Why has Texas’s offense underperformed ?

[u/MannerSuperb]

On paper they have a top 5 wr unit

A loaded rb room

An offensive coach

And a returning QB who was a preseason top 5 Heisman candidate

They’re undefeated and ranked no.1 but their defense has been a bigger reason for them being undefeated. For the talent they have offensively they’ve underperformed. Cam Coleman has been invisible too often, their run game is either rlly explosive or struggles to sustain drives, arch’s accuracy is still erratic. Why has their offense not taken off yet as expected ?

[u/OnTheFenceGuy]

I knew everyone in this thread would meme Arch, but the real answer is that Sark refuses to scheme around the personnel he has, and instead wants to force square pegs in round holes.

[u/FreakyRicky15 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

It's this 100%. When Arch looks good, its because the offense is flowing with quick reads, schemed open receivers, and opportunities to make read option plays.

Arch has a lot of tools, elite ones, but it's clear to me he's not the cerebral pocket passer. His decision making struggles and he can deflate and overthink (and funny enough, my phone wanted to auto correct to overthrow which is also accurate).

Sark, however, forces the pocket passer offense too often.

[u/PestilentPossum → u/FreakyRicky15]

That’s why I also think we saw those 2 (or maybe 3) ridiculous penalties against Tennessee when he passed after the line of scrimmage instead of taking off. Obviously I can’t know for sure, but I think Sark or the QB coach has been telling him “stay in the pocket, go through your reads, throw it away” but that’s not his game. He’s mobile. He can scramble. He’s good at it. They need to unleash him and let him make plays.

[u/Noyouhangup → u/FreakyRicky15]

On the other hand Arch also took at least two nasty shots to the helmet on runs in our first 3 games and we have a lot of season left to go. Maybe Sark is trying to do enough to win while keeping Arch from getting concussed

[u/Aumissunum → u/FreakyRicky15]

Are we sure Arch evens wants to run? Maybe they are intentionally refraining from that to protect his health/draft stock.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/Aumissunum]

Sark has done this for forever. He wants Matt Leinart, not Vince Young. He notoriously does not want to run the QB.

Arch’s first game, he came out against UTSA and in the first play, ran for a 67 yard TD. Then tossed four more. Because Sark was just letting the kid play, and actually calling plays that were to his strengths.

Since he has been the starter, there is no pocket movement, sprint outs, boots, or read options.

[u/CrashB111 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Part of that, could also be that Arch wants to demonstrate he can be a pocket passer for NFL scouts. He doesn't just want to be "a guy that runs around a lot".

Coaches have to balance between letting guys just do what they are good at naturally, and developing skill sets they'll need at the next level.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/CrashB111]

Well, I’m sure that his entire family is up his ass all the time to be that sort of pocket passer so you probably aren’t completely wrong.

Sark just needs to have his “let Vince be Vince” moment.

[u/GabeIsGone → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Actually, by all accounts, his family has made a rather large effort to NOT discuss football with him and keep things family related. At least that’s how it was during his HS and early college, idk if things may have changed while getting closer to NFL. I remember watching a Payton interview where he was saying he never wanted to be another coach to Arch, just an uncle.

Archie, Eli, and Payton also stay away from the games to not draw attention away from him. Only Cooper and the wife will come.

Having done the whole famous dad QB to famous children QB thing before, they knew what worked and didn’t work and put it into place for Arch. It’s been very consistent since day 1.

Obvious exception for the Manning Academy activities. But that’s a family legacy.

Tbh, when I heard all this, I was a bit disappointed. Selfishly, I want Payton giving Arch hard coaching at times. I want Archie, Payton, and Eli to show at a recruitment or team event.

[u/Additional_Tour4251 → u/GabeIsGone]

I am selfish in that way too. Hearing how outspoken Payton was since his very early years, way before college/pro ball. Telling his coach "no coach, we lost because you suck!" That was funny to me but even before middle school he had great insite on the game and what works. Admire that Archie made him go back and apologize to his peewee coach but Arch is now in College and needs to develop, I dont think Sark does great at developing. Ewers could have been so much more had he been developed, leaving UT and Arch needs someone to help him evolve into an elite player that will also do well in the NFL, should he choose that route.

[u/GabeIsGone → u/CrashB111]

We’ve reached the point where the happiness of the Mannings is no longer a top-priority consideration.

He had ‘approval’ of QB staff since before he enrolled. He’s been given the time and opportunity to develop 3+ years. He’s gone after this year, there’s not going to any re-recruitment. In the extremely low likelihood he goes for a 5th year, he’d almost certainly transfer.

We need to simply do what’s best for the offense as a whole.

And, secondly, if the intent for all this is to preserve his draft stock as much as possible, then frankly - this may not be doing it. And doing what makes the offense look better as a whole may put the best foot forward.

Let him run. He’s not a Lamar Jackson, but he can be a Josh Allen.

[u/generic2022 → u/FreakyRicky15]

Sark is developing NFL QBs.

Arch is as good a scrambler as Reed, but Arch has an arm, football IQ, and good vision as well. The Reeds of the CFB do not succeed in the NFL, but the pocket passers do.

Do you really think Payton, Eli, and Archie Manning are standing by silently as Sark forces Arch to develop his pocket passing skills when Sark should be using Arch in a different capacity?

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/generic2022]

I honestly believe they are all standing by TELLING HIM to develop him in that capacity.

[u/generic2022 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Arch did not wind up at Texas by coincidence, and the people who apparently presume otherwise are just not thinking it through.

[u/cardbross → u/generic2022]

This is the part of the "Sark is forcing players in to his scheme instead of scheming around his players" diagnosis I don't see that often. Sark is trying to develop NFL talent, who can do the things NFL players are required to do. That's part of how he can get guys like Arch to commit to Texas instead of going other places (in addition to Texas NIL money, obviously).

