If Quinn Ewers commits game-altering turnovers like he did against the Aggies and in the first Georgia game, can Texas beat Georgia the second time around? It seems unlikely. So, does Ewers have a short leash Saturday afternoon in Atlanta? I heard a retired sports columnist on the radio this week suggesting that Ewers doesn’t have a short leash because he is cerebrally ahead of Arch Manning. That has to be the first and last time anyone suggests that Quinn Ewers is cerebral, especially after we saw him commit two colossally stupid turnovers against the Aggies. Anyhow, before the Aggie game, I thought Sarkisian would be loyal to Ewers even if it cost Texas a win. But Arch Manning’s appearance early in the Aggie game gives me hope that Sarkisian would go to Manning for more than just a few snaps if he thought he would give Texas the best chance to win.
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I’ve recently heard the argument that replacing Ewers with Manning would be bad for recruiting because it would show that Steve Sarkisian is not loyal to his players. Okay, sure, let’s not play the players who give us the best chance of winning to show recruits how loyal Sark is. Who cares if it costs us a game, an SEC Championship, or a National Championship? We all know recruiting is more important than championships. As stupid as the argument is, let me rebut the theory on recruiting grounds. Not playing the number one quarterback recruit with more upside than the starter hurts recruiting by signaling to recruits that you may be the best player at your position, but you won’t play because the coaching staff is loyal to entrenched starters.
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Georgia is a tough matchup for any team, but it may be particularly bad for Texas. A staple of Sarkisian’s offense is swing passes and bubble screens completed behind the line of scrimmage. Georgia’s linebackers are too fast for these plays to be effective. We saw that in the first Georgia game and against the Aggies, as Ewers completed five passes for negative yards. In the Arkansas game, Ewers was 10 for 10 for 38 yards on throws at or behind the line of scrimmage. Ewers has to throw the ball over the middle, ditching swing passes and bubble screens against Georgia. It would also be great if Texas could be as effective running the ball as they were in their last two games versus Kentucky and A&M.
Lastly, Georgia’s pass rush is a bad matchup for Quinn Ewers. Ewers needs a clean pocket to be effective. When pressured, he has been one of the worst passers in the country this season, and bubble screens and swing passes aren’t the answer. I hope Trey Wisner is rested and ready.
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The Longhorns will be in the playoffs, win or lose, on Saturday, but it would be a bad look to lose to Georgia twice in one season. I’m surprised the betting line has moved from even to Texas -2.5.
Hook ‘em,
W.E.
Fifty-five years ago today. . .
Album side of the Century
Need a BIG Effort!
Put in both Ewers and Manning in the backfield and run plays with multiple options
I’ll admit it, I still tear up every time I see those highlights from the ‘69 Arkansas shootout. Brings back so many memories of my first year in college and fighting home sickness from which the Longhorns finally eased me. Or was it my frat pledge brother bringing his ski boat up to Austin for the spring semester.? Oh my, what a spring it was. It was.
Was there the semester you made the Dean’s list?