Texas quarterback Arch Manning had a easy message and a promise: There shall be higher days forward from him.
“I do know the kind of participant that I’m,” Manning mentioned Monday as he answered one other spherical of questions on a poor outing in final week’s win over UTEP. “I do know I will play higher and we’ll be higher as an offense.”
This week’s matchup with Sam Houston, a program in solely its third season of FCS-level competitors, would sometimes be an afterthought for the No. 8 staff within the nation.
However Manning’s poor play has turned the Longhorns’ ultimate sport earlier than the Southeastern Convention schedule right into a must-watch to see if he can ship something near these preseason Heisman Trophy predictions.
If he struggles once more, a all of a sudden uncertain fanbase turns its worries right into a five-alarm hearth. And even when he performs nicely, the end result and Manning’s stat line will doubtless be dismissed as coming in opposition to inferior competitors.
Stats are one factor. Simply passing the attention check this week could be a begin.
Manning’s play thus far has stoked the embers of doubt. He struggled badly in a season-opening win in opposition to Ohio State. He began gradual the following week however rallied with 4 landing passes in opposition to San Jose State.
His day in opposition to UTEP was downright tough. Manning was 11 of 25 passing for 114 yards with one landing and an interception. He had a streak of 10 consecutive incompletions. He side-armed some throws and missed open receivers. There have been boos late within the first half.
By way of three video games, Manning is finishing simply 55% of his passes.
“It is irritating as a result of I do know I am higher than that,” Manning mentioned. “However you recognize, we’ll be higher this week and get clicking on offense. I am excited to get going.”
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian promised endurance with a participant hitting the primary adversity of his profession.
“This is a man who’s had an superior life, they means he is grown up, the folks he is been surrounded by,” Sarkisian mentioned. “I believe you study quite a bit about your self by adversity and overcoming adversity. … When he will get on the opposite aspect of it, I believe all of that is going to serve nicely not just for him, however for us as a staff.”
Texas vast receiver Parker Livingstone caught three landing passes within the first two video games. Manning badly overthrew him on a large open route in the long run zone in opposition to UTEP.
Livingstone mentioned the vast receivers may also help Manning by delivering extra large performs when given the possibility.
“When he throws us the ball, it is our job to make a man miss and create an explosive [play],” Livingstone mentioned.