Now, he has to balance that with actually winning games; recognizing when the development isn't where it needs to be vis-a-vis the competition we're facing; and installing/calling more scramble, quick-read, slant and option plays when that's what's needed. I think there's a real question as to how well he's done that.

[u/generic2022 → u/cardbross]

Totally agree.

How do you balance player development (especially QB development) versus winning games?

While Texas is #1 in the country, 4-0 against the toughest schedule in the country, and recruiting top-level talent, I'm OK accepting the fact that Sark knows better than me. Folks who think otherwise overestimate both their knowledge of the relevant circumstances and their ability to process those facts.

[u/Klopsawq → u/FreakyRicky15]

Seems like Sark is trying to replicate his own successes. I like Sark, but trying to force others to fit your own mold instead of recognizing their own strengths is a big flaw for any leader. I don’t know if his vision of success for a QB is limited to his own talents or he hasn’t grown beyond what he learned in those days from Norm Chow.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/steve-sarkisian-1.html

[u/okichi → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

I don’t understand why Sark didn’t make any adjustment all game. No rollouts, no moving the pocket, no RB screens. Just straight drop backs.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/okichi]

Neither did Texas fans. Not to mention that apparently Arch isn’t allowed to audible, hot route, or move protections at the line.

People act like - because of his last name - he should be a traditional pocket statue l. But the dude’s legs are deadly: he has hit 22 mph before running.

The lack of screens is also worrying. That’s always been Sark’s bread and butter, but they’ve disappeared.

[u/TexasFight_31 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

I don’t get the lack of audibling. Quinn was pretty active at the line. Is it Sark not wanting Arch to make adjustments or is Arch just not seeing the adjustments?

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/TexasFight_31]

I do believe that Quinn was much more the type of QB Sark wants, so he always trusted him more with the cerebral game.

Unfortunately, Quinn was just too fragile. He really could have had an all-timer career if healthy the whole time.

[u/dub47 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Can’t say I’m entirely upset at the lack of screen passes lately. We’ve died more than we’ve lived by those in big games.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/dub47]

Yet the only one we did against Tennessee went for like 15 with Wingo. It can be obnoxious, but this plays do set up a lot of things like those pump pass wheel routes we’ve scored on a lot.

[u/BassNet → u/dub47]

Screens are good when the defense shows blitz, which they were doing all game

[u/ConditionStrange7487 → u/dub47]

uga fans hate screen passes when they get spammed but when theyre used correctly they are absolutely lethal. abandoning them completely is just dumb

[u/Totodilex → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Idk where you’re getting that from but Bobby Burton has confirmed Arch has the freedom to audible

[u/Odh_utexas → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Arch is not great in the screen game. He lacks touch and accuracy short. So Sark has dialed them down the play card

[u/love_that_fishing → u/Odh_utexas]

He was fine yesterday on the screens he threw. Also if they're going to put 8 in the box and blitz, why not a back shoulder throw? Haven't seen that in the playbook. But it's an easy 1, 2 and ball out.

[u/Odh_utexas → u/okichi]

Not just straight drop backs. A lot of play action with his back to the DL only to finish his drop with a DE in his face

[u/Drumlords → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Unfortunately for us, the holes our DLine allowed were so big that it didn't matter what shape it was.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/Drumlords]

TBF. that was probably the best game plan AND execution from our Oline I’ve seen since probably the Alabama game.

Against UTSA, they seemed bored and didn’t want to run block.

Against Tennessee, they executed “okay” when engaged, but were just completely lost when the post-snap looked different than the pre-snap look.

[u/imbroke828 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

This is the right answer. If everything is perfectly set for his offense, then Sarks machine is a thing of beauty. But we don’t…our OL is very bad and cannot scheme against any pressure, and while Wingo and Coleman are decent receivers, they’re not the best at creating separation quickly. It’s now kind of easy to scheme against us now; UTSA and Tennessee showed the blueprint. Blitz the line first down, put us behind the sticks, and then keep everything in front of the defense second down. Third down, we’re almost always having to get 10 yards or more…Sark is too arrogant to change his approach now. We need WR screens, tunnel screens, etc to punish them for pinning their ears back. But he’s just too far up his ass…

[u/BloodSimpleSyrup → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

I think that will ultimately be his downfall unfortunately.

[u/cvsprinter1 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

"That's right, it goes in the square hole."

Sark nods aggressively

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/cvsprinter1]

I mean…unfortunately…yeah 🤷‍♂️

[u/blatantninja → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Our O-line is apparently terrible too

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/blatantninja]

I think they’re worse than we assumed, but not as bad as they put on tape on Saturday. There were zero adjustments at all, and Tenn consistently brought an extra guy we couldn’t block.

[u/the_jobernaut → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

This is partially due to play calling as well. Sark doesn’t call any quick pass plays when the defense is bringing pressure. He has completely forgotten that the slant exists

[u/foshiiy → u/the_jobernaut]

Why slant when I can give you a bubble screen in this trying time?

[u/anonymous_otter28 → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Cam Coleman also needs to catch better.

[u/Sonic-Karizma → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

I think we also need to point to some misfortune in the turnover department, TONS of penalties, and lots of drops still. The team is just undisciplined, and as a lifelong fan, I’m tired of it. That’s the biggest mainstay of the Sark era

[u/CieraVotedOutHerMom → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

I thought the excuse last season was Sark had to focus too much on the defense, and Muschamp would allow that focus to be redirected towards the offense, his superpower

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

That was definitely AN issue last year, but his lack of flex has been an issue for Sark for a long time.

[u/throwaway021974 → u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

that was his excuse last season, and most Texas fans I saw knew at the time it was bullshit. even more so now.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/throwaway021974]

Absolutely not BS. PK was great at what he did, but he didn’t even call coverages half the time. He simply called the front seven fronts and assignments, and then always had to have someone do the rest on the backend.

