Khadrice Rollins
krollins@ajc.com
Through four games, Conner Manning has experienced a lot.
Georgia State's quarterback has adapted to life without one of his top targets as wide receiver Penny Hart was forced to miss time due to injury and is now out for the season. The first year starter has gone into hostile territory when the Panthers came up just short of a huge upset in a 23-17 loss to No. 11 Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) at the daunted Camp Randall Stadium. Manning has had a tough conference game when last week he went 19-of-44 with four interceptions in GSU's 17-3 loss at Appalachian State (3-2, 1-0 Sun Belt).
But one thing Manning is yet to experience is a win as the Panthers’ starting quarterback.
After three straight road games, GSU (0-4, 0-1) returns home for a contest with Texas State (2-2). As Manning is looking to bounce back from a rough day in Boone, North Carolina and start to establish some rhythm for the season, he said he needs to increase his consistency.
“I expect to make every throw and make every read,” he said. “Last weekend wasn’t the best performance, but I learned from it and I’m ready for Texas State.”
Last week was a bit of a shock considering the Panthers were coming off a bye, and their last time on the field Manning completed 20-of-29 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers against the Badgers. The dip in production from Wisconsin to Appalachian State certainly falls on Manning to some extent, but other players are also taking responsibility for the drop off.
“A lot of that was on me,” wide receiver Robert Davis said. “A lot of it looks like it was on Conner, but a lot of those were some routes I could have ran better. And a lot of his passes come to me, and I wasn’t there for him.”
Along with Davis, guys like tight end Keith Rucker and Glenn Smith, who rank second and third on the team in receptions respectively, will be needed to help Manning get into a groove early.
Offensive coordinator Luke Huard said Manning needs to work on his accuracy to allow his receivers to make plays after they get the ball. He added that Manning’s eye movement will be critical if he wants have a performance more like the one against the Badgers instead of the Mountaineers.
“If you look at the Wisconsin game, he threw the ball real accurately, and put the ball in a position where our guys could catch and run after the catch,” Huard said. “Not all big plays are generated just from dropping back and throwing a go.”
If Manning is going to help turn around GSU’s season, Saturday provides a great opportunity. The Bobcats have already surrendered at least 42 points three times this season and are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 65 percent of their passes for almost 300 yards per game.
Manning, who is replacing last year’s Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete of the Year, Nick Arbuckle, will need to step up if he is going to improve an offense that is last in the conference in yards per game and points.
Despite being in a place he has never been in before — quarterbacking an 0-4 team — he said he is not letting the pressure to win, or the pressure of replacing an all-conference player, get to him.
“We’re a really good group,” Manning said. “We just got to go out there and perform on Saturdays.”
