State of the Program – Ewers, Manning turning heads in different ways; a look at week 2 of camp
On the latest video episode of On Texas Football’s State of the Program Inside Texas’s Bobby Burton and Eric Nahlin get us caught up on the past week of Longhorns’ preseason camp with a look at the team’s scrimmages on Saturday and Tuesday.
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The duo opened their discussion with the spectacular showings of quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, both of whom have made a bevy of great plays in camp.
“Arch Manning had a good practice but Quinn Ewers had a really good practice as well,” Nahlin said. “Their progress is starting to tell us a little bit about the quarterback situation right now as we head into week 3 of camp.”
Nahlin opined that there has been a focus on Manning because he’s made a lot of “wow” plays of late – long runs, long throws – and he’s just a very natural guy that position.
“You can tell Manning took what he learned in the Spring, sat on at over the last couple of months and came back really ready to hit the ground running,” Nahlin said. “So he looks great. But you know, that’s the future.”
That’s because Ewers has been equally impressive, as his leadership and familiarity with the Texas offense has allowed him to make more plays.
“Ewers is more well-schooled than Arch when it comes to getting through his check downs, and his checks at the lines. He’s just a little bit faster on those aspects that kind of come with more experience. But then of course, he’s got the natural tools as well. You know, he looks really good.
So, you know, everybody’s excited about Arch there’s no doubt there’s a good reason for it. But you know, Arch is looking good but Quinn is looking really good right now as well.”
Burton was quick to point out that “Manning is battling Maalik Murphy for the backup quarterback role but there’s not a fight for the No.1 signal caller right now. That needs to be said.”
“Everybody knows it’s Quinn’s team – there’s no doubt about it,” Nahlin concurred. “Quinn is doing all the right things, all the little things that, you know, maybe he struggled with last year. He’s just a lot more comfortable and has a lot more poise, he has a lot more intention with where he’s gonna go with the ball. Everything’s a little bit quicker with him. So I think he’s gonna have a really strong season.”
The offensive line is expected to be a strength of the team this season with both Burton and Nahlin stating that they believe D.J. Campbell will be the starter at right guard with last year’s starter at the position, Cole Hutson, getting snaps a reserve up and down the line.
“I tend to believe the line as a unit will be better run blockers than pass blockers, at least at the start of the season,” Nahlin said.
Defensive line is also one of the deepest and most talented positions for the Longhorns, and Jaray Bledsoe has been one of the most talked-about players in of the unit.
The duo examines every position on the team so go check out the rest of the video for a lot more information and insight.
