Arch Manning’s highly anticipated first college start at Texas did not go as planned. Now, criticism is mounting from Jordan Rodgers – and not for the first time.
The younger brother of NFL star Aaron Rodgers, offered a blunt analysis following the Longhorns’ narrow loss to Ohio State.
“I think we just realized that Arch doesn’t have elite physical traits. He doesn’t have an elite arm. He doesn’t have elite athleticism.”
Those words delivered on ESPN’s Get Up cut sharply against the pre-season hype that declared Manning a generational quarterback candidate.
Indeed, Manning’s debut against Ohio State was underwhelming: he completed 17 of 30 passes for just 170 yards, with one touchdown and a costly interception in a 14-7 defeat.
Manning himself admitted after the game, “Not good enough. That starts with me. I’ve got to play better for us to win.”
Jordan Rodgers breaks down Arch Manning’s struggles
Jordan Rodgers’ assessment went deeper than raw numbers. On ESPN College Football, he dismissed the notion that Ohio State’s defense was solely responsible for the Longhorns quarterback’s rough night.
“It wasn’t the pressure. It wasn’t the blitzes. He [Arch] only blitzed on four of 34 dropbacks for Arch,” Rodgers explained.
Instead, Rodgers suggested that Manning was undone by pace and decision-making under relatively clean conditions.
“Everything was just moving a little too fast for Arch. And that’s why you saw those inaccuracies. Five under throws, three over throws, a lot of opportunities to hit big plays downfield,” he said.
He highlighted how several drives fizzled because of missed chances: “There were a lot of opportunities for Arch to hit big plays.
“But a lot of them wasted away with four failed downs and a critical goal-line stop that stalled a long drive. His eyes were on the wrong read at times, not getting or not being patient enough with it. So, a lot left on the table.”
Overwhelming pressure on young shoulders
The critique paints Manning not as overwhelmed by external pressure but as someone still learning to process the speed and complexity of college defenses.
Despite Rodgers’ skepticism, some analysts still see reasons for optimism. Former NFL quarterback AJ McCarron acknowledged the unbearable weight of Manning’s lineage: “The hype is just set at such a high level to where I don’t know if the kid can ever live up to it.”
Yet McCarron also expressed faith in Manning’s mental toughness: “Kid’s going to be good. He just needs to develop. He’s going to win like his uncles win between the ears.”
Jordan Rodgers’ harsh words add to the chorus of critics demanding rapid improvement. But Manning’s family history, combined with his still-developing skill set, suggests his story is far from written.
The months ahead will reveal whether his Texas debut was a momentary stumble or the first sign of struggles that could follow him all the way to the NFL.
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