Based on the way last year’s game played out between Ohio State and Texas, one would think the Buckeyes don’t have much to worry about as it pertains to the challenge that the Longhorns’ senior quarterback Arch Manning provides.
The nephew of NFL greats Eli and Peyton Manning struggled mightily in a 14-7 loss to the Buckeyes, completing just 17 of 30 passes for 170 yards, a touchdown and an interception. However, after struggling to find a rhythm against the Buckeyes, Manning showed why many view him as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick.
The former five-star recruit finished the year with 3,163 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also added 399 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
“It’s going to be an awesome game,” senior linebacker Christian Alliegro said. “I think (Manning) is super athletic. He’s a really good player, so we’re going to have to do a really good job of containing him, keeping him in the pocket.”
Perhaps because his uncles posed very little rushing threat throughout their entire playing careers, some may not have been fully aware of the fact that Manning is one of the fastest quarterbacks in the country.
The 6-5 quarterback ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in his team’s season-ending 41-27 win over Michigan last year. His best run was a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that all but ended the Wolverines’ chances of winning.
The Buckeyes are well aware of the threat posed by Manning and may employ a QB spy to try to slow him down.
According to Alliegro, he or sophomore linebacker Riley Pettijohn could be used to spy the Longhorns’ quarterback.
“You definitely need your linemen to kind of contain him and push that pocket and not go past the quarterback,” Alliegro said when asked how to be successful as a spy. “I think that’s one of the biggest things. We can’t run past him or else he’s just going to step up. We have to contain him, keep him in the pocket.”
It isn’t just Manning’s speed that Ohio State’s worried about. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia compared him to former Pittsburgh Steelers legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the way he’s able to break sacks.
“If you go for his legs, he’s just going to run out of that,” Alliegro said of Manning. You kind of have to grab him. Coach Patricia was showing us how they would tackle Big Ben back in the day. It’s one of those things you have to wrap him high, and everybody just has to kind of come and go get him. No diving this week for sure. We can’t do that, or else he’s going to get out of there.”
