A week after putting up 27 total points against UTEP, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns eclipsed that mark on the final drive of the first quarter on Arch Manning’s second rushing touchdown of the game. The Sam Houston State Bearkats were clearly outmatched from the game’s opening kick, but in a week where Texas needed a get-right game, they got precisely that from the offense.
The Arch Manning we expected still exists:
The preseason hype surrounding Arch Manning was clearly a bit overblown, but the Arch who
operated against Sam Houston State is a lot closer to preseason expectations. Manning left the game midway through the third quarter after completing 86 percent of his passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns, with an additional two scores on the ground. Emblematic of what could be his increased confidence was the borderline taunt after a rushing touchdown, followed by hyping up himself and his teammates on the sidelines.
But, perhaps most importantly, it was how he was able to push the ball downfield and connect with the playmakers that fans expected to break out earlier in the season. Manning connected with Ryan Wingo on four of six targets for 93 yards and two scores, with just seven yards coming after the catch. DeAndre Moore, Jr. led the team in receptions, hauling in all five of his targets for 79 yards before leaving the game.
Penalties still need to be cleaned up on the line
It wasn’t as bad as it had been, but after the offensive line racked up the penalties in the first three games, it would have been nice for Texas to have a clean game against Sam Houston State. The defense kept a clean sheet until the second unit was in the game, but the starting offensive line committed four of the nine offensive penalties in the game. Center Connor Robertson, who is stepping in due to injury, was flagged twice on the Longhorns’ opening drive of the game, a holding call that erased a 16-yard gain and a false start to back Texas up to a 2nd and 17. Thankfully, Texas was able to regain the yardage and keep the drive alive.
The pair of tackles was responsible for 15 yards of their own, with a Brandon Baker hold taking a nine-yard gain off the board and a Trevor Goosby false start putting Texas in a 1st and 15. Again, the offense was able to overcome both miscues to come away with points on the drives, but unforced errors continue to appear despite the level of competition.
Texas still needs more from the edges
While preseason All-American Colin Simmons got his first sack of the year, the Texas starters still managed just two sacks and six tackles for loss against the Bearkats. Ultimately, keeping SHSU out of the end zone was a bigger measuring stick for this defense; it would have been good to see them turn in a dominant performance against the Bearkats as they prepare for the gauntlet of SEC play.
The upside of the edges needing to continue improving is that the interior of the line remains an elite unit, as evidenced by the complete lack of a run game from Sam Houston State and the high-level play of linebackers Anthony Hill and Liona Lefau.
