Any hopes of the TCU Horned Frogs making a second-half push and salvaging their season went out the window Saturday afternoon. Despite pouring on nearly 500 yards of offense, Jaden Craig throwing for nearly 400 yards and putting two receivers (Kari Ashley and Jordan Dwyer) over the 100-yard mark, TCU still found a way to lose a home game as a 10.5-point favorite against West Virginia, one of the Big 12’s worst teams coming in.
Turnovers killed the Horned Frogs, who lost two fumbles and an interception
to finish -2 in the turnover margin. Craig landed with gaudy numbers through the air, but he did so on 33-of-47 passing because TCU once again did not run the football effectively. Playing without leading back Jeremy Payne, the Horned Frogs finished with a 3.2 yards per carry average on 35 run attempts. Ashley (six catches, 118 yards) and Dwyer (10 catches, 113 yards) both played starring roles, but TCU’s inability to run the football made the offense one-dimensional.
The worst turnover came in the game’s closing moments. With TCU sitting around the redzone and under 60 seconds remaining, Craig took his third sack of the game and lost the football, which the Mountaineers snagged to clinch their victory and drop the Horned Frogs to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12. Craig has now been sacked 20 times in seven games and TCU is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry during that span. Perhaps in an attempt by Dykes to salvage his job, the university has fired co-offensive coordinator and O-line coach A.J. Ricker.
Defensively, TCU (for the most part) did its duty. While former Horned Frog back Cam Cook (90 yards) and quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (87 yards and two touchdowns) had some success. West Virginia averaged 4.3 yards per carry. Hawkins Jr. was held to just 79 yards on 7-of-15 passing with an interception to Kylin Jackson. Jackson, Jamel Johnson and Ansel Din-Mbuh each had sacks for the defense, which compiled four TFLs. On special teams, Nate McCashland went 2-for-3 on field goals in the continued absence of Kyle Lemmermann.
TCU can get back to .500 with a win against Kansas next week. Regardless, the outcome of the season appears bleak after the home loss to West Virginia. The Horned Frogs, once again, are out of the race for the Big 12 championship before November. With a backloaded schedule, TCU appears destined for 5-7 victories.
Ricker’s firing keeps the coaching carousel rolling for the Horned Frogs, who since last season have parted ways with offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, running backs coach Jimmy Smith and strength and conditioning coordinator Kaz Kazadi. Is Dykes next? NC State dismissed Dave Doeren and Baylor dismissed Dave Aranda after embarrassing losses this past weekend.
There are only so many assistants for TCU to discard until the man at the top goes.