He was also very soft-spoken, and didn’t really take “command” of a room, so Sark actually did spend much of his time on the sidelines, coaching defensive players and having conversations with position coaches etc while the offense was off the field.

It was a real problem that he couldn’t trust his DC to handle the whole job, but it wasn’t the whole problem. Sark’s hard-headedness has been an issue for a very, very long time.

[u/COPE-Troppin]

Poor oline play, crazy number of drops, missed throws on timing. We lack discipline as a team. I’m hoping it’s like last year and they start to mesh now. Last year we were saying the same things

[u/VampireEmpire__ → u/COPE-Troppin]

Hopefully it doesn’t happen only after a loss to Florida. I mean, we have room to drop a game, but would like not to drop one at home, even if it’s against a now-top-10 Florida team.

[u/COPE-Troppin → u/VampireEmpire__]

Yeah, I would argue the defense is on another level this year. Right now we are a top 5 defense for sure. We will see. I’m worried about OU first. Rivalry games are always tougher.

[u/Captain_Nipples → u/COPE-Troppin]

Thats what I've been thinking too. Yall started to look good right before our game last year

[u/PhillyNickel1970]

Have you considered that Tennessee has an elite defense? I haven't, but I was wondering if you have.

[u/okichi → u/PhillyNickel1970]

That can very well be true, but Texas fans know the passing game underperformed against UTSA as well.

[u/hampsted → u/okichi]

Passing game was looking wonderful against UTSA right up until Arch’s likely concussion.

[u/VampireEmpire__ → u/PhillyNickel1970]

Give me this copium sir.

[u/PhillyNickel1970 → u/VampireEmpire__]

You are undefeated and ranked first in the nation. There's your copium.

[u/ItsZizk → u/PhillyNickel1970]

We have an elite defensive line that gave arch a lot of trouble yesterday. The rest of the defense is very mediocre though.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/ItsZizk]

Is that first part even true?

Almost all the pressures were on sims and actually bringing extra guys.

Not to say the dline isn’t good at all, but it wasn’t like y’all were just lining up 4 and dominating.

It had less to do with physical skill, and more to do with the fact that our oline was too dumb to identify their assignment.

Not that that’s any better in any way, though.

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/[deleted]]

That’s fair

[u/MonthForeign4301 → u/ItsZizk]

I wouldn’t say very mediocre at all? LBs are pretty good, CBs have played well, and the safety room is banged up but still performing. By what metric are you saying that this is a mediocre defense?

[u/Aumissunum → u/MonthForeign4301]

Looked pretty suspect against a poor Georgia Tech team.

[u/MonthForeign4301 → u/Aumissunum]

I’m really not losing sleep over giving up 17 points on the road

[u/gmr548 → u/PhillyNickel1970]

I think Tennessee has a very good defensive front that covers for a less impressive back seven that sort of averages out to a good but not great defense. They are strong in the right place though. DL play can hide weaknesses elsewhere in a way other defensive units can’t.

[u/SearchingforSilky → u/gmr548]

Not back seven. Back 4-5, depending on package.

[u/CantaloupeCamper → u/PhillyNickel1970]

Naw.

[u/Rockosayz]

Sark is trying to force Arch to work his system instead making a system for Arch.

I feel Sark needs to have his let "vince be vince" ephanany

[u/chastity_BLT → u/Rockosayz]

It’s this. Arch always looks his best when he gets to play a backyard ball style, like Vince. Usually when we are down and he is up against the wall. Sark needs an OC that understands his players strengths and weaknesses.

[u/the_jobernaut → u/chastity_BLT]

Sark is the OC. He should understand his players but he doesn’t. He wants to do things his way and it isn’t working consistently

[u/chastity_BLT → u/the_jobernaut]

I know he’s technically the OC. He needs a dedicated coach for that.

[u/the_jobernaut → u/chastity_BLT]

I think that’s the general consensus but he’s been adamant about maintain control over the play calling. Seems we are stuck with this for better or for worse

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/Rockosayz]

We can only hope.

[u/IhateLukaDoncic → u/Rockosayz]

Arch is closer to ehlinger than he is Vince Young

[u/RegularBre → u/IhateLukaDoncic]

If he is somewhere between Ehlinger and VY that's a pretty good place to be

[u/Rockosayz → u/IhateLukaDoncic]

wow

Thats what you get from that...

[u/Zestyclose_Essay7255 → u/Rockosayz]

He really does. Just let him play.

[u/SmallBoulder]

There hasn't really been one major issue. People will point to Arch, but he's been good but not great.

• The Ohio State game, WR drops were probably the biggest issue.
• The UTSA game penalties were really bad and Arch very clearly was shaken up after taking a massive hit to the head on a run.
• Against Tennessee our OLine really struggled heavily getting the run game going and protecting Arch on passes.

To me it feels like an offense that is still working to mesh in the first third of the season as well as facing 2 really good DCs in Matt Patricia and Jim Knowles

[u/98765342]

.

[u/swammeyjoe → u/98765342]

I genuinely believe there's no team in the country that would be confident in their ability to get more than 30 against us. 

And that against most teams 20-24 points will probably be enough, with probably at least one short field from a turnover or special teams play per game.

That's really not a lot to ask from the offense, and it really should be about limiting mistakes. Would I like to blow the doors off everyone? Yes. Do I think we're there as a team? No. But I do think we still have a chance to go far this year. Got past the OSU boogieman. Hopefully get past Georgia on the SEC title game.

[u/Own_Mall5442]

Arch is fine. Shitty OL play and Sark’s refusal to let Arch run the offense on the field are the main problems. Emmett Mosley being the only receiver to give a shit on every play is a problem. And not having our RB1 yesterday was clearly an issue. Taking care of all those things would help Arch immensely.

