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Clear choice at QB for 17

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Real Deal 2

Heisman
Jan 25, 2007
10,907
12,359
113
I must admit I have been critical as hell with him on occasion about not being SEC thrower etc..
I must admit the kid is a tough hombre, he is poised, he will make the occasional error and throw but makes up for it with his savvy and toughness. I think he trumps the other QB's in toughness, deep ball, escapability, and the kid is a winner. SO. Miss game was a direct result in a pic and fumble to lose that game. The kid has had drops, put in 3rd and long situations after running for 5 yards on first 2 downs. He has won games, think he brings a toughness that we need.

I think he can really work on his arm angles, fundamentals and can improve his footwork etc.. I think he can be serviceable player, put the WR's and a Strong OL than you will see a good QB.
 
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anon_q409idbs5m40a

Guest
No question about QB for next season. The improvement Johnson has made in such a short period of time is really unbelievable.
 
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TrueBlueMGH

All-American
Apr 12, 2009
109,878
5,901
28
The only way he could possibly lose that job next year is if Gunnar ends up being the second coming of Peyton Manning. He showed today what he's truly capable of. Give him the time before the bowl game, an entire spring practice, and the fall? We're good at QB. I'm sold.
 
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bigblueinsanity_rivals250340

Heisman
Apr 13, 2002
44,001
97,149
0
4UK said:
It's not even close. This is Johnson's job and there should be no open competition. He allows Gran to use all his skills, and, as I've been saying all year, if we had better receivers, there would have been no complaints about Johnson all year.
Click to expand...

We probably have the best receiving core in the sec, despite their drops. They're also wide open on all deep throws.

Johnson was inconsistent at times, but very steady. Played incredible today. I don't know if we should have a de facto qb going into spring. But I definitely wouldn't be that upset at seeing it be Johnson. Perfect compliment to this run game.
 
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B

Bluetick2100

All-Conference
Apr 15, 2007
5,662
3,693
113
The guy is a natural born WINNER.
This win is huge for our team and huge for every player ,especially SJ.
 
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J

Jkwo_rivals113955

All-American
Apr 6, 2007
28,225
7,410
0
Regardless of what happened going into this game, I had no idea what some people were talking about with with the door being so open next year.

I really can't say what anybody saw from Barker at the beginning of this year or end of last year that indicated that he would be able to get more done than Johnson in the SEC.

I haven't had even a sliver of confidence in any QB since at least Hartline (and that was just a sliver) until Johnson started winning a couple games for us single-handedly (or at least in tandem with Boom or Benny). He's the first one in forever where you know that he'll do more good than bad.. and he's becoming pretty friggin' well rounded, too.

Very excited for next year's offense.
 
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S

slick rick.ksr

All-Conference
Mar 28, 2009
5,475
4,949
0
If he can improve over the winter, spring, and summer just a decent fraction of how he improved over the course of the season he'll be very difficult to displace and will do a very good job next year. His ability to be a dual threat makes the defense account for him.
 
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R

Robcatt24

Heisman
Sep 17, 2005
18,028
17,086
113
Yeah, I gotta take a bigtime crow sandwich myself.

I thought for UK to take it up another level next season, Barker needed to be the QB.

Kept wondering why Stoops or Gran have never called me for advice, despite my repeated emails to the football offices.
 
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T

TroutBum

All-Conference
Nov 4, 2014
1,915
2,920
67
He did a great job today!
If he's that good he shouldn't be scared of a competition...
 
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wildcatsboston1984_rivals

All-American
Mar 23, 2012
23,493
6,068
0
Johnson sold me today. That was a Heisman type performance out of him. With Gunnar Hoak getting a redshirt this year and with the QB recruits coming in, Drew Barker might want to consider transferring.
 
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Blue Bigfoot

Heisman
Dec 13, 2014
7,042
20,765
0
Johnson has improved through almost every game, and looked great today. Hell, he only threw one pick, and that was clearly pass interference, which should have been called.
Also, our O-line did a phenomenal job against a top 10 defense, and gave Johnson plenty of time to throw.
 
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H

heidiho99

Freshman
Oct 15, 2010
3,183
90
0
Real Deal 2 said:
I must admit I have been critical as hell with him on occasion about not being SEC thrower etc..
I must admit the kid is a tough hombre, he is poised, he will make the occasional error and throw but makes up for it with his savvy and toughness. I think he trumps the other QB's in toughness, deep ball, escapability, and the kid is a winner. SO. Miss game was a direct result in a pic and fumble to lose that game. The kid has had drops, put in 3rd and long situations after running for 5 yards on first 2 downs. He has won games, think he brings a toughness that we need.

I think he can really work on his arm angles, fundamentals and can improve his footwork etc.. I think he can be serviceable player, put the WR's and a Strong OL than you will see a good QB.
Click to expand...
Totally agree...the kid stepped up and played super down the stretch....proud of him
 
U

ukalumni00

Heisman
Jun 22, 2005
23,398
39,250
113
If not for the Badet drop against UGA and the defense completely getting abused in Knoxville, Johnson would have KY sitting at 9 wins right now. He has earned being the man now.
 
