Barker vs. Johnson

[FanbaseSucks]

Drew Barker is listed as the starter in the early week depth chart. Sounds to me like Johnson is the popular choice amongst fans. Dont really understand why Stoops wouldn't list him as are starter considering he's been the only bright spot this season, but then again he's good at unpleasantly surprising us.

Who's your pick to start this week?

 

[CatsFanGG24]

They want SC to have to prepare for QBs.

Sounds like DB has been hurt since the USM game - which explains his lack of performance. He isn't good enough to play hurt Johnson showed enough that we can be successful with a few packages, so we will do that.

Johnsons lack of accuracy is concerning, but may keep the playcalling to what we should be doing all along - run heavy, read option, run play clock etc.

 

[JasonS.]

I'd guess we're going to see at least 2 QBs the next few weeks. We need one of these guys still upright after Alabama gets through with us.

 

[JasonS.]

 

[JasonS.]

 

[TotesMcGotes]

Johnsons lack of accuracy is concerning

which plays did you see that concerned you about his accuracy? 17-23 i think, and connected on his sole deep ball. 70+% accuracy.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

This forces Muschamp to prepare for both

 

[CatsFanGG24]

which plays did you see that concerned you about his accuracy? 17-23 i think, and connected on his sole deep ball. 70+% accuracy.

The positioning of his balls - on to Conrad was about 2 feet off line to left and he made the grab, a TD to Conrad was almost end over end on the throw...some of the bubble screens may be a concern as well.

Like I said earlier, I'd roll with him...I think he may be best suited for the team we currently have...but his accuracy is a concern.

 

[3kidsandme]

The positioning of his balls - on to Conrad was about 2 feet off line to left and he made the grab, a TD to Conrad was almost end over end on the throw...some of the bubble screens may be a concern as well.

Like I said earlier, I'd roll with him...I think he may be best suited for the team we currently have...but his accuracy is a concern.

if the oline blocks well stephen Johnson accuracy not an issue. He was 75 percent and made some beauties

 

[JasonS.]

He was 75 percent and made some beauties

Johnson will never match Barker's Beauties.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

if the oline blocks well stephen Johnson accuracy not an issue. He was 75 percent and made some beauties

The OL will help...just based on the few times we have seen him in game situations, his accuracy is a question. If it wasn't, I think he'd have been the starter from the get go.

The play calling was excellent to protect some of those accuracy concerns - and Johnson did hit a couple nice outs as well as the deep post to Badet. If we stay run heavy and get 65% completion from Johnson we can keep the ball moving.

 

[Randy Bob]

Johnson who is very mobile and not a bad passer, why Conrad has not been use more until sat. is strange, just go to show Stoops is behind time in coaching..

 

[Mr Schwump]

If Barker's having MRIs, has had problems since summer, is seeing specialists...he's going to be out for a long time and "Barker vs Johnson" becomes moot.

 

[dallasg23]

SJ has a luxury that drew doesn't. I say play him until he is no longer productive

 

[Johnfarrel]

If Barker was hurt in the first half of the first game that would explain why the offensive tanked in the next 3 halfs. If he's hurt Johnson should start. If not Barker's performance in the first half of the first game game should get him the nod.

 

[tntuk]

They want SC to have to prepare for QBs.

Sounds like DB has been hurt since the USM game - which explains his lack of performance. He isn't good enough to play hurt Johnson showed enough that we can be successful with a few packages, so we will do that.

Johnsons lack of accuracy is concerning, but may keep the playcalling to what we should be doing all along - run heavy, read option, run play clock etc.

Lack of accuracy? He was 17-22 and at least one of those incompletions was caught but the WR didn't get his feet down and was ruled out of bounds.

The long ball he threw was really nice (and accurate) as well.

What does it take to be considered accurate?

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Lack of accuracy? He was 17-22 and at least one of those incompletions was caught but the WR didn't get his feet down and was ruled out of bounds.

The long ball he threw was really nice (and accurate) as well.

What does it take to be considered accurate?

Already answered it once. He had an excellent game, but there were some things you could see if being picky that can present some problems in the future. If he didn't have accuracy problems he would've been the day 1 starter.

As I said earlier, I'd still roll with him as QB1 - run a more run heavy package and slow the pace down. He probably fits better with the current state of our OL.

 

[Larry00]

If Barker was hurt in the first half of the first game that would explain why the offensive tanked in the next 3 halfs. If he's hurt Johnson should start. If not Barker's performance in the first half of the first game game should get him the nod.

