Behind The Numbers: Front Five Shines in Border War Rout

LARAMIE -- Colorado State blitzes on nearly 65% of its defensive snaps, making Tyson Summers' unit one of the most aggressive in the country.

Despite being named the interim head coach heading into last Saturday night's Border War in Laramie, the coordinator didn't deviate from that plan.

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That's just part of what makes the performance from Wyoming's offensive line even more impressive.

"If we weren't gonna be on our stuff, they were gonna get some pressures on us," senior center Jack Walsh said just minutes after a 28-0 rivalry blanking of the Rams. "We definitely dialed in this week."

That's an understatement.

On Kaden Anderson's 24 dropbacks, he wasn't sacked one time. In fact, he was barely breathed on. CSU didn't record a single pressure on the night. The only time the pocket really collapsed, the sophomore signal caller stepped up and shoveled the ball to running back Samuel Harris on a 3rd-and-12 early in the first quarter.

The speedster they call "Tote," snagged the heave and turned up field, rolling up 14 yards on what once appeared to be dead in the water. Nine plays later, back-up quarterback Landon Sims crossed the goal line from a yard out, giving Wyoming an early 7-0 lead.

Sims also attempted one pass in this one. He wasn't touched on that either.

Before reeling in the shotgun snap, the junior-college transfer called an audible at the line. He noticed a blitz was coming off his right side. The initial call was a run. What instead happened was a quick toss to wideout Jaylen Sargent on the perimeter that eventually picked up seven yards.

Anderson found Chris Durr Jr. in the end zone on the ensuing snap, giving the Cowboys a commanding 21-0 lead at the half.

Wyoming's front five -- with a little help from the tight ends and running backs -- capped this outing with its best blocking grades of the season, according to Pro Football Focus. When it came to passing, that unit landed an 87.3. That mark has improved each game over the last three weeks, including a 78.4 performance the previous Saturday at Air Force.

Anderson finished the night 16-of-24 through the air for 154 yards.

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Led by a veteran interior, consisting of Wes King (from left guard to right, Walsh and Caden Barnett, the run-blocking grade improved 75.7. That's an improvement of 6.5 points from the tilt in Colorado Springs.

Sam Scott led the way with 68 rushing yards on just three attempts. Terron Kellman added 35 more and Harris chipped in with 32. The Cowboys averaged 6.2 yards per carry and put a total of 212 on the final stat sheet.

"We didn't blow a protection," head coach Jay Sawvel said on Monday. "That's a team that brings a lot of different pressures ... We played really hard and we executed really well. That's really normally a pretty good combination."

This offensive line has not been set in stone since starting left tackle Nate Geiger was lost for the season with a knee injury in a Week-3 matchup with Colorado.

Jake Davies was the next man up, just like he was last fall when Gieger suffered a torn ACL in the opener at Arizona State. Ineffectiveness, and a foot ailment of his own, caused some reshuffling. Rex Johnsen, who originally started the year on the right edge, moved to the left. Redshirt freshman Braylon Jenkins got his feet wet in a home win over San Jose State. He earned his first-career start at right tackle a week later inside Falcon Stadium. Luke Sandy has also been spelling King for a series or two at left guard in every game.

How did this group grade out against CSU?

* Barnett: 77.9

* Jenkins: 76.7

* Johnsen: 74.3

* King: 67.1

* Walsh: 66.5

* Sandy: 53.7

Only Sandy (14) and King (49) didn't play all 61 offensive snaps for the Cowboys. The latter was the best overall pass blocker with a grade of 83.8. Barnett was the go-to in the run game at 77.5.

What stat does offensive line coach Joe Tripodi focus on when he takes a gander at the postgame box score?

"You have to protect the quarterback," he said bluntly. "So we count hurries, hits, sacks, all that stuff ... Run-game wise, it's the same thing. What does it look like? Are you connected as an offensive line? Are you giving up a lot of (tackled for loss)? Are guys running free?"

Four. That's the number of TFL's for the Rams in this one.

Seven. That's the number of explosive plays on the ground for the Cowboys, including a 27-yard run from Scott in the first quarter that was sprung by a Johnsen block on the perimeter. The senior running back added a 37-yard touchdown jaunt in the third frame. That was a result of a parting of the sea, courtesy of Barnett, Jenkins and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg.

"We made it clear that we have to work as one unit," Walsh said last Saturday. "You have to go five for five, you know, picking up different blitzes and pressures and stuff like that. We were very successful tonight."

Wyoming has allowed just three sacks over the last four outings. That impressive number will be tested in a big way this Saturday inside SnapDragon Stadium. San Diego State has 16 team sacks, 11 of which belong to edge rushers Trey White (4), Niles King (3) and Ryan Henderson (3).

Kickoff between the Cowboys (4-4, 2-2) and Aztecs (6-1, 3-1) is slated for 5 p.m. Mountain Time and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.