AUSTIN - Steve Sarkisian promised a serious and thorough evaluation of his highly disappointing Texas football team after a second consecutive loss Saturday.
He did not promise changes.
And apparently there may not be any because the sixth-year head coach stated unequivocably that Arch Manning will remain his starting quarterback for the Ole Miss game Saturday night and Sarkisian will continue being the play-caller.
UT MAILBAG:What changes are coming for Longhorns?
Sarkisian did reveal that backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. was getting first-team reps Monday but insisted he has been getting them all season long.
But no more snaps than usual?
"No, not to me," Sarkisian said flatly. "But we'll find out as the week goes on."
Hmmmm. So you're saying there's a chance?
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It's clear the coach doesn't want to add any unnecessary distractions for his team, especially since edge rusher Colin Simmons - the best defensive player in the SEC - appears likely to miss the next two or three games with a bad high ankle sprain.
But there is no greater sense of urgency than now for a Texas team that is somehow inexplicably favored by 3 ½ points over a seventh-ranked Rebels team (5-1, 3-1 SEC) that is one of four conference teams with only one league loss.
Manning owned his missteps Monday. He was more than accountable.
"I told (Sarkisian) I expect myself to play better," Manning said. "I haven't put good film on tape for the last five weeks, and I'm going to be better. I'm going to be better for my teammates. I'm going to be better for myself, and I'm going to be better for my coaches."
The guess here is Sarkisian will have Lacey ready to go Saturday if Manning gets off to a slow start against a lagging Ole Miss defense ranked 108th nationally. If Manning does struggle early, Texas should turn to Lacey even though the sophomore quarterback has completed just seven of eight passes in two mop-up appearances this season.
That's how dire the situation is if the Longhorns (4-2, 1-2 SEC) are to make anything of this year or make plans for the Texas Bowl.
Lacey would give Texas a more athletic quarterback, a change of pace and maybe a spark. Manning runs well, but he doesn't have wiggle and isn't elusive. He has great straightaway speed and is a physical runner, sometimes to a fault.
No one knows why Manning has regressed since last season when he passed for 15 touchdowns and two interceptions over the final eight games, but everyone recognizes that he has.
Sarkisian's play-calling hasn't helped at all because Texas has disdained short, safe passes like the Gators threw all day long, ignored the tight end (just 13 catches) and had critical fourth-down calls against OU and Florida backfire.
"I think there's no doubt about it, Arch can play better for us," Sarkisian said in Monday's press conference. "He's our starter. I need to see a better version of Arch Manning. Like I need to see a better version of a lot of guys on our offensive football team right now."
So does everybody else if Texas expects 100,000-plus fans to return to Royal-Memorial Stadium. To avoid the season flat-lining after just six games, the 19th-ranked Longhorns need some form of consistency from an offense that has scored zero touchdowns in the third quarter of the past five games. It's put up a field goal in that period against UTSA and another against Tennessee. Otherwise, nothing in the third quarter.
That puts added pressure on the Longhorns' vaunted defense, which didn't look all that vaunted against a backup Florida quarterback making his first college start and looking entirely comfortable the entire game. Texas missed a staggering 19 tackles against the Gators.
Now Texas has to contain arguably one of the five best quarterbacks in the country in Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss as well as top running back Kewan Lacy, who has eight career 100-yard games.
The Longhorns might be without running back Hollywood Smothers because of an injury and maybe freshman Derrek Cooper, who was held out of the Florida game because Sarkisian said he wasn't 100% healthy.
That could put even more heat on Manning, who already seems uptight and not relaxed in the pocket.
In his past two games, Manning has completed his normal 63% of his passes but thrown for only 433 yards with four touchdowns but also two interceptions and one fumble, all in the pivotal fourth quarters.
Sarkisian said he had a conversation with Manning on Sunday as normal, and it went well.
"I had a good meeting with Arch yesterday," he said. "He's got a chip on his shoulder, and I appreciated it. I liked it."
Manning doubled down on that. Of course, who in college football would have a bigger one?
"It's hard not to have a chip on my shoulder right now," he said. "I'll tell you that. I think I play better with it. I feel like I've been a little too hesitant, to be quite honest."
Manning appears resolute. He's eager to play closer to his potential and not let his team down. He's well aware that Texas has gone from No. 1 in the country to 11th in the SEC standings.
"Losing is never fun, and not playing well isn't fun," Manning said. "But I think this team's built for adversity. I'm built for adversity, and we're going to respond. I know that. I think we're just starting to let it rip. I'm gonna die on the hill of ‘I'm letting it rip.' "
That remains to be seen.
Sarkisian, meanwhile, has the same pressure, if not more than his quarterback as he faces the possibility of missing the College Football Playoff for the second straight year. He struck all the right notes Saturday, admitting the team's shortcomings and showing accountability.
On Monday, he sure didn't offer much concrete solutions.
As for that evaluation of everything, is it realistic to expect different results?
"Well, I hope it's realistic," Sarkisian said. "That's our job, right?"
For now.
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Steve Sarkisian is sticking by Arch Manning, who vows to be better as pressure heats up for Texas.