If Barker was hurt in the first half of the first game, then that makes me question the decision making of our coaching staff yet again. How many times did they need to see us go 3 and out to figure out something needed to be switched?

 

[LeonThe Camel]

Drew Barker is listed as the starter in the early week depth chart. Sounds to me like Johnson is the popular choice amongst fans. Dont really understand why Stoops wouldn't list him as are starter considering he's been the only bright spot this season, but then again he's good at unpleasantly surprising us.

Who's your pick to start this week?

The most popular player is always the backup QB or PG.

 

[UK90]

Johnsons lack of accuracy is concerning, but may keep the playcalling to what we should be doing all along - run heavy, read option, run play clock etc.

What are you basing this statement on?

He certainly did not have accuracy problems on Saturday, and that's the only real game we have to judge him on. Unless you've been watching practices, I'm not sure how you could possibly know that.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

I think a two QB system is the way to go until further notice.

SJ showed enough to warrant playing time.

I don't know that either one has shown that they are full time starter and face of the program material, but I think both can play well enough.

Sometimes Barker's skill set is going to be the ticket, but sometimes a change of pace is going to be needed.

I've never bought into the the philosophy of 1 QB being the way to go for all programs. If you have two guys that can play, then play them.

Especially at a program like UK where you are out gunned 9 games a year and your qb is getting roughed up.

DB doesn't need to shoulder the load, he could use a break.

If he's hurt, play SJ more. If he's struggling, sit him for a series or two, maybe the rest of the game if SJ is playing well.

 

[tntuk]

Already answered it once. He had an excellent game, but there were some things you could see if being picky that can present some problems in the future. If he didn't have accuracy problems he would've been the day 1 starter.

As I said earlier, I'd still roll with him as QB1 - run a more run heavy package and slow the pace down. He probably fits better with the current state of our OL.

You answered it once but repeated the same thing.

He was accurate when it mattered - game time.

Of course I'd like to see if that will continue this weekend. Time will tell.

 

[fuzz77]

If Barker was hurt in the first half of the first game, then that makes me question the decision making of our coaching staff yet again. How many times did they need to see us go 3 and out to figure out something needed to be switched?

I have rarely seen in any of our games that the problems were stemming from the QB position. Our lines...both O and D have been dominated for the most part. And that is very concerning. If the QB is running for their life and getting hit nearly every down it is going to be difficult for anyone to ever be successful.

 

[fuzz77]

I've never bought into the the philosophy of 1 QB being the way to go for all programs. If you have two guys that can play, then play them.

Rare is the occasion where 2 QBs works well over the long term. If it did, we'd see it more often.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Barker needs to be healthy. His ceiling is much higher than Johnson. Johnson performed great in a pinch, against low level competition. He looked really overmatched against UF. and Im afraid itll be the same vs any real competition.

Really hope Im wrong and he blows us all away going forward. Because Drew's injury doesnt sound like its getting better any time soon.

 

[UK90]

Barker needs to be healthy. His ceiling is much higher than Johnson.

What evidence are you basing this claim upon? If Barker supposedly has a "much higher" ceiling--as you claim--it certainly has not been evident in what has transpired on the field.

He looked really overmatched against UF.
.

Umm, did you not watch Barker against Florida? Barker looked more overmatched in that game than Johnson. Against the Gators, Barker completed only 2 of 10 passes, for a preposterously low TEN total yards, and threw three interceptions. Johnson came in and went 1 for 3 for 45 passing yards with no turnovers. In just one pass he gained more than four times Barker's entire game yardage total. Johnson's QB rating in the game was 6.0, whereas Barker's was a comically awful 0.2.

Yet you somehow think the Florida game helps demonstrate why Barker should still start over Johnson?

 

[megablue]

I thought Johnson looked better than Barker in the Blue & White game.
He went against the #1 defense and they scored all of his series, except one.
He also led the first team to a score.

 

[wildcats4real]

stephen j was geting the edge with Nm state wont happen in SEC

 

[CatsFanGG24]

You answered it once but repeated the same thing.

He was accurate when it mattered - game time.

Of course I'd like to see if that will continue this weekend. Time will tell.

A completion=/=accuracy necessarily. There are locations and spots the ball needs to be on certain plays - a few great catches don't mean the throw was accurate. Johnson made as many great ones as he did questionable ones, so like I have been saying I'd go w/him...but accuracy is and has been a question since his 6-13 performance in the spring game.

