Arch Manning Wasn’t Needed Against Vanderbilt, But Quinn Ewers Is Making Coach Sarkisian Think Twice | Wallace

NASHVILLE -  This game went exactly how folks at Vanderbilt expected it, while Texas personnel are just happy to get out of Nashville with the win. There's also a situation that continues to bubble around the Longhorns, and it has to do with this offense becoming stagnant at the worst possible time. 

The Commodores hanging around for the entire ballgame, should be the story that comes from this contest, but there are some people in Texas that are worried about whether this team can compete for a title, given the second-half offensive slump, scoring just six points. 

And I'll be honest, I can't blame those Longhorn fans who are worried at the moment, coming off the 27-24 win against Vanderbilt. Sure, the Texas defense held strong, but if the Longhorns are going to compete for a title, they have to figure out how to get this offense moving. 

After completing his first seventeen passes, it felt like Ewers backed down in the pocket, and was hesitant leading the offense. This felt like Steve Sarkisian making this offense a little simpler, not needing to take big risks in the second half, hence the two field goals. 

The first half netted them a 14-10 lead, with Quinn Ewers throwing two touchdown passes, both of which were beautiful. 

But there seemed to be a massive problem with consistency in the second half for Ewers and the Texas offense, which Vanderbilt used to its advantage to climb back into this game. 

The question is, will it come a time when Arch Manning is needed once again? The Longhorns scored just six points in the second half, while also punting, and Quinn Ewers threw an interception on two other drives, even though he can't helped some unfortunate tip-balls.

There was never a time during this game in which I felt comfortable that head coach Steve Sarkisian was going to leave Nashville with the win, until Texas recovered the onside kick as time ticked-off in the fourth quarter. 

Texas QB Arch Manning postgame Via: Trey Wallace

Vanderbilt Is On Its Way, And Tonight Was More Proof Of That

There were moments in this game where Vanderbilt found itself in situations where they should've capitalized off Texas mistakes. But we also learned that this Commodore team led by Clark Lea is no longer satisfied with just playing an opposing team close, hence the heartbreak following the game. 

In three games against Missouri, Alabama and Texas, the Dores lost in double-overtime, won in regulation and lost in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. 

"I’ve got a disappointed team. My team expected to win that game," Clark Lea said postgame. "There’s a lot to learn and things we can apply forward."

Vanderbilt is no longer a team you can just overlook. 

Quarterback Diego Pavia spoke postgame about needing to get better, starting tomorrow. You could see the frustration in his eyes, as he discussed the tip-ball interception that he said was one of those ‘shit happens’ moments in a game. But gone are the days when Vanderbilt is some pushover, and those five wins heading into tonight were certainly no fluke, especially that Alabama game. 

Sure, they didn’t light-up the boxscore, but they found a way to have a chance to recover an onside kick in the final minute of the game, and that's all you can ask for. 

"We're not interested in coming up just short," Clark Lea said after the loss. 

Turst me, Clark Lea, nobody is overlooking Vanderbilt any longer. This is a team that should win seven games, with trips tp Auburn and LSU remaining, while the Dores will host South Carolina and Tennessee. 

I can see this team finishing 7-5, and continuing to build a program that was once a pushover in these types of games. 

Where Does Coach Steve Sarkisian Go From Here, After The Bye-Week? 

I can already tell you that it will be Quinn Ewers starting for Texas against the Florida Gators in two weeks, but that doesn't mean he will finish the season with that honor. The point is the Longhorns cannot afford to have games like this that produced six points in the second half on five possessions. 

And trust me, Vanderbilt is a tough matchup, as this team has better coaches, has much better players and a leader in quarterback Diego Pavia. But that doesn’t mean the Longhorns can be overly satisfied with how they played in the second half. 

Texas AD Chris Del Conte walks off the field after the win over Vanderbilt. (Trey Wallace)

Sure, Quinn Ewers finished the game with 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. But he also had two costly interceptions that led to Vanderbilt touchdowns. This Texas team cannot win a title with an offense that goes conservative in the second half, and all of that is not on Quinn Ewers. 

While Texas players made their way over to the visiting section that took up a massive chunk of the stadium, there was more relief than celebration. 

As athletic director Chris Del Conte was walking off the field as the final whistle blew, he shrugged his head, almost showing relief that they got out of Nashville unscathed. And he should feel very lucky, because this Vanderbilt team left way too many points on the field. 

The Longhorns have a problem right now, and it revolves around the offense actually being consistent enough to contend for a title. As they head home to Texas for a week off, there are more questions than answers for Steve Sarkisian. 

And it has everything to do with this offense moving forward.