Drew Barker or Stephen Johnson
- Thread starter screwduke
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I'm gonna go with Johnson. Just my opinion, based on nothing but pure speculation, you asked a question and I answered.
I don't really care. Drew played pretty darn awful in the louisville game was that all on Dawson idk. But we had 1 first down in the 2nd half with a 20 pt lead. I'm going with Johnson because he looks tailor made for what Gran and Hinshaw want to run
I trust our new Offensive coaches to choose the player that gives our team the best chance of winning games.
The Spring game will be interesting to say the least.
The Spring game will be interesting to say the least.
Like I wished that Towles could have a better line in front of him and receivers that consistently catches the ball, I wish the same for Drew. Some will say Towles and Drew were the problems too but I just want the kid to have the best situation as a QB as the team can give him and see his real talent play out. If it all that happens and he underperforms, let what happens happen.
I agree with this and Drew will have an oline with the most raw talent since I have followed UK football. I believe the oline will be Leavitt GAA Toth Meyers Young. The wr where all Sophomores running a system whose director was very green and predictable. Gram And Hinshaw ran there system for 3 years at cincy with great success. I believe the new system will better highlight the length uk has at wr and te. I think UK will dink and dunk alot this year. Whoever between Drew Stephen and Gunnar take control of the skill guys wins the job. The offense needs a qb that guys wanna battle for
Towles was pretty terrible can't believe there's still people making excuses for him. Yes receivers dropped passes. But when they had a pass that was catchable it seemed to usually catch them by surprise because it looked like they couldn't believe the ball actually made it to them the few times it did. One out of every 8 throws I feel like were truly decent throws with him and that's on a good day. Barker certainly outplayed towles in the vandy game.
People in this thread also seem to think he's a bust after one game as a freshman against Louisville. It's like seriously you all have no faith in a QB who had a bad game in pretty much his first real game time as a freshman? A game in which the coaches gave him zero chance at success considering it was pretty much his first real college game and he should've had way more experience than he had going into the Louisville game. Its the coaches faults for sticking to towles for wayyyyy too long, glad they eventually gave up on hom better late than never to be honest. I would've hate to see him play another year here, not just for us but also for for him. The criticism he would receive had he gotten more meaningful playing time would've been as bad as it gets for a college athlete. It wasn't his fault that the coaches kept throwing him out there so to be fair you can't be mad at the kid. He just wasn't an SEC caliber player not even sure if he was a mid major caliber player. He was thrown into a situation that he just wasn't cut out for.
As for barker he was a high school all American that impressed everybody at the AA camps. He was a QB that spurrier wanted bad and had he gotten him I'd bet spurrier, maybe, would still be coaching because I'm almost certain he would've been the starter for USC this season. I think spurrier would've utilized him correctly and would've given him a better chance to succeed than we have so far, not saying that won't change soon though but to this point in his career I definitely believe spurrier would've done wonders with him, he has the talent just needs the coaching which he may get now with gran and hinshaw.
Towles was such an erratic passer that you never knew when he's going to throw a good ball when he did it looked great but they were definitely far and few between even when he had time to throw. He was an atrocious QB IMO. Had he been the QB during the Newton days I bet he would've been as bad as Newton was. Definitely one of the worst QBs to play at UK in the modern era IMO. I'd lump him in with Shayne Boyd (who IMO was way better than towles), and Newton.
Towles was bad, theres no debating that. I don't think it was for a lack of talent. He had what, 3 offensive coordinators in 4 years? That's tough on any quarterback, made even worse by having a putrid offensive line. Brady didn't exactly set the world on fire against Denver yesterday, taking 23 hits will do that to you.
Edit: I've said for a long time now, if you have a terrible offensive line and you trot out a pocket passer, you are asking to lose.
Whoever the backup is
- kentucky football fan
- kentucky football fan
And here we go, this is Barker's team. Our fans love the backup quarterback.
Barker. He's already at the proper weight to take hits as a running QB in the SEC. He has great talent that will be honed by Hinshaw.
Johnson will come in needing to bulk up and learn a new system and learn the speed of the SEC.
Just my opinion, but is founded.
Johnson will come in needing to bulk up and learn a new system and learn the speed of the SEC.
Just my opinion, but is founded.
Barker: 3rd year in the program, 3rd OC in 3 years, limited playing experience. No idea if he fits new offense.
Johnson: played at Grambling and JUCO. Transition to SEC speed will have an uphill curve. Somewhat of an idea that he can fit in new offense.
Tough choice all around.
Johnson: played at Grambling and JUCO. Transition to SEC speed will have an uphill curve. Somewhat of an idea that he can fit in new offense.
Tough choice all around.
I'll believe in a dual-threat QB at UK when I see it. I always get hyped for them to add a new dimension to the offense, but for some reason they never seem to pan out here the past two decades (see Boyd, Pulley, Newton, Whitlow). Closest we've come is probably putting Cobb back there to run the wildcat every play. For now I'm taking Barker.
You would have to think Barker opens the spring ahead of everyone else,but he hasn't shown enough thus far to make anyone believe he can hold the job if Johnson,Hoak or even Mattingley can get the ball to recievers on target
Barker has proper weight, but he doesn't have proper speed to run as a QB.
Johnson only needs to gain 10-15 pounds. Considering that he's been on campus for a week now, he really has plenty of time to bulk up.
Both quarterbacks need to learn the new system. Both were given the same amount of time, and both are in the process of learning.
