Wyoming's offensive line knows exactly what it's facing.

All they had to do in order to figure it out was type "Sam Bradford, BYU" into a YouTube search to see plenty of video evidence of BYU and its oft-blitzing defense.

With one play in the first game of the season, the Cougars reshaped the entire 2009 college football season.

"Them knocking out Sam Bradford from Oklahoma changed all of college football this year with him being injured," UW co-offensive line coach Jim Harding said.

Bradford, Oklahoma's starting quarterback and 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, tried to come back, but was eventually rendered out for the entire season -- and perhaps for the rest of his collegiate career.

Today, Harding's unit will try to rebound and rally against that very defensive unit.

Finding the five

The front five that Wyoming used early on this season allowed six sacks at Air Force, causing Sam Sterner to miss a start for the first time in 31 games.

The change seemed to help, for a half, but the Pokes gave up five more sacks at Utah and now Sterner's back at a new position.

Eight games into the season, the Cowboys are still searching for the right combination at offensive line.

"I think we have six very good offensive linemen, and the great thing about them is they're very much able to play different positions," Harding said. "Right now, we're playing the players that we grade out every Sunday, and the players we feel have given the best effort and the best opportunity for us to win, that's who's going to play for us on Saturday."

Today, that will be Ryan Otterson at left tackle, John Hutchins at left guard, Russ Arnold at center, Sam Sterner at right guard and Clayton Kirven at right tackle.

They'll be saddled with the task of trying to erase two weeks of frustration.

"You've got to have some kind of pride out there, you're not just numb to [the struggles]," Otterson said. "You've got to be able to go, 'What can I do next? What can I do to come back from that play?'"

After three weeks of hearing about being the weak link, it starts to get personal.

"I hope they are taking it personally," Harding said. "They know that they can play with anybody in the conference. We just have to play up to our capabilities every week."

Close to comfortable

Like most other positions in an offense that underwent a complete overhaul from last season, growing pains on the offensive line were expected.

Heading into their ninth game today, the Cowboys' front is still working toward a 100-percent comfort level within the new scheme.

"You've just got to be able to see things and just be quick, make reads," Hutchins said. "It's definitely a lot different than last year because it was mainly just get on the ball, take your steps and go find somebody to hit. This year is a lot more looking, trying to read the defense, reading safeties and stuff like that."

Like their teammates, the offensive line is watching more film and they are watching different parts of it, even focusing past the defensive line and linebackers all the way out to the safety position.

The position has become much more cerebral.

"You need to be a smarter lineman in my mind," Kirven said. "Last year, when we ran power, it's just downhill -- this is your guy, this is who you're taking. Now we throw the ball a lot more, and you have to be smart when playing with your eyes and looking out there and seeing what the guys are trying to do."

Against back-to-back defenses that gave them different looks than they saw on film, processing everything that's been going on around them has been a little overwhelming.

And that has shown in the offensive statistics.

The offensive line has allowed 11 sacks in two weeks and has been whistled for an eye-opening majority of UW's penalties, leading to less than 400 yards of total offense and just 10 points in two straight losses.

"Every time we step on the field, our offense is dictated by us," Kirven said. "If we play well, our offense plays well because it starts with us. We have to play well in order for this offense to play well, and we know that. The past couple weeks, we feel disappointed as a unit."

Stick and stay

The BYU Cougars haven't always had success in getting to the quarterback this year.

When they have, teams have paid the price.

Still, Bronco Mendenhall doesn't think his team will be licking its chops at the opportunity of playing a struggling offensive line.

"We're certainly not chomping at the bit," BYU's fifth-year coach said. "When a coaching staff comes in and installs a new offense or defense, you make the very best of existing personnel that you have, which Wyoming is doing.

"In order to take the next step, you'll have to recruit players at given positions to meet the expectations for a given system."

The Cowboys, however, aren't taking that approach.

While some coaches have been candid in admitting that the Pokes are going to need to sign a couple of versatile wide receivers for next year's class, Harding believes they've already got the players they need for their offensive line.

"I would not change our five for any other five," Harding said. "We have the ability, we've just got to get our guys to play to their potential and that's my job, and that's what's going to get done today."

The Cowboys have already seen what can happen if they don't get it done against the Cougars.

The overwhelming evidence has been a video staple for weeks.

Contact Laramie-based UW sports reporter Eric Schmoldt at eric.schmoldt@trib.com. Check out his blog at tribtown.trib.com/ESchmoldt/blog

ONLINE: UW quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels has seen the clip of BYU knocking out Sam Bradford countless times. See why he and UW coach Dave Christensen aren't -- and can't be -- overly worried about it going into today's game in Eric Schmoldt's blog "All Things Cowboys" at tribtown.trib.com/ESchmoldt/blog