I think we have seen enough to know who the Cowboys are going to be under Craig Bohl. A scrappy hard nosed team that will be on the edge of greatness but probably never get there. Even in victories, this team can be extremely frustrating. For the most part, my synopsis of the Craig Bohl era wont be news to anyone but I think it sums up what we have seen so far.
Positives
1. Recruiting and development of players has been outstanding. More NFL players than ever. Developing undersized walk-ons into absolute studs. Plus he actually recruits Wyoming to find talent, something that was lost on many coaches in the past. Depth is as good as I have ever seen in Cowboy history on the defense and offensive line.
2. Program has an identity, and that identity, now more than ever is "Cowboy Tough". You are going to get ran over by a team that wants to establish the run and shove it down your throat. And a defense that attacks and gang tackles and plays with an attitude.
3. Bowl games and winning seasons. Bohl has established a winning culture where bowl games are becoming expected and not rare.
Negatives
1. Quarterback and receiver development is lacking. For whatever reason, quarterbacks are taught to chuck the ball as hard as they can with minimal concentration on footwork. Even Josh Allen had footwork and mechanics issues that Bohl's staff didnt fix and in the case of Chambers and Vander Wahl made worse! Receivers are an afterthought but when they do get an opportunity, they drop the ball and struggle to get open. Isiah Neyor showed flashes of being the best receiver since Tanner Gentry, but if you never get the ball thrown your way its hard to make strides.
2. Offense is extremely conservative and extremely predictable. Run on 1st and 2nd down and throw on 3rd and long. EVERY TIME. Not blaming this all on Vigen. Conservative offense is as much Bohl's identity as it is anyone else. I would blame Bohl for being too rigid and not fixing the problem but the problem is the entire Bohl system itself. It is too conservative to the point its a high school offense. And I dont think Vigen leaving would change it that much. We wont go for it on 4th and 2 on their 40. Ever. We are not going to incorporate any "gimmicks" like going 5 wide of first down, throwing a screen pass or running the option (sarcasm alert).
3. Health of players. While the offense is conservative it is extremely detrimental to the health of its quarterbacks not to mention their best running back. X Valliday may be lucky if he has any tread on the tires to play at the next level.
4. The very nature of the conservative offense will always put us behind the eight ball against more talented California schools and Boise. Winning a conference title outright is a tall order, unless the offense can be fixed.
Positives
1. Recruiting and development of players has been outstanding. More NFL players than ever. Developing undersized walk-ons into absolute studs. Plus he actually recruits Wyoming to find talent, something that was lost on many coaches in the past. Depth is as good as I have ever seen in Cowboy history on the defense and offensive line.
2. Program has an identity, and that identity, now more than ever is "Cowboy Tough". You are going to get ran over by a team that wants to establish the run and shove it down your throat. And a defense that attacks and gang tackles and plays with an attitude.
3. Bowl games and winning seasons. Bohl has established a winning culture where bowl games are becoming expected and not rare.
Negatives
1. Quarterback and receiver development is lacking. For whatever reason, quarterbacks are taught to chuck the ball as hard as they can with minimal concentration on footwork. Even Josh Allen had footwork and mechanics issues that Bohl's staff didnt fix and in the case of Chambers and Vander Wahl made worse! Receivers are an afterthought but when they do get an opportunity, they drop the ball and struggle to get open. Isiah Neyor showed flashes of being the best receiver since Tanner Gentry, but if you never get the ball thrown your way its hard to make strides.
2. Offense is extremely conservative and extremely predictable. Run on 1st and 2nd down and throw on 3rd and long. EVERY TIME. Not blaming this all on Vigen. Conservative offense is as much Bohl's identity as it is anyone else. I would blame Bohl for being too rigid and not fixing the problem but the problem is the entire Bohl system itself. It is too conservative to the point its a high school offense. And I dont think Vigen leaving would change it that much. We wont go for it on 4th and 2 on their 40. Ever. We are not going to incorporate any "gimmicks" like going 5 wide of first down, throwing a screen pass or running the option (sarcasm alert).
3. Health of players. While the offense is conservative it is extremely detrimental to the health of its quarterbacks not to mention their best running back. X Valliday may be lucky if he has any tread on the tires to play at the next level.
4. The very nature of the conservative offense will always put us behind the eight ball against more talented California schools and Boise. Winning a conference title outright is a tall order, unless the offense can be fixed.
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