But the Pokes are making familiar mistakes on offense, defense and special teams -- with the exception of turnovers.
There are a lot of changes in the University of Wyoming football program from last season to this season.
New coach, new offense, new players. Heck, even new uniforms.
The Cowboys are only three games into their 2009 season, yet some familiar patterns are forming from last season.
The offense is struggling in terms of scoring and throwing.
The defense has its moments, but still some inconsistencies have yielded a lot of points and yards.
Special teams often leave points on the field or set the opposition up for easy points.
Last Saturday's 24-0 loss at Colorado was an example of many of those shortcomings.
UW failed to score an offensive touchdown for the second straight game, and hasn't scored one in its last nine quarters.
Last season it was shut out twice -- both on the road -- and had two separate droughts of six and seven quarters where it didn't score an offensive touchdown.
The Cowboys have averaged 13 points per game this season, and had nation's worst 12.7 last season.
UW's two new quarterbacks -- junior Robert Benjamin and true freshman Austyn-Carta Samuels -- have averaged about 60 yards more per game passing than last year's quarterbacks.
But that duo's efficiency rating is the third worst in the nation. In 2008 it was the fifth worst.
About the only thing UW is doing better offensively so far this season is not turning it over.
Its turnover margin is plus-4 this season, which is tied for 12th nationally. Last season it was minus-22, the second-worst in the country.
The switch from a power run game last season to a spread offense this season is still a work in progress, but UW knows improvements must occur for it to even be competitive in games from here on out.
"I'm telling you things are going to come together soon," Carta-Samuels said. "We have to learn quickly. I have to learn quickly as a freshman.
"These guys have never run the spread offense before. ... It's a quick learning curve. There are no excuses; we just have to keep working on it."
Carta-Samuels came in for an ineffective Benjamin in the second quarter at Colorado and played the rest of the game. He was 11 of 24 for 125 yards and led the team with 36 rushing yards.
Even though UW's defense was on the field about 11 minutes more than the offense, it too had its struggles.
The Cowboys had difficulties stopping Colorado's run game (151 yards), gave up some big plays in the passing game, especially on third down (Colorado converted 7 of 16 third-down conversions) and when the quarterback scrambled out of the pocket.
Through three games UW has allowed 29 points and 427 yards of total offense, which rank in the bottom third in the nation.
"We've got to be more disciplined as a defense as a whole," junior cornerback Marcell Gipson said.
UW missed five field goals last season, and missed its only two attempts against Colorado.
And, the kickoff return coverage that was among the nation's worst last season has allowed about five more yards per return this season.
Is this UW team like last year's in terms of its struggles?
The players don't think so.
"I think it's different because I think (first-year coach Dave) Christensen will make the adjustments needed to get us going, whether it's getting different guys in there or what," senior defensive tackle John Fletcher said. "We've got to put some points up on the board and the defense has got to eliminate those big plays and keep points off the board."
Added senior center Russ Arnold: "I think we have the confidence. We have the players. We have the ability. All that has to happen for us to really come into this is we need one game where every thing rolls. From there I have do doubt we will have a good season. (This) week is going to be the time."
Gipson willing to give
Christensen said the Cowboys' offense needs to do a better job against man-to-man coverage.
Junior receiver David Leonard agreed with his coach and hopes that UW's staring cornerbacks -- brothers Marcell and Tashaun Gipson -- will help this week in practice with more one-on-one drill work.
Marcell Gipson said he's willing to lend a helping hand.
"I'll be in their face every day in practice I guarantee you that much," he said. "I'm going to go as hard as I would in a game. If that's what they need work on I'm down for it."
Rebels rally
UW hosts UNLV (2-1) Saturday in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
UNLV rallied for a 34-33 home win over Hawaii in a game that ended at about 12:15 a.m. MST Sunday morning.
Junior quarterback Omar Clayton threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Phillip Payne with 36 seconds left in the game for the game-winning score.
National leaders
Sophomore linebacker Brian Hendricks is tied for fourth nationally with 13 tackles per game. His 18 solo stops is tied for best mark in the MWC.
UW has five players in the conference's top 10 in tackles: true freshman safety Shamiel Gary (third, 10 per game), junior safety Chris Prosinski (tied for fourth, 9.7 per game), sophomore linebacker Gabe Knapton (sixth, 9.3 per game) and senior linebacker Weston Johnson (tied for 10th, eight per game).
Gary is tied for fifth nationally with three interceptions in three games.
Givens gives
Senior nose guard Fred Givens made his first start of the season for injured sophomore Alex Stover (groin), and recorded six tackles.
It marked the first time this season and the ninth time in his career he had at least five tackles in a game.
