Wyoming Cowboys saddle up for 2013 season
 

The University of Wyoming football team has entered its second week of practices.

One focus this fall is on improving the defense. The Cowboys logged a conference low 14 sacks last season and tied the University of Nevada for a conference low six interceptions. The defense also gave up several big plays during Sunday’s scrimmage.

Defensive coordinator, Chris Tormey, says the unit needs to improve on its fundamentals and effort, but he also hinted that they may try some new things.

“We’re not gonna reveal the whole playbook here today but there’s a good chance that you’ll see some scheme changes this year.”

The Cowboys finished with a 4 and 8 record last year, and struggled most when quarterback, Brett Smith missed a mid-season stretch of games with a head injury. 

If the team is going to improve upon last season’s mediocre record, Smith will likely need to avoid injury. In Coach Dave Christensen’s spread offensive system, however, Smith must be a running option which could open him up to more big hits.

Regarding the health of his signal caller, Christensen said, “we’ve gotta be smart in what we do with him, obviously, and try to limit… the number of carries he has but we’re spread offense. And with a spread offense, the quarterback has to be a threat and an element in that, and so he’s gonna have to run and that’s just the way it is.”

Smith, who earned the conference’s top quarterback rating last year, says that he has been focusing on sliding before taking big hits.

The Cowboys begin their season on August 31 at the University of Nebraska.