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Not labeled as a running QB, Smith improvises
West Virginia senior avoids pressure, completes high percentage of throws
Argue if you want that the statistics posted by West Virginia’s Geno Smith deserve a disclaimer.
Still, the senior quarterback’s tuneups against Marshall and James Madison were impressive, nonetheless.
“If he can continue to play like that against better competition then it’s something special,’’ Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday on the Big 12 teleconference.
Smith has proven he can make special plays. At times, he does so on his own.
Through a 2-0 start that included blowout wins against Marshall and James Madison, Smith improvised to avoid pressure. More so, in fact, than what Holgorsen would prefer since the coach counted at least five would-be sacks averted by his slippery quarterback.
“He’s getting out of situations that are going to be harder to get out of,’’ Holgorsen said.
The result is a 408.5-yard average in total offense, which ranks Smith second nationally. He is 66 of 75 passing for 734 yards. Quick math reveals he has the same number of touchdown throws (nine) as incompletions.
“He’s improved, and he’s been practicing like this since the beginning of August,’’ Holgorsen added. “Watching him translate out there in a game has been fun to watch and coach.’’
Although the scrambles Smith made give him 83 yards rushing through two games, Holgorsen resisted any dual-threat terminology.
“If we wanted to we could do some things that would give him the label of being a running quarterback. It’s just not what our offense is,’’ Holgorsen said.
“We’re not going to work on zone reads and stuff like that. He’s getting rushing yards because he’s doing a good job of getting out of bad situations in the pocket and extending the play.’’
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