PROVO, Utah - The math is simple.

That's the problem for Greg Bolling.

Last year's breakout season for the Wyoming receiver and the addition of a new coordinator and quarterback ramped up the expectations on Bolling, and it doesn't take much work to figure out he's coming up short right now.

Three games.

Three catches.

One junior waiting for a chance to explode today at No. 14 BYU.

"I take that as any wide receiver would take it," Bolling said. "Any playmaker or wide receiver wants the ball in their hands, of course, and I'm not the one in the booth calling plays or anything like that.

"All I can control is what happens on the field. I can't be the one making the reads for the quarterback, and I can't be the one calling the plays in the booth. When the play comes down and it is my number, I try to make the best of that opportunity."

He hasn't had many so far, though that's true for all UW receivers.

Coordinator Bob Cole's new attack hasn't appeared all that different than Bill Cockhill's last year, and the Cowboys have largely spent the first three weeks trying to establish themselves as a power running team.

That's also kept anybody from getting a good read on quarterback Dax Crum, who's had his moments but for the most part has only had to manage the ground game.

Bolling has actually had more opportunities there to this point, rushing four times for 11 yards on UW's receiver sweep - though it's clear which way he prefers to get his hands on the football.

"Our passing game is lacking right now, and the run game is the strong point in the offense right now," Bolling said. "So if we need to focus on running the ball and throwing off the run, that's what we have to do.

"But a passing game is really what you need to put points on the board. Not necessarily just big plays, but nickel and dime here and there. The run game shortens the game sure, shortens the possessions down, but you can't run the ball every down and hope for a touchdown. You've got to mix some pass plays in there."

Particularly against the high-scoring Cougars, who figure to put up points no matter how good UW is on defense.

The Cowboys have stressed all week the key to slowing down BYU is protecting the football, controlling the clock and keeping Heisman Trophy candidate Max Hall on the sideline.

That game plan calls for an effective running attack, but what the Cowboys really need is more efficiency through the air to address their awful third-down conversion work (12-for-39).

"If we throw the ball, the key fact is we need to be consistent in throwing it and catching it," sophomore David Leonard said. "That's what the coaches are looking for. It's kind of hard to work off throwing the ball when you're not completing passes.

"Our big thing right now is, whether it's a five-yard pass or a 30-yard pass, we just need to be consistent in what we do."

Otherwise the math could get messy.

Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or austin.ward@trib.com.

Cowboys Tracker

TODAY: Wyoming at BYU, 1 p.m.

RECORDS: Cowboys (2-1, 0-1 Mountain West Conference); No. 14 Cougars (3-0, 0-0 MWC).

TV: The Mtn.

SERIES: Cougars lead 41-30-3.

NUMBERS GAME: UW ranks 101st in the nation in third-down conversions, moving the chains just 12 times in 39 attempts through three games.

HE SAID IT: "Any playmaker or wide receiver wants the ball in their hands, of course, and I'm not the one in the booth calling plays or anything like that." - UW receiver Greg Bolling.