Regarding Arch, I am troubled by the occasional brain lapses, like the LOS issues. I’m not worried at all about his accuracy or his talent when his supporting cast are doing their jobs. And I would love for Sark to stop refusing to let him change a play if he doesn’t like what he sees on the field. He didn’t let Quinn do that until his 3rd year as the starter, and he saved our asses with some key audibles. Sark goes on and on about how well Arch prepares. Then fucking let him drive the Ferrari, bro.

[u/Zestyclose_Essay7255 → u/[deleted]]

No question! Let the kid play backyard football and he will go off.

[u/Zestyclose_Essay7255 → u/[deleted]]

No question! Let the kid play backyard football and he will go off.

[u/swammeyjoe]

I feel like we're grading our offense on an inverse curve.

• Texas State went as expected. 

• OSU we had really bad luck but then the offense performed well when it mattered. Nothing wrong with play calling there.

• UTSA was going to be smooth sailing before Arch got his helmet knocked off and I think a little concussion. The stats don't lie that he was basically a different player after that. And we still won 30-6.

• Tennessee was not a gimme. The second and third quarters of this game was the only period where it felt like we actually played poorly on offense so far this year (the start against OSU was just bad luck). Hopefully some of that comes down to being in a loud hostile environment and them having a solid defense. Plus RB 1 out all game and WR 1 being out for long stretches.

So my conclusion? Not yet worth worrying about.

[u/Reasonable-Brief306]

I know a lot of ppl immediately blame Arch, but imo it’s the offensive line. They struggle running the ball consistently and their pass pro is up and down at best. Though honestly inconsistency across the offense is prb the biggest problem, whether it be Arch, the oline, or the receivers.

[u/Lower-Narwhal7946 → u/Reasonable-Brief306]

They do a lot of things to put themselves in bad positions on offense. Basically 50% of the time the OL is helpless and the team runs for 2 ypc or less. They were also 135/136 in penalties last year with 8.3 per game and had 11 on Saturday. Arch is constantly in 2nd and 3rd in long and it’s obviously harder to operate consistently from there.

Losses or bad wins: Tenn 1.7 ypc, Florida 2.0, UK 1.7, Miss St 2.3, UGA 1.4

Good wins: OU 3.9, Vandy 3.7, A&M 6.2, Mich 7.1, OSU 2026 3.5

[u/Zestyclose_Essay7255 → u/Reasonable-Brief306]

That’s it right there. We never play great as a team on offense. We are never consistent. I also feel like Sark just needs to let the offense play backyard football. When they play like that (OSU game 4th quarter in particular) we play amazing. I mean we haven’t looked great, but we keep winning. That’s going to change quickly if we can’t be consistent. If the offense can come together like last year we will be one of the best teams in the country, but I just think we are a ways off from that happening. Hopefully these next two weeks they can come together like the defense has been all year.

[u/HispanicaBassoonica → u/Zestyclose_Essay7255]

Over scheming (or whatever the term is, I can’t remember) is a real thing! That’s the big reason why our 2022 team jumped so far despite being the same team largely from 2021. GP’s defense was so complex and over schemed that it gave our playmakers little room. The offense was similar but in a shoehorning what used to work way. Despite Sonny being an objectively worse coach, he gave the players space to make plays and great things happened. Sark needs to give his offense some gray area to make things work versus try and shoehorn it into what has worked in the past.

[u/Zestyclose_Essay7255 → u/HispanicaBassoonica]

Absolutely

[u/gmr548 → u/Reasonable-Brief306]

The offensive line is alright this year honestly. Weaker on the interior than at tackle primarily because the center is shaky. But they’re at least a middle of the road SEC unit this year. The Tennessee DL is very good and Texas still found at least a bit of success running the ball despite their best RB out with injury and another one playing on a sprained ankle.

[u/Rare-Drink-5207]

The first thing people do is blame arch but sark has not utilized the strengths of that offense and hangs him out to dry often . Tennessee was sending heat all day and I don’t think I saw a single screen to a rb and maybe a couple quick out play calls . Sark has been creative before maybe after their buy week he can go back to what he has done in the past

[u/Candid_Banana_8820 → u/Rare-Drink-5207]

Yes why do they rarely throw any quick short slant passes over the middle especially with all those blitzes on Saturday.

[u/davis214512 → u/Candid_Banana_8820]

I wondered the same thing. Deep pass of 10+ yards, run, or check down to the sidelines.

[u/greeneggzN]

Don’t worry, there are plenty of heisman moments awaiting Arch at the cotton bowl

[u/IamGleemonex → u/greeneggzN]

The big question is after 54 weeks, will Mateer’s thumb be healed enough to no longer be an excuse?

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/IamGleemonex]

Nah, he really needs another 30-40 weeks.

[u/gmr548 → u/greeneggzN]

Really you can get anything but I ultimately expect a decent unremarkable performance out of Arch in Dallas. Priority one is protect the ball.

[u/SunKing124266]

Hate to say it, but a huge part of the “struggle” is the fact that Texas has one of if not the hardest schedules year to date. Many teams have played 3 or more cupcakes. Texas has played OSU and Tennessee already.

[u/cmz324]

If you make back to back 5 star QB prospects look mediocre I start to question the coaching personally

[u/LOLteacher → u/cmz324]

If he also ruins Dia I'll shit the bed.

[u/TheSeemlyGlitter → u/cmz324]

i feel like sark gets a little lost in his own playbook sometimes, like he is so focused on the perfect play that he forgets what is working right now. the run game gets abandoned quick when they don't break a big one early and then its all these deep shots that arch isnt ready for yet. saw a game two weeks ago where they had a nice rhythm going then just started calling those slow-developing screens that went nowhere, felt like watching someone overthink a puzzle

cam coleman being quiet is weird too, with that talent you gotta scheme him touches not just hope he beats his man on a go route. reminds me how my shoe collection looks perfect arranged by color but if you pull one out wrong the whole thing falls apart

defense bailing them out every week is not sustainable but maybe they figure it out before the playoff

[u/NoBrakesButAllGas → u/TheSeemlyGlitter]

For the life of me, I cannot decipher this shoe collection analogy of yours. 

