Pokes Front Five Battle Inexperience

[MrTitleist]

From the Casper Star Tribune


They expected to get hit hard by graduation.

For a group that's been persistently plagued by questions about its inexperience all summer, an extra offseason defection didn't help.

The Wyoming offensive line -- the self-proclaimed "tightest group on the team" -- tightened its belt after redshirt freshman Erik Kottom elected to transfer to Minnesota to be closer to home, surprising his friends and shaking up the fraternal front to the Cowboys attack.

"That was kind of a bummer for us," junior Tim Bond said. "Kottom was our friend.

"(The offensive linemen) all hang out with each other more than any other group on the entire team. We do everything together. Just the fact that he left without really telling us kind of hurt us."

It hurt more than the Cowboys' feelings.

Kottom was expected to back up Bond at center and be one of a handful of freshmen and sophomores UW was leaning on to replace three starters from last season.

The loss of Kottom -- and, to some extent, Andy Bickel's season-ending shoulder surgery -- necessitated some shuffling on the depth chart and required more versatility from the starters.

"It was definitely a surprise," UW offensive line coach Chad Germer said. "What do you do? Being home was the most important thing to him, and when you have this many guys on this team, you have a lot of different feelings and personalities.

"In this profession, nothing really surprises you all that much."

If the shock wore off quickly, the effect has taken a little longer to overcome.

All five starters will have to be able to fill in different slots on the line if the need arises, led by Russ Arnold.

The sophomore will start at guard, but he'll also be listed at No. 2 behind Bond -- holding down a full-time gig and filling in where Kottom might have been if he needs to slide over.

"It's difficult anytime you lose somebody you're counting on as being a player for you," UW offensive line coach Chad Germer said. "At this stage in the game we were surprised (Kottom left), but he wasn't at the point where we were depending on him to be a starter. He still had a lot of work to do.

"If you lose a guy who's sixth or seventh (on the depth chart), that's a little more devastating."

Germer still has plenty of options to fill those two spots behind his starting five, and he said he feels better about his depth than in any of his previous four seasons at UW.

No matter how many times he's heard about the inexperience.

"It's a young group, but I think for the most part our performance has been solid (in fall camp)," he said. "There's definitely some inexperience, but there's a large number of guys that can step in and contribute.

"It's as high as it's been since I've been here."

It could have been one higher, although junior Kyle Howard said the Cowboys don't have much time to devote to missing Kottom.

"It was a bummer, but it forced some other guys to step up," he said. "It hurt us not only from a standpoint of losing a guy on the depth chart but a good guy to be around.

"We all love the kid, and we really weren't expecting him to leave. In the long run, it's got some other guys some reps and that can only be good."

The other good news?

With all that youth, graduation won't be taking any shots at the unit this year.