In three games this season Givens has nine tackles, including 11/2 for loss.
There are a lot of changes in the University of Wyoming football program from last season to this season.
New coach, new offense, new players. Heck, even new uniforms.
The Cowboys are only three games into their 2009 season, yet some familiar patterns are forming from last season.
The offense is struggling in terms of scoring and throwing.
The defense has its moments, but still some inconsistencies have yielded a lot of points and yards.
Special teams often leave points on the field or set the opposition up for easy points.
Last Saturday's 24-0 loss at Colorado was an example of many of those shortcomings.
UW failed to score an offensive touchdown for the second straight game, and hasn't scored one in its last nine quarters.
Last season it was shut out twice -- both on the road -- and had two separate droughts of six and seven quarters where it didn't score an offensive touchdown.
The Cowboys have averaged 13 points per game this season, and had nation's worst 12.7 last season.
UW's two new quarterbacks -- junior Robert Benjamin and true freshman Austyn-Carta Samuels -- have averaged about 60 yards more per game passing than last year's quarterbacks.
But that duo's efficiency rating is the third worst in the nation. In 2008 it was the fifth worst.
About the only thing UW is doing better offensively so far this season is not turning it over.
Its turnover margin is plus-4 this season, which is tied for 12th nationally. Last season it was minus-22, the second-worst in the country.
The switch from a power run game last season to a spread offense this season is still a work in progress, but UW knows improvements must occur for it to even be competitive in games from here on out.
"I'm telling you things are going to come together soon," Carta-Samuels said. "We have to learn quickly. I have to learn quickly as a freshman.
"These guys have never run the spread offense before. ... It's a quick learning curve. There are no excuses; we just have to keep working on it."
Carta-Samuels came in for an ineffective Benjamin in the second quarter at Colorado and played the rest of the game. He was 11 of 24 for 125 yards and led the team with 36 rushing yards.
Even though UW's defense was on the field about 11 minutes more than the offense, it too had its struggles.
The Cowboys had difficulties stopping Colorado's run game (151 yards), gave up some big plays in the passing game, especially on third down (Colorado converted 7 of 16 third-down conversions) and when the quarterback scrambled out of the pocket.
Through three games UW has allowed 29 points and 427 yards of total offense, which rank in the bottom third in the nation.
"We've got to be more disciplined as a defense as a whole," junior cornerback Marcell Gipson said.
UW missed five field goals last season, and missed its only two attempts against Colorado.
And, the kickoff return coverage that was among the nation's worst last season has allowed about five more yards per return this season.
Is this UW team like last year's in terms of its struggles?
The players don't think so.
"I think it's different because I think (first-year coach Dave) Christensen will make the adjustments needed to get us going, whether it's getting different guys in there or what," senior defensive tackle John Fletcher said. "We've got to put some points up on the board and the defense has got to eliminate those big plays and keep points off the board."
Added senior center Russ Arnold: "I think we have the confidence. We have the players. We have the ability. All that has to happen for us to really come into this is we need one game where every thing rolls. From there I have do doubt we will have a good season. (This) week is going to be the time."
Gipson willing to give
Christensen said the Cowboys' offense needs to do a better job against man-to-man coverage.
Junior receiver David Leonard agreed with his coach and hopes that UW's staring cornerbacks -- brothers Marcell and Tashaun Gipson -- will help this week in practice with more one-on-one drill work.
Marcell Gipson said he's willing to lend a helping hand.
"I'll be in their face every day in practice I guarantee you that much," he said. "I'm going to go as hard as I would in a game. If that's what they need work on I'm down for it."
Rebels rally
UW hosts UNLV (2-1) Saturday in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
UNLV rallied for a 34-33 home win over Hawaii in a game that ended at about 12:15 a.m. MST Sunday morning.
Junior quarterback Omar Clayton threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Phillip Payne with 36 seconds left in the game for the game-winning score.
National leaders
Sophomore linebacker Brian Hendricks is tied for fourth nationally with 13 tackles per game. His 18 solo stops is tied for best mark in the MWC.
UW has five players in the conference's top 10 in tackles: true freshman safety Shamiel Gary (third, 10 per game), junior safety Chris Prosinski (tied for fourth, 9.7 per game), sophomore linebacker Gabe Knapton (sixth, 9.3 per game) and senior linebacker Weston Johnson (tied for 10th, eight per game).
Gary is tied for fifth nationally with three interceptions in three games.
Givens gives
Senior nose guard Fred Givens made his first start of the season for injured sophomore Alex Stover (groin), and recorded six tackles.
It marked the first time this season and the ninth time in his career he had at least five tackles in a game.
In three games this season Givens has nine tackles, including 11/2 for loss.