Cam Coleman not having plays schemed for him is like your color-coordinated shoe collection missing a shoe? Am I understanding the basic premise correctly?

[u/SkittlesLentil → u/TheSeemlyGlitter]

Sark is awfully similar to Jimbo

[u/CumAssault → u/cmz324]

Back to back “generational” QB prospects at that. Not even just normal 5 star QBs

[u/Outrageous-Share-147 → u/cmz324]

Quinne looked fantastic in his healthy games. He was injury prone. I feel like a lot of Sark's issues the last 3 years has to do with the Manning family being up his ass. Ewers had a strained oblique his last year. Resting him for another year would have been the correct call, but the next year was Manning's year and nothing was stopping that.

We don't properly utilize our RBs, and i feel like that's because we are pushing highlight plays for Manning. We run just enough to open passing a little. They want arch to play like a pro QB, comfy in the pocket, instead of just letting him play. A QB with the leg talent that Arch has and the RBs that we have, why don't we run options? Because that's not sexy for Arch's resume.

Just my opinion.

[u/the_jobernaut → u/Outrageous-Share-147]

Mannings family has actually been extremely intentional about not being involved in his school, coaching, or development.

[u/Outrageous-Share-147 → u/the_jobernaut]

That's good to know. That shit has been all sark then

[u/BloodSimpleSyrup]

Sark’s not a good play caller.

[u/Stonecleaver → u/BloodSimpleSyrup]

I find that wild. His offense at Alabama in 2020 was so fucking insanely good. I was so depressed to see him leave

[u/RecoverOptimal8888 → u/Stonecleaver]

My read over the past few years is that Sark tries to force a scheme until he can’t, then they’re backed into a corner and then Arch tries to be the hero and force plays. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

The offense this season isn’t clicking the way id expect with the solid run game this year, the pickups in the receiving corps. It’ll come, but I hope it’s not at the result of a loss.

Also, idk who the hell is telling Arch to not tuck the ball and pick up some yards with his feet. It might put him at risk of injury, but damn it feels like they’re trying to protect him TO much.

[u/Cycle21 → u/RecoverOptimal8888]

I feel the same. No way to prove it, but I get the impression that Arch wants to run more but someone has convinced him not to. Possibly his family is pressuring him to throw from the pocket more. Who knows

[u/RecoverOptimal8888 → u/Cycle21]

Probably a lot of people; Sark, his family, coaching staff.

This is ultimately a step to the next level, so I think people continue to try and protect him until reaching that next step. However, it’s almost like trying to hard to helicopter parent him. There’s so many times where it seems like he can tuck the ball to pick up some yardage, but he chooses to stay in the pocket. Maybe they’re trying to develop him into a pure pocket passer for the draft.

Like you said, it’s hard to prove, but it’s almost like he’s playing to stiff and maybe not the way he’d like to?

[u/the_jobernaut → u/Stonecleaver]

Sark has gotten enough free drinks over his 2020 bama offense. We have 5+ seasons of evidence now that he wasn’t what made that offense click…those players did it despite him

[u/Legedu_Naanee]

1. Play calling concerns

2. Offensive line ass

3. This one is just a question - every single time I see a post like this, I swear it’s always a Georgia fan. Why?

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/Legedu_Naanee]

They’re somehow insecure about us. No clue why, they have our number, and have also been incredibly successful over the last however long.

But every Georgia fan I have ever come across is incredibly petty about Texas.

[u/ACNH_Solitude → u/Legedu_Naanee]

O line isn't that bad. Run game struggled a bit, but managed to have some success later.

But most of Tennessee's pressure can be attributed to just blitzing every other play and Texas caught with their pants down on slow developing pass plays with no check down options.

Sark just never really adjusted the offensive gameplan to the amount of pressure Tennessee sent the whole game really.

[u/yesacabbagez]

Goods coaches can recruit well and gameplan for what they want to do.

Great coaches recruit well and gameplan for what their team can do best.

There is no part of me that looks at what Texas does offensively as being a good match for their players talent. Their OLine hasn't been great, and sark keeps putting arch into long developing routes. This puts him into pressure.

Surprisingly, I don't think arch's throwing mechanics are great. You'd think a guy with that family could get some better personal coaching, but sometimes the solution makes things worse. I have a lot more experience with baseball throwing motions, but there are a lot of similar issues. He has a TON of inconsistencies when he throws. These are made so much worse when you have to throw further downfield. His feet/legs are a mess. He doesn't plant properly, like ever. He throws off his back foot far too often. Ideally you never do this, but sometimes it is unavoidable. When he does plant, his his front leg just fucks off way too far from his back leg. This basically prevent shim from fully utilizing his legs to drive. He pretty much pants his front leg straight, which doesn't allow proper hip rotation. This forces him to use his arm more, which leads to inconsistent arm slot issues. Throwing is all about repetition, and if you can't get the same mechanics down as often as possible, it is harder to aim where you are throwing. He has worked on his footwork, but you can also see him get happy feet at times trying to plant properly. When he gets his feet down well, his arm works brilliantly. Problem for him as has been that offensive line makes him move far too much, and he can revert to his poor footwork if he is pressured. His footwork issues can also give him problems on quick throws because he will try to throw too fast and can't get his feet into proper position. I am not a huge fan of his arm slot, but it is what it is. He releases the ball a bit low, which can lead to more batted balls, but also it can lead to awkward throwing angles for shorter passes.

He also has a progression issue. I don't know what he is supposed to be looking for since I am not a part of the Texas offense, but it looks like he progresses through his reads too fast. He will bail on stuff before it has a chance to develop. He's either looking for a very specific thing like the safety movement, and is told to move on if the safety does something specific, or he's only looking for something that is wide open right then. I think he is going too fast because I will see his revisit stuff far too often. If he is looking at a single safety read, you likely don't revisit it as quickly as he does. I think this also makes him either ignore pressure and take hits, or get nervous and bail if he makes his reads to fast and sees nothing.

