Brian Kelly claims Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s struggles are actually Steve Sarkisian’s fault appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Arch Manning has been struggling for Texas. He has thrown five interceptions this year, including three in the last three weeks, with some untimely mistakes that have cost Texas two straight games. As Steve Sarkisian prepares his Texas team to face Ole Miss, there is speculation that Sarkisian could bench Manning.
Now, former Notre Dame and LSU head coach Brian Kelly is speaking about Manning’s struggles, placing the blame not on him, while appearing on College Sports on SiriusXM with Danny Kannell and Roy Philpott.
“I think it’s on the playcaller. I think the play caller takes a lot of the responsibility,” Kelly said. “Look, he’s your quarterback. They’re not going back. I mean, they’re not going to bench him unless there’s a total meltdown. Look, Josh Heupel is doing it at Tennessee, playing great defense, running the football, and playing two freshman, redshirt freshman quarterbacks. So you can’t tell me that you can’t fit this offense to Arch Manning. And maybe there has to be a meeting in the middle there. Coach Sarkisian is an outstanding playcaller; he understands the game. He’s proven, seasoned, but sometimes there has to be that sit-down conversation.”
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Manning has seemed to have taken a step back this year. He threw for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns last year, while throwing seven interceptions. This year, he has thrown for 1,295 yards and 11 scores with five interceptions. That puts him on pace for fewer yards and touchdowns with more interceptions. The big difference may be coming in his protection. Manning was sacked just 25 times last year, while running for 399 yards and ten touchdowns. This year he has been sacked 17 times already while running for just 108 yards and not scoring.
Manning will look to rebound this week, as Ole Miss visits Texas on Saturday at 7:30 pm E.T.
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