fairbanks, Alaska, he recorded 75 tackles last season despite waiting until the seventh game before he entered the starting lineup.
Breske, who began coaching with Glenn in 1990 at UNC, had never taught the 3-4 as a base defense until this past spring. He was all for the switch.
Although the defense wasn’t blamed for Wyoming’s late-season collapse in 2005, Cowboys coaches figured to make some changes. They lost their final six games in 2005 to finish 4-7.
“I think with the 3-4 we’re more athletic,” Breske said. “We’ve got better speed on the field.”
And with the 3-4 it is easier to disguise coverage packages and blitzes, senior strong safety John Wendling added. Any of the four linebackers can rush the passer on a given play. Or a safety could blitz while a linebacker drops into pass coverage.
“If the (opponent’s offense) doesn’t know where we’re coming from, that makes it a lot easier on us,” said Wendling, a fast 222-pounder.
Wyoming’s move to the 3-4 made it challenging for first-year coach Utah State coach Brent Guy to develop an offensive game plan.
“We are not real sure of the exact structure they will come out in; that’s an advantage for them,” said Guy, whose Aggies team went 3-8 in 2005.
On the other hand, Aggies quarterback Leon Jackson, a threat with his arm and feet, would be a handful for any defense, never mind one trying to adjust to a new system.
“Actually, I’d much rather have it this way,” Breske said. “He’s their focal point. Our kids know what we’re emphasizing.”
GAME BREAKDOWN
Players to watch
Wyoming – QB Jacob Doss, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior who attempted only 13 passes last season in a limited role. A member of Joe Glenn’s first recruiting class, the Lexington, Ky., native will be making his first career start. SS John Wendling, a 6-1, 222-pound senior has moved from free to strong safety. He wowed pro scouts with a 4.38 clocking in the spring.
Utah State – QB Leon Jackson III (6-1, 196) is a dual threat: 1,547 yards passing last season, 328 rushing. Make that a triple-threat, because he punts, too. Sophomore MLB Jake Hutton (6-0, 225) earned third-team freshman All-America honors last season after a team-leading 87 tackles.
Key stat
Wyoming committed 12 more turnovers last year (32) than its opponents (20), contributing mightily to finishing the season with a six-game losing streak.
Key for Utah State
Aggies went just 3-8 in coach Brent Guy’s first season, and a lack of scoring punch was a major reason. Utah State must improve dramatically on its per-game averages of 18.9 points and 117 yards rushing.
Key for Wyoming
Considering last season’s rash of turnovers, Cowboys coaches have placed an emphasis on taking care of the football. Playing error-free football can be a challenge in an opening game, however, especially with an unproven quarterback taking the snaps.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