Drew Barker nearly has just as little SEC game experience as Stephen Johnson does, and experience means very little if you're not very good at the college level. Right now, Barker isn't very good, but has a chance to be.
We'll have to wait and see.
Drew Barker and it should be announced he's the guy before the end of spring ball. Hinshaw/Gran have never coached a true dual-threat. Johnson will provide a nice wrinkle to run 5-7 plays again.
I can't believe you are still whining over a kid that is not even here now. We were talking about DREW, and do you understand or do you need tiny little words for you?
From what I've seen Johnson looks like he has all the tools: quick release, mobile, can move if need be. Barker is slow, with a slow release. But whomever can move the ball club I guess.
Not really a slow release. The release is solid. Johnson's is slightly quicker though. Johnson is by far the more mobile of the two. One big determining factor will be how accurate Barker is. If he's just slightly more accurate that Johnson, Johnson will start because of the dual-threat. He will need to be quite a bit more accurate. I think the other big determining factor is how well each QB can make pre-snap reads and adjust accordingly (which is apparently a strength of Johnson's). Barker's early interception issues make me believe that he may be weak in that area.
I have no idea. Regardless of Stoop's post season "Barker's the guy" commentary I have no doubt that QB will be the most watched position competition in the spring. The current situation (new OC & QB coach plus no returning QB experience of any consequence) pretty much dictate that. I doubt that it happens but it would be nice if some of those practices were open to the public.
Gran and Hinshaw should get 100% say in every offensive situation other than a 4th down decision. The only thing one can say that has been absolutely and consistently bad in CMS's first 3 years has been the handling of the QB spot, beginning with the installation of Whitlow as the #2 "air raid" QB in Year 1. QB/offensive options are even more limited in 2016 so you just have to hope that Gran and Hinshaw have full offensive responsibility and the staff is ready to ride out their offensive decisions. JMO.
Peace
Gran and Hinshaw should get 100% say in every offensive situation other than a 4th down decision. The only thing one can say that has been absolutely and consistently bad in CMS's first 3 years has been the handling of the QB spot, beginning with the installation of Whitlow as the #2 "air raid" QB in Year 1. QB/offensive options are even more limited in 2016 so you just have to hope that Gran and Hinshaw have full offensive responsibility and the staff is ready to ride out their offensive decisions. JMO.
Peace
I suspect that if Johnson puts on some weight - he will fit the NEW system - But I am also certain at his size he will probably be dinged on regular basis and see Drew playing some too.....
Also, as my memory fades I am not certain of it - but I remember Drew being a QB that used his legs regularly in HS- will he be able to do so at College with this system? I guess it might be best to leave it up to Gran/Hinshaw!
Also, as my memory fades I am not certain of it - but I remember Drew being a QB that used his legs regularly in HS- will he be able to do so at College with this system? I guess it might be best to leave it up to Gran/Hinshaw!
That worked against Kentucky high school talent. The dude is slow as can be though. Johnson's 4.56 forty >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Barker's 5.13 forty.
Interesting observation regarding pre-snap read. I have long believed pre-snap read IS the key to a "quick" release. If you set up in a 4 or 5 wide set, NO ONE is going to go through 3 or 4 "reads". The key thing is to immediately "eliminate" one or two routes as "likely covered" and straightaway focus on routes in the pattern more likely to be open.
I just cannot believe "throwing mechanics" consistently add more time to the ball release than does indecision about where to go "early" in the play. "Coaching" ultimately boils down to "teaching" and just as some coaches are better teachers some players are better students. JMO.
Peace
A good point here,hence how well the defense is able to disguise their look,in the SEC Johnson is likely to see more variations in looks than he has seen in other places. The good defenses try to get a QB to eliminate the right reads and throw to the wrong places.
As someone else said in another thread I think we will see a lot of dink and dunk passes that place emphasis on getting the ball to a receiver quickly and in space to let them pick up small chunks of yardage and move the chains.
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The last thing this team needs is another QB controversy.
I just don't understand Stoops at this point. He brings in 2 spread offense guys, goes on the radio and says you can't win in the SEC with a gimmick offense then brings in a QB to run a gimmick offense.
I just don't understand Stoops at this point. He brings in 2 spread offense guys, goes on the radio and says you can't win in the SEC with a gimmick offense then brings in a QB to run a gimmick offense.
For me I don't care about speed, or arm strength, or quick release.
I want a SMART QB.
Hartline was the last good QB at UK, was slow as pond water, and had a weenie arm. Yet his numbers were some of the best in the SEC during his stint.
I want a SMART QB.
Hartline was the last good QB at UK, was slow as pond water, and had a weenie arm. Yet his numbers were some of the best in the SEC during his stint.
I might still be able to get a 5.13 and I am close to 50!!! Recovering from a Heart Attack!!!
Nevermind then!
He understood the game and what he could do and what he could not do.He had a family background in football
My first thought is, good post.
My second post is, you do love you some quotation marks. I'm left to wonder if you use air quotes when speaking. heh......
I would not be surprised if they both play a lot of snaps depending on the need. They are very different players. Johnson may do some wildcat formations. It's going to be exciting how next year plays out. No where as cut and dry as last year especially with the new coaches and their offensive philosophies
I doubt that both players will play. You need one guy to get the job and then give him 100% of the reps. I think it hurt Towles sharing reps with Barker this past season. If Johnson is the guy then he gets the reps. If its Barker, then he does.
Gran has said that this will be more of a pro style offense. Won't be gimmicky at all.