For the second straight season, the Texas Longhorns fell short in the College Football Playoff semifinals. They lost 14-28 to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the high-stakes battle, with coach Steve Sarkisian’s play-calling as well as quarterback Quinn Ewers failing to rise to the occasion. Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson ripped into the QB, who struggled to deliver in the game’s most critical moments.
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Sharpe said he didn’t understand the hype around Ewers, and called him “average”.
“He is missing throws. The guy runs like a square out and he oversails it. That’s a routine throw. If you can’t make that throw with no pressure, what throw can you make? I just look at him and he’s average,” said Sharpe.
Ocho added that most quarterbacks are average, and those who stand out clearly show it on their game tape. He went on to say that even the quarterbacks from Notre Dame and Penn State lack anything that sets them apart. According to Chad, if teams decide to draft these QBs, they’ll need to surround them with a strong supporting cast to succeed.
Ewers completed 23 of his 39 pass attempts for 283 yards and two touchdowns and made costly mistakes throughout the game. He turned the ball over twice — throwing an interception, and a fumble which was recovered by his former teammate Jack Sawyer for an 82-yard touchdown.
The critical fumble occurred late in the fourth quarter, with the Longhorns trailing Ohio State by seven points in the red zone. That effectively sealed Texas’ fate.
Ewers appeared uncomfortable for most of the game, frequently running into defenders and taking unnecessary sacks. His lack of pocket presence, mobility and the absence of a deep ball threat were evident.
He repeatedly missed open receivers, showing limited shoulder mobility and a lack of velocity in his throws. Many of Ewers’ passes floated, and whenever he tried to add power, the ball often came out wobbly and off-target.
Ewers’ poor performance made everyone wonder whether Sarkisian should have started Arch Manning instead. If this loss leads to the Longhorns giving the QB reins to Manning, that could help them become a stronger team in the long run, especially on big occasions.
Will it be Manning over Ewers for the Longhorns?
The answer seems to be a yes, even though Manning came in for a single play against Ohio State and picked up a first down.
Whenever he has been given opportunities this season, Arch has performed well. He has displayed strong passing skills, ice-cool composure within, and the mobility to escape pressure.
The Longhorns seem poised to hand the reins to Manning as their starting QB. Had he started, he could have possibly provided Sarkisian with more offensive options in the CFP semifinals.
Ewers still has a year of eligibility left. But speculation is growing that he might enter the transfer portal. He is surely not ready for the NFL. So, if he declares for the draft, his chances of being selected in the first two rounds are slim.
As for the Buckeyes, they take on Notre Dame for the Natty on January 20.