I do think he is capable of leading the offense effectively.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

What evidence are you basing this claim upon? If Barker supposedly has a "much higher" ceiling--as you claim--it certainly has not been evident in what has transpired on the field.



Umm, did you not watch Barker against Florida? Barker looked more overmatched in that game than Johnson. Against the Gators, Barker completed only 2 of 10 passes, for a preposterously low TEN total yards, and threw three interceptions. Johnson came in and went 1 for 3 for 45 passing yards with no turnovers. In just one pass he gained more than four times Barker's entire game yardage total. Johnson's QB rating in the game was 6.0, whereas Barker's was a comically awful 0.2.

Yet you somehow think the Florida game helps demonstrate why Barker should still start over Johnson?

Neither looked good vs Florida. Johnson on his best day couldn't look as good as Barker did against USM. So barker has the higher ceiling.

Johnson may well be more consistent. But we need Barker to excel to be a real threat to win some games.

 

[carolinacat]

I believe Barker is injured vs. being "hurt." MRI's and Stoops comments about how this is a "chronic" issue isn't very comforting. The depth chart stuff is posturing to keep SC guessing. Expect Johnson to get every snap (hopefully)...which brings us to "who is our backup QB?"

 

[UK90]

Johnson on his best day couldn't look as good as Barker did against USM. So barker has the higher ceiling.
.

This reasoning is utter nonsense, and you have nothing to base it on other than speculation. You have no idea what Johnson's "best day" is. And I dare say Johnson has arguably ALREADY looked better than Barker against USM in the one and only game he's gotten real playing time.

Thinking Barker should start is a fair opinion. But these reasons posters like you are making up to support that view ("far higher" ceiling, serious accuracy problems, etc.) are just absurd considering you've no real evidence to base it on. You're basically just making up guesses.

The only thing we truly know about Johnson right now is what he did Saturday. And Saturday there was nothing to suggest he had accuracy problems--instead he threw the ball extremely well. And there was nothing indicating he had a lower ceiling than Barker (to the contrary, you could argue he showed a higher ceiling considering he plainly has vastly superior running ability in addition to throwing the ball well).

That said, I acknowledge it was against a crappy NMSU defense, and he may very likely end up sucking against better competition. But right now NMSU is all we have to judge him on, and there was absolutely nothing in that game to support some of these statements being made about him in this thread.

 

[ThePhoenix_rivals211191]

Johnson should start imo. At least he realizes we have a pretty darn good TE and throws him the ball.

 

[UKfan2151]

And at least it seems Johnson is capable of working the middle of the field, something that Towles (and thus far) Barker have struggled to do.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

I don't disagree that Johnson should start. My point is we need the barker that played in the 1st half of usm if we're to reach our potential as a team.

Barker, at his best, can drive the ball down the field in a way Johnson just cant. We need that. Alot of those big rac yards and moving the chains with his legs just won't be there against sec competition

 

[rmattox]

Rare is the occasion where 2 QBs works well over the long term. If it did, we'd see it more often.

Generally speaking,when you resort to using two qb's it means neither is very good. In our case , it is best USC has to prep for two very different types of player

 

[Ctroberts1024]

Fantastic gamesmanship by Stoops. Make Muschamp prepare for two different QBs that are complete 180s from each other

Johnson will start. Bet the house on that. No way you take him out after his performance. He makes the defense account for all 11 guys. He makes our offense way more dynamic with the RPOs. He also helps out our offensive line tremendously because of his mobility. It takes quite a bit of pressure off them. He will start and I think our offense will put up a ton of points and yards again.

 

[Cats_2010]

I don't disagree that Johnson should start. My point is we need the barker that played in the 1st half of usm if we're to reach our potential as a team.

Barker, at his best, can drive the ball down the field in a way Johnson just cant. We need that. Alot of those big rac yards and moving the chains with his legs just won't be there against sec competition

Care to elaborate because I see it just the opposite...

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Care to elaborate because I see it just the opposite...

Well I don't know how better to say it. Guess we just disagree. But to me Barkers arm strength is just far superior

 

[ScrewDuke1]

The OL will help...just based on the few times we have seen him in game situations, his accuracy is a question. If it wasn't, I think he'd have been the starter from the get go.

The play calling was excellent to protect some of those accuracy concerns - and Johnson did hit a couple nice outs as well as the deep post to Badet. If we stay run heavy and get 65% completion from Johnson we can keep the ball moving.

His accuracy is not a question.