Two teams could use an offensive pick-me-up.

One of them will get the boost they're looking for.

The BYU Cougars, coming off a game in which they scored just seven points -- tying their lowest output in more than four seasons -- will get a key cog in their offense back on the field in wide receiver McKay Jacobson today against the Wyoming Cowboys.

"He's a great receiver, and he gives us a deep threat and a guy who can run by people," BYU quarterback Max Hall said. "It's another weapon that we can use. McKay is excited to play and get back on the field and help our team out."

Cougars tight end Dennis Pitta will certainly welcome the help.

The All-American candidate, who had a stellar season a year ago as current NFL wide receiver Austin Collie received most of the attention, hasn't seen his average dip with McKay out with a hamstring injury over the last four games, but he's certainly felt the heat from opposing defenses.

"It's been more challenging, certainly," Pitta said. "He did a great job of taking a lot of the attention off me and the other receivers, and we haven't had that much this year. But we've got some guys on the outside that have been doing a good job and making plays."

None of them, however, have taken more pressure off than Jacobson.

The sophomore was averaging a team-high 70 yards per game before his injury and an astounding 25.5 yards per reception, snaring three touchdown passes in four games.

"With a guy like McKay that is so fast, the safeties can't cheat down on the tight ends," Hall said. "They can't take away some of our inside routes and some of the other things we do with our tight ends. They've got to worry about a post on top of their head or a go route.

"He brings a different element to our offense."

It's an element that could give UW fits today.

The Cowboys secondary is coming off a shaky performance. Though they allowed just 211 passing yards, three passing plays of 22 yards or more, including one for a touchdown, did significant damage.

"There was a couple plays where they kind of gashed us a little bit," UW sophomore cornerback Tashaun Gipson said. "The screens, I feel like, as a secondary, we didn't react to them as well as we could have. We knew what to expect and when to expect it. They ran a route that was a deep over, and [safety Shamiel Gary] gave up a 25-yarder that set up a field goal.

"It was just a lot of big plays. When they hit us, they hit us big."

That's a particularly troublesome concern considering the Utes rely most on short and intermediate passes.

The Cougars, this week, will try to gash the Pokes with more deep routes and have 11 different players who have caught at least one pass for 24 yards or more.

"[Secondary coach Alex Grinch] even told us, as a secondary, he felt this was one of our worst performances against Utah," Gipson said. "He said to imagine what we could have done if we went out there and played one of our best games."

Against a BYU team that will get one of its top weapons back, the Cowboys secondary can't afford to be left imagining again.

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