Khadrice Rollins
krollins@ajc.com
Conner Manning has experienced a lot in four games.
Georgia State’s quarterback has adapted to life without one of his top targets as receiver Penny Hart was forced to miss time due to injury and is now out for the season. The first-year starter played well on the road, but the Panthers came up short of a huge upset at No. 12 Wisconsin. Manning then had a tough conference game when he went 19-of-44 with four interceptions in last week’s 17-3 loss at Appalachian State.
But there’s one thing Manning has yet to experience as the Panthers’ starting quarterback.
A victory.
After three straight road games, GSU (0-4, 0-1 Sun Belt) returns home to play Texas State (2-2). As Manning looks to bounce back from that game at Appalachian State and attempt to establish some rhythm, he said he needs to improve his consistency.
“I expect to make every throw and make every read,” Manning said. “Last weekend wasn’t the best performance, but I learned from it and I’m ready for Texas State.”
His performance was a bit of a shock considering the Panthers were coming off a bye, and their last time on the field, Manning was 20-of-29 for 269 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers at Wisconsin. The dip in production from Wisconsin to Appalachian State certainly falls on Manning to some extent, but other players are also taking responsibility.
“A lot of that was on me,” 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 run 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 running back Glenn Smith, who are second and third on the team in receptions, will be needed to help Manning.
Offensive coordinator Luke Huard said Manning needs to work on his accuracy to allow his receivers to make plays after they catch the ball. He added that Manning’s eye movement will be critical if he wants to repeat his performance against the Badgers.
“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 surrendered at least 42 points three times and are allowing quarterbacks to complete 65 percent of their passes for almost 300 yards per game.
Manning, who replaced Nick Arbuckle, last year’s Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete of the Year, will need to improve if he is going to spark an offense that is last in the Sun Belt in yards per game and points.
Despite being in a place he has never been — quarterbacking an 0-4 team — Manning said he will not let the pressure to win, or the pressure of replacing an all-conference player, get to him.
“We’re a really good group,” he said. “We just have to go out there and perform on Saturdays.”
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