I like Patrick Towles. If you could build a QB from scratch, you'd build Towles. He has the perfect height. He's solid physically (230+ pounds). He's a very good athlete. He can throw the football a country mile. He's just a big, strong guy. He's also a Kentucky kid. He grew up loving the Cats. Ideally, he's perfect for the Kentucky quarterback job. Only he isn't.
I think UK needs to move on from Towles for two reasons. One, he's woefully inconsistent. If he's consistent with one thing, it's being inconsistent. That's tough to work around with a QB. On one play, he throws a beautiful wheel route 45 yards downfield that hits the receiver in stride. On the next, he'll bounce a swing pass. Every QB makes mistakes, but Towles errors are just too plentiful. The second reason...I'm not sure he has the mental toughness for the gig. I wouldn't be surprised to see a freshman write RELAX on a hand, but a 4th year junior? His demeanor in general just doesn't exude much confidence. You have to wonder how that affects his teammates.
Four years into a college career, you know what you have in a player. Towles has had every opportunity (and then some) to prove himself. IMO, it's time to move on. I hate saying that. Feel bad saying it. But IMHO, it's beyond obvious at this point that the decision should be made.
Don't get me wrong. UK's offensive disaster isn't on Towles alone. The WR's drop more passes than I can count. Towles plays behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football. But the guy isn't even doing the little things right, the things that don't involve WR drops or protection. The 4th down run decision vs. Auburn. The audible yesterday that resulted in an INT. The pass behind his receiver on the critical drive vs. Florida. I could go on and on. He even under-threw the fade route against EKU that tied the game (Baker made a great play on the ball). And how do you take a sack on a hail mary when you have plenty of time? All of those little things add up
This is the PERFECT week to give Barker an opportunity. Start Barker against Charlotte. Play him every snap. Then you have an off week before Louisville, so you've got 14 days to analyze his first start and prepare him for the Cardinals (EDIT...UK has no off week before U of L). Both games being at home is an added bonus.
Going forward, starting Barker twice would be huge for his development. It would also give the coaching staff an idea of what they have in the redshirt freshman.
IMO, there's absolutely no reason to start Towles against Charlotte. UK has to go with Barker.
JMO.
GBB!!!
I think UK needs to move on from Towles for two reasons. One, he's woefully inconsistent. If he's consistent with one thing, it's being inconsistent. That's tough to work around with a QB. On one play, he throws a beautiful wheel route 45 yards downfield that hits the receiver in stride. On the next, he'll bounce a swing pass. Every QB makes mistakes, but Towles errors are just too plentiful. The second reason...I'm not sure he has the mental toughness for the gig. I wouldn't be surprised to see a freshman write RELAX on a hand, but a 4th year junior? His demeanor in general just doesn't exude much confidence. You have to wonder how that affects his teammates.
Four years into a college career, you know what you have in a player. Towles has had every opportunity (and then some) to prove himself. IMO, it's time to move on. I hate saying that. Feel bad saying it. But IMHO, it's beyond obvious at this point that the decision should be made.
Don't get me wrong. UK's offensive disaster isn't on Towles alone. The WR's drop more passes than I can count. Towles plays behind one of the worst offensive lines in college football. But the guy isn't even doing the little things right, the things that don't involve WR drops or protection. The 4th down run decision vs. Auburn. The audible yesterday that resulted in an INT. The pass behind his receiver on the critical drive vs. Florida. I could go on and on. He even under-threw the fade route against EKU that tied the game (Baker made a great play on the ball). And how do you take a sack on a hail mary when you have plenty of time? All of those little things add up
This is the PERFECT week to give Barker an opportunity. Start Barker against Charlotte. Play him every snap. Then you have an off week before Louisville, so you've got 14 days to analyze his first start and prepare him for the Cardinals (EDIT...UK has no off week before U of L). Both games being at home is an added bonus.
Going forward, starting Barker twice would be huge for his development. It would also give the coaching staff an idea of what they have in the redshirt freshman.
IMO, there's absolutely no reason to start Towles against Charlotte. UK has to go with Barker.
JMO.
GBB!!!
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