The defense of Arch Manning in the wake of his abject failure this past Saturday at Ohio State has been vigorous.
Not as vigorous as the defense that shut down the ballyhooed Texas quarterback. Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia confused and flustered Manning, as Patricia’s pedigree of three Super Bowl rings might dictate.
Speaking of pedigree, perhaps Manning is nothing beyond a famous name. The son of the Manning brother who didn’t play pro football.
At any rate, the excuses flew after Manning projectile puked all over The Horseshoe:
“He’s only a kid!” (Manning is 21, same age as Penn State’s Drew Allar. Who is much better.)
“He’s not experienced!” (He threw 95 collegiate passes prior to Saturday. That’s not extensive, but it’s not inconsequential.)
“That’s a great team and a tough environment!” (True on both counts. It’s the sort of circumstance where reputations can be made or shattered. My brain’s been battered, splattered all over Columbus.)
Manning doesn’t stink.
Manning will probably play great against San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston. (Those are the Longhorns’ next three games.)
But he’s decisively proven he’s not the presumptive Heisman Trophy winner and first pick overall in the NFL Draft.
He’s got a lot of work to do.
His passes were sailing, he threw a backbreaking interception, he looked befuddled, the game plan seemed afraid to turn him loose and he got stuffed at the Ohio State 1 on the worst tush push in the history of the genre.
You push the tush forward. Texas pushed Manning’s back down. Anyway, Manning is skinny and likely has little leg drive. Bad play call. The tush push isn’t for everyone.
Manning threw for just 38 yards in the first three quarters.
He was every bit as bad as the numbers dictate.
Manning is a first-year starter, so it’s easy to say there’s a learning curve. (It’s also easy to wonder how he couldn’t beat out a meh talent like Quinn Ewers last year.)
But Manning’s NIL payday is $6.8 million. If I’m signing that check, I don’t want to hear about a learning curve.
NIL money means that college athletes aren’t “just kids” anymore. They’re professionals. Earn your keep.
Manning is also doing a ton of commercials, as evidenced during Saturday’s broadcast. At one point, Manning had more commercials than completions. He was born a rich kid and keeps getting richer.
There are so many assumptions being made about Manning simply because he’s a Manning. The name, the brand, the hype.
But perhaps he’s not that good.
Perhaps he’s gotten opportunity he wouldn’t get if his last name was, say, Jones.
Perhaps Manning is that good but can’t handle the unbearable weight of massive talent. (Nicolas Cage couldn’t.)
Bad opponents will reignite the hype machine.
Texas’ considerable quality will carry Manning, if that’s needed.
But until Manning beats a top-notch foe and performs great, questions will linger. Questions that should have been asked long before now. (Those queries might persist until the College Football Playoff. That loss Saturday left a mark.)
To repeat: Allar is better.
Allar will go higher in the draft. (It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but it’s easy to see Manning staying at Texas next year.)
Imagine if Allar’s last name was Manning.
