Remember the saying that things aren't as bad as they seem? Wyoming coach Joe Tiller says last weekend's loss against Fresno state shows otherwise.
"The films were R-rated. That means my wife wouldn't let me look at them after the game," he said Tuesday.Wyoming (4-5 overall, 2-3 in the Western Athletic Conference) lost 42-31 Saturday to Fresno State (5-4, 3-2). The Bulldogs scored 28 first-quarter points, including two off a fumble and interception.
"It's been really a frustrating year in the sense of the turnover margin thing," Tiller said, adding that his team has allowed 84 points off turnovers while scoring only half that amount off opponent's turnovers.
Tiller now has to cope with another in a string of injuries that has crippled Wyoming's defense.
Starting linebacker Jarod Thiele separated his right shoulder during last weekend's game and was expected to be out for the rest of the season. Thiele was among the top tacklers on the team, with 5.2 a game.
He joins middle linebacker Cory Talich on the injured list for the season. Talich, who was the leading tackler with 5.9 a game, injured a knee the previous week and has undergone surgery.
The loss makes planning for Saturday's game against San Diego State a little more difficult, Tiller said.
Aztec running back Marshall Faulk, a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, has said he expects Wyoming to use eight- or nine-man fronts to stop the run.
While Tiller said he's experimenting in practices for several ways to shut down San Diego State's running game, it's quarterback David Lowery that worries him.
"They've done such a fine job of throwing the ball, it's kind of scary," Tiller said. And he noted that the Cowboys have been somewhat lacking in their defensive secondary.