The Mountain West Conference hosts its football media day functions Tuesday and Wednesday in Las Vegas. I will be there and will provide stories, blog posts and Tweets. Fans also can get involved by following this link provided by the conference http://www.themwc.com/blog/2010/07/fans-get-the-inside-look-at-2010-mwc-football-media-day.html
Got a little thing called the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo to get ready for this weekend. I will provide live Tweets from the rodeo — at least when I’m there — this weekend. You can check out the Tweets on this blog, or by going to Twitter and follow me at rpgagliardi.
Loading ...
Hey Robert, I have been thinking alot about this upcoming season and would like to know your thoughts on a few things. First of all, the offensive and defensive line has me worried. Last season the O-line was not good and ACS has to scramble for his life. What are they doing to improve the protection? I can only imagine how dangerous ACS will be when he gets time. The defensive line was good but with Unrein, Givens and Fletcher gone, how are we going to get pressure on the qb? I am going to the Texas game and can’t wait to cheer on the pokes. Thanks.
Hi Joe,
The offensive and defensive lines concern me as well. Offensively, they’ve tried to become tougher and more physical. I think some strides have been made. But to me the biggest concern is at right guard where JC transfer Nick Puetz quit after spring drills. He took just about all the starting reps in practice. Then he just all of a sudden lost his passion to play football and quit. That hurt. Jack Tennant is a senior that should start, but he really hasn’t played a lot of meaningful snaps in his career. I do think this unit is tougher and a little more physical, but there definitely is room to improve.
The defensive line is a concern because after losing just about all its best linemen UW went to a 4-3. I like the defensive ends in Knapton and Biezuns. But I’m not sure about the depth behind them. But the 4-3 is no good if the two interior linemen can’t plug up the middle. Stover and Purcell played last year, but Stover has been injury plagued. If the two JC guys from New Mexico can’t help then the entire defense is in trouble and it may have to alter some things.
Hope that helps Joe. I appreciate the questions and interest in the blog.
RG
Hmmm. Well, that is concerning, but I do believe that our boys will be even better than last year. Unfortunately, our schedule might be tougher. I do think we will break into the top 3 or 4 this year. Utah, BYU and AF are all beatable teams. Are there any true feshman that could start/suprise up front?
There is a did from Niwot, Colo., that is a defensive tackle they like as a true freshman. Sorry, I don’t have my roster on me so I forget his name.
Always tough for offensive linemen to emerge as true freshmen and there isn’t one that stands out right now. But as you saw with Christensen last year if they are good enough to play, they will no matter the age.
To crack into that top three or four, every game is important, but the swing games to me are Air Force and Utah at home.