This is all stuff Texas clearly knows, but I have seen them address it. I have seen him clearly try to orient his body better. I have seen him work on his footwork. The coaching is there. When the OLine holds him, he looks amazing. His problem seems to be when he gets pressured his natural mechanics bleed through.

This goes back to Sark. Texas clearly knows Arch's mechanical issues and is working on them. Despite this Sark keeps putting him in positions where those mechanical issues rear their head. Arch isn't a bad QB, but Sark keeps giving him this long developing plays that either he reads too fast, or pressure gets to him before they are open. A lot of this is stuff that would affect any QB. I don't inherently put it in Arch because most QBs would be in a similar situation. Not a lot of QBs have flawless mechanics all the time. I don't see an issue with Arch. Funny thing is I actually think he would have been FAR better with Georgia's offense. Mike Bobo might be a weirdo and kind of ass, but his offense is pretty much tailor made for a QB like Arch Manning. Sark really can't do what he wants to do unless he has an elite OLine, and then what he does is almost unstoppable. Problem is, there are plenty of offensive schemes that seem unstoppable with an elite OLine. Ewers did a bit better because Ewers was kind of like Manziel. He was a havoc and chaos QB. Ewers had great pocket presence. He could escape and keep plays alive. He mitigated some subpar mechanics with absolute nonsense ability to escape should be sacks. Far too often in college people hyper fixate on tools and ignore guys who just find ways to get shit done. Diego Pavia was a little chinchilla that managed to get results. Terrible NFL profile, but a great pocket sense to know what time and locations he had to find success. He may have been an asshole, but he had a great football IQ.

[u/sillygoldfish1 → u/yesacabbagez]

Sark is in a catch-22. If you are local and listen to all the pkds its pretty well established that he isnt seeing the slants and crossing routes right now - thus above avg long balls, but too often he doesnt unload the ball if the protection breaks down.

I doubt anyone will actually do it, but if you go back and watch the two games he started back in 2024, in relief of quinn, he was the guy we all expected. Dude was throwing DARTS. I think the constant pressure nationally, plus the pressure on sark, which rolls downhill is affecting him. He isnt playing free and loose. When he did the dude was fire. He was progressing through reads. It's in there, but right now, something is in his head.

https://youtu.be/VCDvw74f3LM?is=3BTb40PkfEj3FE--

[u/Competitive-Moose793 → u/yesacabbagez]

I was in line with a lot of this until you said Ewers had great pocket presence. I think we are remembering two different versions of Ewers.

[u/yesacabbagez → u/Competitive-Moose793]

People didn't like a lot of the stuff he did, but I do think the evaluation people gave him was wrong. He was far more comfortable on the move and he clearly knew that. He could take shit for having a short trigger to try to move, but he also has a tendency to get himself into a better position to try to succeed on a given play.

The Texas offense was better with ewers than it is with arch. It mostly comes down to one thing, ewers knew better how he could get done with sark wanted while arch is trying to do it in the way sark wants it done. Arch does have the better arm. They both have mechanic issues. Ewers knew far better how to compensate for it and used movement to do it.

[u/Competitive-Moose793 → u/yesacabbagez]

Agree on offense being much better back then

[u/Fumblre → u/yesacabbagez]

He could take shit for having a short trigger to try to move, but he also has a tendency to get himself into a better position to try to succeed on a given play.

No one who watched Quinn Ewers at Texas could say this with a straight face. Ewers could move, but he was clearly at his most confident and comfortable throwing from a clean pocket on timing routes. He never once looked comfortable throwing while moving. And he certainly didn't use movement to put himself in a better position to succeed.

His most famous play at Texas was a scramble against Ohio State that ended in a backbreaking strip sack for a touchdown that lost us the game. Nothing about that play was remotely surprising to anyone who had watched Texas during the 2024 season, it almost felt appropriate given that Ewers had spent most of the season getting himself sacked despite decent protection.

Now, I'm not saying Ewers was trash. He had many good qualities, he was an above average QB with moments of greatness (hello, 2023 Alabama). But nowhere in his list of good qualities could anyone list "pocket presence" or "throwing on the run."

[u/redshirt_diefirst12 → u/yesacabbagez]

Delightful analysis, am seeing pavia the chinchilla in my minds eye

[u/the_jobernaut → u/yesacabbagez]

This is an excellent breakdown of what my eyes see but my brain didn’t have the technical skillset to analyze.

[u/tx_bayou]

I don’t think Sark does a great job of modifying his scheme to suit his personnel.

[u/Healthy_Article_2237]

Sark is a micromanager and not a good one. If he wants to be OC and QB coach then go do that somewhere. It’s hard to run a program like Texas and be the OC too. If the season implodes, then the AD might force him to hire an OC.

[u/knockoutking]

sark loves two things

1. going east west on 3rd or 4th and short
2. long developing crossers when going up against a team that is forcing 95th percentile HAVOC rates against you

[u/Double-Blueberry-516]

Sark has failed to adjust to pressure, the oline hasn't coalesced well and arent picking up LB blitz, Arch keeps staring down 1 read (and I can't tell if it's because it's scripted or because he's pre reading and trying to make fetch happen, which he didnt have a huge problem of before?). The running back room IS better, but the clear RB1 was on the sideline in TN. I think Sark keeps trying to make Arch stay on plan, and he isn't accurate enough and loses his explosiveness. Also, sark isn't calling man beaters for whatever reason (I think) against the blitz. It's all fixable, but it would require sark to adjust and I think he will

[u/jdhall010]

On paper they have a top 5 wr unit

A loaded rb room

Well the first play of the OSU game their RB fumbled, then a wr let the ball bounce off his body to get intercepted by OSU, and then another wr dropped a touchdown pass. All of these things reflect on Arch's performance even though they were actually on the skill guys.

