Tuck’s Take: How Long is Evan Svoboda’s Leash?

LARAMIE -- How long can this team continue to stick with Evan Svoboda under center?

"I think he gives us a good chance to be successful and a good chance to win," Jay Sawvel said after Wyoming's 34-14 loss Saturday night to rival BYU in front of a second-consecutive capacity crowd in Laramie. "I mean, he's still got to improve, there's no doubt about it.

"Look, we see this from a day-to-day-in-practice scenario there. I think he gives us the best chance to win right now. I think he does."

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The results say otherwise.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior has now started four games in his collegiate career. He's lost them all.

Three of those, all against Big XII opponents, have been lopsided. In last Saturday's unforgivable setback inside War Memorial Stadium against Idaho -- an FCS program -- Svoboda completed 10-of-24 throws for 126 yards. That came on the heels of a forgettable homecoming at Arizona State where the Mesa native connected on just six passes for 42 yards. He also tossed a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six on his first attempt of the season.

Wyoming's rookie head coach has been Svoboda's biggest cheerleader throughout this skid. Sawvel has said numerous times the fanbase will soon be thrilled that he's their quarterback.

Soon better be, well, soon.

It's understandable to give Svoboda a longer leash. Yes, the stats are beyond dismal -- 308 passing yards (125th in the FBS), a completion percentage of 42.3 (122nd) and four turnovers -- but his inexperience at this level needs to be taken into account. So does the fact he is operating in a new offense and has young weapons on the outside.

His front five hasn't exactly dammed up opposing defenses, either. He's been sacked eight times.

The optics, though, have been troubling.

Svoboda has been inaccurate, to say the least. Entering Saturday night, he had as many completions -- 16 -- as the team had penalties. He missed a wide-open Jaylen Sargent in the end zone Saturday late in the third quarter. A little more air under a first-half heave could've been six for TK King. There have been others.

Lots of others.

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He has looked uncomfortable, tight and has missed downfield reads. There were a few instances of that in the setback against the Vandals, according to Sawvel. Svoboda admitted pressure got the best of him in the season opener. Not just the kind the Sun Devils provided.

The Cowboys' signal caller didn't speak to the media after the 20-point loss to BYU. If he did, though, it would've likely sounded like this: "I have to be better," "I need to learn and grow," "We need to flush it and move on."

We've seen spurts, like throwing a 20-yard touchdown to Devin Boddie Jr. last Saturday. He hit tight end Clay Nanke on a 24-yard seam route, sparking Wyoming's first scoring drive against the Cougars. He went 5-of-6 on that possession. Sixty of the 75 yards came from his right arm.

He scored both touchdowns, both on the ground from two yards out.

It looked like he belonged.

Then there were the seven consecutive misses that began at the end of the first half and lingered on throughout the third quarter. The Cowboys punted eight times in this one. Six of those came via the 3-and-out. There was also a deep interception by BYU's Evan Johnson. There was a turnover on downs, too. That came on the overthrow to Sargent.

"I absolutely do. I have full confidence in Evan," senior wide receiver Will Pelissier said from behind the podium. "I know that he will do whatever he needs to do. I've talked to people over the summer and one thing I always talk about is Evan's work ethic. That's one thing that he does not lack. I know that he will be ready to go against North Texas."

Jack Walsh feels the same way.

"Yeah, of course. No doubt," the junior right guard added. "He's my quarterback through and through. He's going to be my quarterback until I'm done playing here. He's a constant competitor. He's probably being really hard on himself. You know, a lot has to do with the O-line. We have to protect better. Everything starts up front. We have full faith in him, that's for sure."

That's what those guys are supposed to say.

The fact remains, this team is winless and the offense is a major reason why. Is that all on Svoboda? Absolutely not. Remember when this program always finished just behind Air Force in the rushing category? That unit, after Saturday, accounts for just 87 yards per game. That's 118th in the country.

Another tradition remains, though -- finishing just ahead of the Falcons in passing. If you've been living under a rock for the last five-plus decades, that program runs an option attack.

Svoboda's tether should now be considered a choke chain.

North Texas, the Cowboys' next opponent, trailed 52-0 at halftime Saturday at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders capped the afternoon with 66 points. Three different quarterbacks managed to miss just 10 passes all afternoon while combining for 354 yards and four touchdowns. They gave up one sack.

Tech also added 232 yards and four more scores on the ground.

The excuses need to end here, especially from the head coach.

"I'm standing behind him," Sawvel said. "I feel that he can ... like I said, he's going to be a good quarterback. We've got work to do and we've got to be better. But, you know, I think to say that, hey, we're going to make a change after we lose to two teams that are in the Big XII ... I'm not ready to do that yet."