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truebluewildcat_rivals34254

All-American
Feb 21, 2006
8,403
9,162
0
Hasn't been a debate as far as I've been concerned, but alas this is Kentucky football and the most talented QB that we've seen and who can save the program is anyone but the starter.

Seriously, an off season of SJ getting all the reps, strengthening his chemistry with the team, getting his timing with the wrs down, etc is very exciting to think about.

He has some things to work on, but he has the time to work on them.

Let's not forget that the coaching staff had to basically scrap the script for the season once DB went down and rebuild the offense around a transfer from the college in the desert or something like that.

Having to redo the offensive strategy led to the development of an identity though, and now everyone has extra bowl practice on top of an entire off season to further develop and improve what they have established.

SJ is older, but was new to UK and football at this level so it was basically like having a freshmen in terms of working knowledge of the system, chemistry with team, and SEC game experience.

Now he is a battled tested vet with a winning record heading into an off season with one of the best rushing duos in the nation, a solid OL, and older team around him.
 
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rmattox

All-Conference
Nov 26, 2014
6,786
4,006
0
It's Johnson's job to lose next year. I hope Barker is able to give him a run for his money.
 
O

ORCAT

Heisman
Jan 6, 2003
24,507
11,623
113
loublue22 said:
Where was that guy all year
=
Click to expand...

Learning, growing and developing. He arrived today and will only get better from here on out. His passing has really improved and with all the extra practice and experience heading into next year - looks great for him and UK.
 
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rmattox

All-Conference
Nov 26, 2014
6,786
4,006
0
IMO, if Barker is healthy and since Hoak will be available, we could see a lot more run/pass option plays like WVU did with Pat White. I believe they would like to have done that with Johnson but didn't want him to take too many hits due to the drop-off to the next available qb.
 
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brianpoe

Heisman
Mar 25, 2009
27,769
21,825
113
Incredible improvement by Smith throughout the season.

People disregarding his awful midrange production previously are blind.

But again, what an improvement on the one area that the kid really needed to fix.

He proved it today on 3rd and mediums, next step is redzone - 1st and goal from the 9 against a really good run defense is a killer to us, if SJ improves this area during the offseason our playbook will open wide.

A full offseason, add strength in the legs and protecting the ball, kid could go gangbusters.
 
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SanAntonioCat_rivals376502

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2001
5,199
1,898
0
That MGH Guy said:
The only way he could possibly lose that job next year is if Gunnar ends up being the second coming of Peyton Manning. He showed today what he's truly capable of. Give him the time before the bowl game, an entire spring practice, and the fall? We're good at QB. I'm sold.
Click to expand...
We are so solid at QB with Johnson, Barker and Hoak. Right behind are equal or better QB recruits. I cannot remember when we ever had this much quality talent at the QB position.
 
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K_TIME

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,155
25,108
113
For those to even comment "it's his to lose"...there is no way this is going to happen. We never went into Woodson's Sr season lamenting it was his to lose, or JLO, etc..

1. Johnson put up the best deep ball at UK ever. Better than Couch, JLO or Woodson. He is dead on putting air under it, hardly ever overthrows the WR, on side line routes...keeps it in play, etc..
2. His legs give Boom/Benny extra space on read options with his threat to run it.
3. Very decisive when he tucks the ball and makes first down with his feet

All year long, he's been very off on short balls. Today he looked really good on short stuff finally. He's also been Mr. Fumble but last 3 games...very clean in that regard. All in all, I have no idea why we'd consider any further competition at QB.
 
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rmattox

All-Conference
Nov 26, 2014
6,786
4,006
0
No lamenting, but a statement of confidence that he is the qb. He has improved immeasurably.
 
4

4UK

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2005
30,388
4,433
0
Teams that say they have two quarterbacks, really don't have any. Successful teams have one clear-cut QB, and there's no doubt who that is. The only way the backup gets in the game is injury. I hope Stoops, Gran and Hinshaw make that clear going into next year, and my guess is they will.
 
UK_fan_41102

UK_fan_41102

Hall of Famer
Jan 27, 2010
17,653
124,152
113
After what Johnson has done this year, there should be no question about next years qb.
 
R

rmattox

All-Conference
Nov 26, 2014
6,786
4,006
0
4UK said:
Teams that say they have two quarterbacks, really don't have any. Successful teams have one clear-cut QB, and there's no doubt who that is. The only way the backup gets in the game is injury. I hope Stoops, Gran and Hinshaw make that clear going into next year, and my guess is they will.
Click to expand...
Agree.
 
W

Woodrow24

Heisman
Dec 21, 2015
5,421
13,617
78
He threw the ball and ran with it extremely well today. Kid is developing into a good quarterback. Gran and hinshaw have really helped him improve his game and it's impressive to see how he has improved as the season has progressed. Will be difficult for anyone to take his starting position away from him.
 
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