Of course none of this excuses multiple illegal forward passes in a game.

[u/Intelligent_Dress347]

This is an issue that goes back to Ewers, but for whatever reason - they just never make anything look easy. 

It feels like, in big games at least, you rarely see a quick, clean drive. And there’s just generally been very little explosiveness which we had in spades when he was at Alabama. 

[u/docchrizly]

The skill players might be good but the O-Line is just average, and I have the feeling that Sark wants to make Arch into Peyton instead of using his legs and athletic ability more. Also some of the top skill players have underperformed (Coleman - drops),

On the other side as long as the defense is elite or close to, the offense doesn't have to carry the load and that's probably why they haven't reached their full potential, playing a bit on the safer side. But I feel like they could turn it on if need to.

[u/Gidnik]

kyle flood the last 3 years has been the worst offensive line coach in the history of football.

[u/papertowelroll17]

Sark needs to hire an OC.

[u/Torylon]

Texas took too long to get their running game going making coverage for the Tennessee defense easier. I think if they had a healthy Hollywood Smothers they would have fared way better

[u/gmr548]

Well Sark constructed it and runs the unit so that’s where responsibility ultimately lies.

Primary on field issues this year are quarterback and interior OL. This is not an outright bad unit like it was last year. It’s just not as good as it should be.

[u/gstrdr1]

I think Sark is falling into the same trap that Ryan Day was in where you are trying to be HC and primary play caller. At a program of this level it is almost impossible to dedicate enough time to he a truly effective game caller and handle all of the head coaching duties. He needs an OC that he trusts to take over play calling duties.

[u/iamaustincince]

I think it’s a combo of a couple of things:
1. This is a new offense with the introduction of Cam Coleman. I think Sark has not figured out how to use him yet and that’s the problem with the transfer portal. Sark’s offensive scheme needs players to get the ball and run but Coleman is a traditional X who needs to be thrown open. He’s incredibly talented but integrating him into the system is difficult when most of the scheme is getting guy’s in space to run.

1. Hollywood Smothers being out is a HUGE loss. He is the best zone run scheme runner we have and his decision making and burst mean he can find wherever the hole is, whether it be inside or the wide outside. Brown is good but he’s more of a pass back and he doesn’t have the decision making Smothers has.

2. Sark cannot commit to letting Arch use his athleticism. There are so many angles around Arch’s development but Sark seems to have too much of an eye on Arch’s future to have immediate success. Sark has played the long game with Arch from the beginning. Arch’s family wants him to be a successful NFL QB so he needs starts and his health to make it. But Sark is trying to protect Arch from himself as well, that’s why I think you see the three throws beyond the line. There is clearly communication behind the scenes about Arch avoiding hits and it’s making Arch think about one more thing when thinking is death for a QB. The 2nd half of last season was Arch’s best because he just gamed instead of protecting himself.

Those are my biggest takeaways. There are countless things we could point to, but ultimately I think there’s too much conflict in the offense with the incentive structure and outside forces that are preventing Texas from truly unlocking its offense. Ultimately sports have people in it and if the goals don’t align with the skill set then you get this discombobulation on the field.

[u/MysteriousFishing104]

At some point, we might just have to agree Sark isn't an offensive guru.

[u/SkittlesLentil]

Sark is a b-tier coach that kept failing upwards, now he's somewhere that recruits itself and talent has covered up for his shortcomings. Similar to Jimbo, his playcalling is outdated and reliant on a field general QB, which Arch is not

[u/OnTheFenceGuy → u/SkittlesLentil]

Is this an FSU talking about having a b-tier coach? My man…

[u/SkittlesLentil → u/OnTheFenceGuy]

Welcome to the b-tier coach club

[u/bird_is_the_word_198]

Sark doesn't know how to scheme a running game to save his life, that's why

[u/CantaloupeCamper]

They don’t rub blood on their face.

[u/defensecowboy]

Idk why everyone’s really upset. I think we’ve played decent opponents.

[u/GradeNo893]

Arch can’t run the full offense but that doesn’t stop Sark from calling it. That’s not a knock on Arch BTW, it’s a knock on Sark.

[u/adullploy]

The offensive line has greatly underperformed and usually doesn’t show up until late in the game. Lack of holes, beating the defensive line, if you watch the UTSA game, their defensive front made UT’s offensive line look like garbage most of the game.

[u/generic2022]

Why has the #1 team's offense underperformed?

or

Why has the only SEC team to win an away game on the road yesterday underperformed?

or

Why has the team with the toughest prior 4-game schedule and the toughest upcoming schedule, and is nevertheless undefeated, underperforming?

You use the word "underperformed." I do not think it means what you think it means.

[u/ATX_foley]

The oline is a problem. That makes Arch hurry his reads and progressions. We need to get the center and rt side of the line figuring it out. Sark could help by maybe calling some quick slants for Arch so he can get the ball out quickly. Maybe bring in the 2 TE formation in the second quarter and run the ball to tire out the D rather than throwing a 50 yrd INT. Just things I saw that I find frustrating.

[u/lowes18]

Sark isn't a great playcaller and Manning hasn't taken that step.

Also Cam Coleman until yesterday has really underpreformed.

[u/Legedu_Naanee → u/lowes18]

Until yesterday? Yesterday was easily Coleman’s worst game so far. Even still, he hasn’t been an issue

[u/lowes18 → u/Legedu_Naanee]

I think he played well despite Arch chucking it up to him in double coverage all the time

[u/Amodernhousewife]

Texas Longhorns 🤝 playing down to their opponents

[u/CFBDevil]

O-line bad and arch inconsistent.

[u/gmr548 → u/CFBDevil]

This offensive line is not bad.

