Texas fans can kvetch and moan on social media about quarterback Quinn Ewers all they want. These Longhorns will line up behind him any day of the week.

Grumbling about the Texas quarterback play is almost a rite of passage around here. Whatever you do, it’s never good enough. Just ask Vince, both McCoys, Major and Sam. It's never changed and never will.

No, deputy, the Horns do not need to call for backup.

“If I’ve learned one thing from Quinn Ewers is never fold under pressure,” safety Michael Taaffe said.

It’s complicated this season because Texas fans have seen what Ewers’ backup can do. Arch Manning, the projected starter in 2025, tore it up in 2 1/2 games subbing for the injured Ewers in September. But Manning was just doing his job — as the backup.

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The quarterback that led Texas to last season’s Big 12 title and has the third-ranked Horns tied for first place in the SEC suddenly isn’t everyone’s fan favorite? OK, his deep balls may be off target. His pocket presence and mobility may be lacking. Leave the nitpicking to the NFL scouts and look at the big picture.

Does Ewers himself feel appreciated by the Texas fan base?

“Do I feel appreciated? Yeah, I think so,” Ewers said Monday. “They’re passionate for sure. But yeah, I feel good about it.”

“I mean, we’re 9-1. I’m pretty excited about that,” Ewers said Monday.

Steve Sarkisian, Quinn Ewers’ close relationship pays off when Texas football needed it most to control playoff destiny

Ewers runs one of his favorite plays to Matthew Golden for 1-yard score, then gets fourth-down conversion

Ewers looked relaxed and upbeat during his abbreviated session with reporters on Monday. It’s the first time he has spoken on a Monday since the Georgia game. Normally, the Texas quarterback is made available every Monday all season long no matter the wins or the losses.

Saturday against Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) is senior night. Asked if it will be his last home game, Ewers said, “Who knows? I'm just trying to win, trying to win this week.”

His coach wasn’t any more helpful. “No idea,” Steve Sarkisian said.

The same quarterback some fans are complaining about ranks fourth in the SEC in yards per game (237.3) and third in quarterback rating (156.17).

It’s true that Ewers’ overall grades have dipped from last season, as judged by Pro Football Focus. He’s completed only nine of 28 passes thrown more than 20 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. In fact, 61% of Ewers’ total yardage for the season (1,898) has come on throws nine yards or less.

Ewers excels by distributing the ball to his playmakers and letting them go make plays.

Sarkisian had some advice for fans who want to see more deep balls. After the Vanderbilt game, he said, “Tell them to move up, and then we'll throw it over.”

Arkansas used three safeties spread across the field to discourage Ewers from throwing it up for grabs. Ewers did throw a 20-yard touchdown to a wide-open Matthew Golden after faking a screen pass first. The safety bit on the fake, allowing Golden to race into the end zone.

Ewers’ second touchdown pass to Golden was more about pin-point accuracy. Ewers rolled to his right and threw a perfect strike to Golden, who had both of his arms stretched out.

“That’s probably one of my favorite plays in the red zone,” Golden said Monday. “It’s a one-shot, one-kill play. Quinn put it in the right position for me, and then I just made the play.

“Front pylon, and nobody else can get it but me.”

Still, Ewers finished the day with only 176 passing yards. Other defensive coaches will have to judge the effectiveness of that three-safety look against other possibilities.

“At this point, I think we’ve seen it a lot, and we’re getting a whole lot more comfortable with it than we were two or so years ago,” Ewers said. “We’re finding ways to exploit it. And I think if it’s bounced up on us again, I think we'll be more than ready.”

What’s the best way to combat that defensive look? “Obviously you have to be able to establish the run game,” Ewers said.

Those griping have to understand one unescapable fact: Ewers will remain the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. But he gets it. Ewers wants to see more deep balls, too.

“It’s always tough whenever they're not hitting, for sure,” he said. “But trying to keep working on it.”