MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Statistically speaking, Will Grier’s performance against TCU on Saturday did not jump off the page. Not by the lofty standards he’s established at West Virginia, at any rate.
In terms of completion percentage, it was his second-worst game of the season at 64.1 percent. Measured by quarterback rating, it was his seventh-best performance this year (158.23). Even his total of 343 yards was lower than usual – he’s passed for more yardage in six games this year.
Yet by the measure of his coaches, it was possibly the best game Grier has played at West Virginia.
“I think he’s coming off his best performance yet,” said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. “Gary [Patterson] always coaches up his defense. We scored 47 on them and got after them pretty good. That’s because of Will Grier. He understood when to push it and when not to push it.”
Holgorsen noted that most of West Virginia’s incompletions were the result of drops.
Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital agreed that Grier was operating on another level.
“I thought this past game was Will’s best game that he has ever managed,” Spavital said. “There were times when he was going through his progressions, there were protection breakdowns and he threw it away.
“There were times when he got to his hot reads immediately. The Gary Jennings route for the touchdown was his second progression. There were multiple times he got to his third progression.
“So, I thought, overall, how he was managing the game, getting through his progressions and checking out of bad run calls, I think he just has a really good grasp on what he is trying to accomplish right now.”
Grier acknowledged that he played smart football, but said that it is a result of trusting his teammates.
“Taking what they give you is a big part about playing quarterback,” Grier said. “Not forcing things; really seeing it. There’s a couple times on third down I threw it short of the chains and I’m trusting our guys in space. We’ve got good players. Throwing it underneath the sticks and letting them get up the field, sometimes you’re not going to get it, but sometimes it’ll run. That’s just me not forcing things downfield all the time.”
It’s no surprise to Grier that he played a game in which his grade on film far exceeded what the stat book indicated.
“Sometimes you play a good game and the stats don’t show it, and sometimes you play a bad game and the numbers are pretty good,” Grier said. “That’s why it’s important as a player to not read too much into that. I’m focused on moving the chains and scoring points; being efficient as an offense. Playing with effort and passion.”
West Virginia still No. 9 in CFP
With no team losing in front of them, the Mountaineers maintained their position as No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings, which were announced Tuesday night.
West Virginia remains behind No. 7 LSU (8-2) and No. 8 Washington State (9-1), but has a chance to climb during a homestretch that includes Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and a potential Big 12 championship game appearance.
McKoy in finishing mode
When Kennedy McKoy tumbled across the goal line to cap an 8-yard run, he presumably had scored his second touchdown against TCU.
“I actually thought I got in,” he said, “but I saw the ref running in to spot it at the 1. So I was like, ‘Yeah, let me get that one more time.’ And Spav ran the same play again.”
The repeat call suited offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who saw McKoy was hungry to finish the drive.
“Kennedy’s looking at me and slapping his chest, so I’m like, ’Shoot yeah, I’m going to give him the ball,’” Spavital said.
In true committee-style, McKoy matched Martell Pettaway and Leddie Brown for the team lead with four touchdowns apiece.
Quotable
“I think he puts a little too much effort into it. I just put my hat on and go out the door.” – West Virginia offensive lineman Josh Sills on the difference between his mullet and Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s
“He’s probably been yelled at more than any defensive player since I’ve been here, so it was good to see him respond.” – Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson on third-string middle linebacker Zach Sandwisch, who had four tackles filling in for Shea Campbell and Dylan Tonkery in the second half
“He’s not lying.” – Linebacker David Long on Gibson’s claim that no defensive player has been yelled at more than Sandwisch
— Allan Taylor contributed to this story.