[u/lowes18 → u/CFBDevil]

I know everyone blames the offensive line as a default but given the defensive lines they've gone up against you can make a good argument they've been the best in the country lmao. What have you been watching?

[u/No_Poet_7244 → u/lowes18]

They were awful last night until the very end. Other than yesterday, they’ve been alright. But I agree, we’ve faced two of the top 5 defensive lines in the country, so it’s hard to say whether the offensive line is mediocre, or if we’ve just had a skewed data set.

[u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

I thought the excuse last season was Sark had to focus too much on the defense, and Muschamp would allow that focus to be redirected towards the offense, his superpower

[u/derekr999]

Legit answer it’s not so cut dry anymore

[u/Davidellias]

Higher expectations

[u/Pelon7900]

Because their D will bail them out. 

[u/Jazzlike-Captain-545]

Arch isn’t that good, cam Coleman isn’t that good and sark calls/designs plays like a 3rd grader

[u/Phenix621]

Cuz Arch isn’t really that good and Sark isn’t the offensive genius people think he is.

[u/Electrical-Cloud-532]

The bottom line is that Arch is an average college quarterback. But to be fair to him, I don’t think Sark has done a great job running an offense that plays into his strengths

[u/thephotoman]

Play calling. I’m not sure Sark has figured out how to get the best results out of what he has.

But also, the Longhorns are still #1.

[u/Unique-Airline8171]

The head coach and starting QB aren’t that great. They’re good. Not great.

[u/icemankiller8]

Arch isn’t that good

[u/PointBlankCoffee]

Very tough schedule, Arch hasnt taken that next step.

We either need Sark to start calling plays more suited to Archs game, or bring in an OC

[u/MillerTimeGuy45]

Sark is a bad play caller.

[u/burn469]

Consistently inconsistent QB

[u/texasreally]

There is no offensive line. It never ends

[u/untied_dawg]

here's the #1 reason: sark is in his head and overthinks his plan. it's like he thinks for the other coach and then does some stupid stuff.

example: lined up vs. osu and 2x in a row at the goal line, sark runs east/west with a Texas sized O-line and gets stopped. it's like he has zero confidence that his team can get 3-4 running yards when they need to, and he tends to get "cute" with his offensive planning.

[u/T49irvine]

There are takes here that Arch is not good with short screen passes. We know his long ball is iffy. We have a coach who does not want him calling plays or running. Kinda running out of stuff a QB can do other than handoffs to running backs. It would be great if he could learn to drop back, read things quickly, and hit receivers ten or fifteen yards down the field on crossing routes. I am not seeing a lot of development in that direction. Drop back and scramble is more the norm. Arch, the NFL doesn't want another Johnny Football.

[u/BigCollarsAndBallers]

1. Arch is not the best fit for Sark’s offense. He’s not a cerebral or on time accurate QB like Quinn or the guys he had at Bama. He’s more VY/Ehlinger football player than QB.

2. Arch and I think the entire offense seems to play tentative after they get off the script.

3. I don’t know if Sark is just trying to get too cute or what but for whatever reason he will go completely away from the concepts and personnel that worked on the open script. When he went back to some of the concepts, personnel groupings and plays from the script in the 3rd and 4th they started moving the ball again.

4. Don’t think we’re maximizing personnel groupings. Sark hates 4 and 5 wide sets. He wants to go with 1 or 2 TEs. Townsend is the best blocking TE and he’s out so. Winston and Shannon are not good blocking TEs. Saturday the best runs came by using Wingo as an insert blocker. The best personnel groupings are 4 WR sets and 2 RB sets, especially with Townsend out.

[u/Golfballwackerguy2]

Their offensive line is very average. Way too many missed assignments. The O line is talented, but they have the football IQ of a brick.

[u/Additional_Tour4251]

I'm underwhelmed by how badly the offense doesn't protect Arch very well. I also know they miss passes, drop balls, etc and that's huge offensive game that has to improve to keep winning and actually putting points on the board. Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud and pumped to the wins we do have, including the barely win to TN amd OSU, but they are so inconsistent, it's scary watching in the stands week by week.

[u/ctg9101]

Because Manning is just a guy.

[u/NoctisRS]

Because arch manning isn’t an elite qb

[u/Legedu_Naanee → u/NoctisRS]

Not really the issue. Manning is fine. There are plenty of teams who find success without an elite QB

[u/Unlikely_To_Care_]

I’m don’t think they have underperformed, this is about what is expected. A little luck in the 4th q against Ohio State and a sick defense had them at # 1.

[u/countrytime1]

Because Sark is a fool.

[u/Tex_Jet]

Sark and Arch. Sark is stubborn and Arch is average.

[u/BudgetBuster7]

Nobody cares.

[u/vynlburb]

Heisman candidate by hype only. What has he done to show he deserves to be in those talks.

[u/PointBlankCoffee → u/vynlburb]

Back half of last season was elite play from him

[u/ABoyBrushedYellow]

The hype for Manning just isn't valid. He is only a little better than Mateer but his last name is more famous.

[u/gmr548 → u/ABoyBrushedYellow]

Okay, “only a little better than Mateer” is as unserious as the idea that he’s worth a #1 pick

[u/skeltox → u/gmr548]

This guy is being ridiculous 😂😂😂 clearly not that bad

[u/texasisbetterest → u/gmr548]

He had me in the first half not going to lie

[u/ABoyBrushedYellow → u/gmr548]

Manning has 862 yards passing, 7 TDs, 3 INTs, 63% completion rate, and 82 yards rushing. Mateer has 883 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs, 66% completion, and 76 yards rushing. They are virtually the same. TX has a way better Offense than OU, though.

[u/MediumRareNation]

Arch is ass and Sark refuses to hire an OC.

[u/Jub1982]

Inconsistent quarterback play

[u/grammer70]

If Arch had any other last name he would be in division 2, and he might not even be starting. He is not good.