Wyoming’s Revamped Offensive Line Keeps QB Clean in Opener

LARAMIE -- House-made potato chips, slathered in dripping queso cheese, topped with smoky pork, crispy bacon and spicy barbecue sauce. Don't forget the jalapeños, red onion and shredded cheddar.

"Barnchos."

That's the famous appetizer this dinner will likely begin with this Thursday night at Laramie's Born in a Barn.

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An order of buffalo wings and fries, one for everyone, comes next, followed by a juicy burger. Maybe the Cowboy Joe? Maybe the Pistol Pete Glizzy? Maybe the Naughty?

There are plenty of options to go with at this well-known downtown eatery, Wyoming's 314-pound senior Jack Walsh said with a smile.

"It'll be a healthy meal," he added. "I'll say that much."

What's the special occasion? A job well done.

After the Cowboys blanked Akron 10-0 inside soggy InfoCision Stadium last Thursday night, quarterback Kaden Anderson told the gathered media because he wasn't sacked during that outing he would be taking his offensive linemen to dinner, a tradition he started last fall after becoming the starter in early November.

On 39 total dropbacks, the sophomore signal caller was pressured just five times, including four hurries and a single hit.

That's worth dropping some coin on, Anderson grinned, adding the bill gets "pretty up there."

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Keep him clean.

That's the rallying cry throughout the week, left guard Wes King said.

"Nobody can beat a free dinner," he joked. "Can't pass that up."

Anderson completed 19-of-36 throws for 260 yards in the season opener. He added a 35-yard touchdown strike to his favorite outside target Chris Durr Jr. with just 4:26 remaining in regulation. It was a bubble screen. Anderson took the shotgun snap, immediately turned to his right and got the ball out in a split second.

Durr took care of the rest, slipping one would-be tackle and darting to the end zone, passing his convoy of blockers before crossing the white stripe.

That was the good news for this front five which, aside from four snaps from Jake Davies and Luke Sandy, consisted of Nate Geiger (from left tackle to right), King, Walsh, Caden Barnett and Rex Johnsen.

The not-so-good news?

When the down and distance read 3rd-and-2 or less, Wyoming converted twice on four attempts. That same scenario, on fourth down, the visitors were 1-of-3, turning the ball over on downs twice, including inside the Zips' 10-yard line with 10:22 left on the game clock.

Another prime scoring opportunity was squandered just before halftime when running back Sam Scott was stuffed on a 4th-and-short at the Akron 31.

Walsh, who was making his first-career start at center, said he'd give this unit a B-minus for its efforts in this one. The dings? Short-yardage situations, obviously, and in the penalty department.

All six were levied against this group: Three on Gieger, two on King and one against Walsh.

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Finishing, the latter added, is the biggest concern. Wyoming rolled up 426 total yards -- something this offense only accomplished twice all of last season -- but managed just two scores.

Walsh says you have to dish out some of that credit to the opponent.

"They brought some really great defenses that we just weren't ready for, and they executed really well," he said. "Those are the kind of plays where you just have to watch film three or four times and understand that you can't be expecting a certain type of defense, guys are going to bring different stuff every week. That's definitely going to be a point of emphasis in this practice."

King called his own performance "sloppy."

The 6-foot-5, 313-pound Appleton, Wisc., product said he got beat in pass protection. Details, he added, weren't refined. He'll take the victory, but King said that "B-minus" needs to rise this week with Northern Iowa rolling into War Memorial Stadium, a venue the Cowboys went just 1-5 in last fall.

"There are a lot of areas I need to clean up," King said. "That's a big focus this week. We gave up no sacks. I think we had a couple of pressures, maybe a couple of hurries. I think it was a really good pass-blocking game for us, but, like I said, we texted within the group, 'It can always be better."'

Walsh agrees, but also dropped a little perspective.

"We're very fortunate we came out with a win," he said. "It's a lot better learning from a win than an ugly loss."

The Cowboys and Panthers will meet this Saturday in Laramie. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Altitude TV and streamed on the Mountain West Network.

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