Texas Longhorns senior quarterback Arch Manning is in a full-blown crisis right now, man. He threw two crippling interceptions in that brutal Red River Rivalry loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, then followed that up by regularly missing open receivers and just straight-up fumbling away a chance at a comeback against the Florida Gators. You gotta wonder if head coach Steve Sarkisian is already thinking about sophomore KJ Lacey as he digs through everything that’s struggling with his offense.
Manning Can’t See the Field, and It’s Killing Them
Look, it’s not like the offensive line is perfect, or the play calls on short yardage are always brilliant. Those problems are real, and no quarterback on the roster can fix pass protection or run blocking. But Manning’s issues go deeper than that, and they are hurting the team in ways only a QB can. The dude is just not seeing the field. When he’s chilling in the pocket, holding onto the ball despite open receivers, it doesn’t look like he’s struggling to read progressions. It just looks like he can’t see guys when they are open and get the ball out quick enough.
This inability to pull the trigger is causing massive problems. Manning’s taking unnecessary sacks, like the one late in the game when the Longhorns actually had a shot to tie or take the lead. He got sacked and then fumbled, essentially ending the game when the Gators scooped it up. And get this: junior wide receiver Emmett Mosley V was wide open on an out route on that very play! His decision-making on whether to throw or scramble is also suspect. Early in the second quarter, after taking a bad first-down sack with multiple open receivers available, he went for a post route against a middle-field closed coverage that almost got picked off. He had stepped up in the pocket, had plenty of running room on 2nd and 16, and the running back was wide open on the check down. Later, a 15-yard screen pass on third down led to a horrible fourth-down play call and turnover, giving Florida a short field and a touchdown before halftime. Manning’s struggles are turning into huge, game-changing problems for Texas.
KJ Lacey: A Blank Canvas Who Might Be the Only Hope
So, what about Lacey? It’s a tough call because the dude has only attempted nine career passes. We don’t even get to see practice outside of a few limited windows. But here’s the thing: Manning is seeing the field so poorly, it’d be hard for Lacey to be worse in those specific areas. Lacey could totally upgrade the offense by just making quick, simple decisions. We’re talking targeting open receivers, taking those check downs, or picking up available yardage on scrambles. Seems basic, right? But basic is what they’re missing.
From the limited film we have on Lacey, the Alabama product looks comfortable and capable when Sarkisian moves the pocket for him. That’s a big deal, considering his extremely limited size. He’s also shown some ability to make throws under pressure. He’s an unknown, a “blank canvas,” but right now, that might be exactly what this offense needs.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian has some brutal decisions ahead. The Longhorns’ season hangs in the balance. Does he stick with Manning, hoping he magically starts seeing the field, or does he give the sophomore with nine career passes a shot? What he decides next could totally define their year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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