Pokes Practice Report: Red-Zone Woes Still Linger

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel, admittedly, wasn't pleased with a single offensive statistic from a season ago, but if one stands out -- and encapsulates a mostly forgettable year -- it's his team's performance in the red zone.

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Wyoming's offense, led by quarterback Kaden Anderson and play-caller Jay Johnson, finished 130th in the nation out of 134 FBS programs inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

That unit entered just 25 times in 12 games -- only Wisconsin and Kent State were worse with 22 trips -- and came away with 17 scores, four of which were field goals.

Aaron Bohl's defense, on the other hand, finished second to only Ohio State, limiting the opposition to just 22 successful drives on 32 trips.

"It's a huge point of emphasis," Wyoming's third-year head coach said Tuesday, following the sixth practice of fall camp. "I think, defensively, there's a lot of things that we can do better, and that we're expecting to do better in this program, but there's other things that we have a foundational base on that we've got to always continue to build with. I think, offensively, that's why we started over, in a sense, and in a number of ways. Not only from how we run things, but also the quarterbacking and everything else.

"Look, when you get inside the 20-yard line, everybody on your team needs to be a threat."

That wasn't the case in 2025.

Sawvel said that group was "limited" and failed to accomplish the three elements of creating an explosive play in deep: missed alignments and miscommunication, a missed fit in the run game and losing leverage on the perimeter."

This scenario was on full display in the Cowboys' home finale with the ball resting near Nevada's goal line and the game clock dwindling. Anderson's assignment was straightforward: throw it in the end zone or out of bounds. Neither happened. The redshirt sophomore signal caller swung a pass to the far hash and in the direction of running back Sam Scott, who was quickly met and dropped for a 4-yard loss.

A mad scramble ensued. The clock struck zero.

The woeful Wolf Pack pulled off the 13-7 stunner with Wyoming's most-famous alumnus, Josh Allen, in the building, no less.

"We were all fired up about it," Nevada offensive lineman Jack Foster said last month at Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas. "We all thought it was going to be pretty cool with them retiring Josh's number and stuff, but we were definitely trying to spoil that. That was definitely a big thing for us."

It was the opposite for Sawvel, who said he would never forget the day his team lost in front of the former NFL Most Valuable Player.

Wyoming fans won't soon forget the Evan Svoboda interception at the goal line in Colorado Springs, either. Instead of taking a touchdown lead midway through the fourth quarter, Air Force answered with an 80-yard scoring drive of its own that took eight plays and 4:03 off the clock. An Anderson pick on the ensuing possession, coupled with a 40-yard field goal, followed.

The Falcons held on for the 24-21 victory.

Johnson, less than 24 hours later, was demoted to an analyst and later fired.

If you're keeping score at home, two wins in those situations equals bowl eligibility.

Sawvel, who famously said he took a "blowtorch" to that side of the ball this offseason, hopes the red-zone issues, among others, are rectified with the addition of new offensive coordinator Christian Taylor and quarterback Tyler Hughes.

The marching orders are simple.

"Once in a while, you have to give the defense an alignment that creates an issue," Sawvel said. "You have to give the defense a series of plays that creates an issue. You have to give the defense every single player that can create an issue. We have to be better at that.

"You have to be able to do multiple things and get the ball to people who can do multiple things."

EXTRA POINTS:

* Chandler Donaway is expected to return to the team sometime today. The senior guard has been home in Texas over the last three weeks dealing with a "personal matter." The 305-pound East Texas A&M transfer has more than 1,400 snaps under his belt.

* The Cowboys' secondary, more specifically its youthful cornerback room, is also receiving a major boost this week with the addition of Dainsus Miller, who is taking advantage of a recent court ruling, allowing an extra season of eligibility. You can read all about that right HERE.

* Sawvel said if there are two "worries" at the moment it's inexperience in the cornerback room and depth across the offensive line. Donaway and Miller go a long way in easing those concerns.

* Wyoming had its first practice in full pads on Tuesday and Sawvel said he liked the intensity. He also likes the health of the entire roster, as a whole, he said, knocking on the wooden podium in front of him.

* Landon Sims, in a goal-line situation Tuesday, scrambled to the perimeter and dove toward the pylon for a touchdown. "I'm mad at Landon right now," Sawvel joked. Why? The junior QB is coming off his third ACL tear, suffered last November at San Diego State. "I mean, look, I love it," Sawvel added with a grin. "But I'm sitting there and I'm like, 'Look, dude, let's not do that right now."'

* Erik Sandvik was 0-for-2 from 50-plus yards last season. Wyoming's second-year placekicker nailed a 60-yard field goal Tuesday in practice and added a 57-yarder on Monday. Those both came against a live rush. "He's been a really good player," Sawvel said. "I mean, this is the best he's ever kicked."

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