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Guilty as charged but NOT an air quotes user!
I just seem to recall a grammar rule about indirect references needing quotation marks. Perhaps there is a good New Year's resolution to be found here.
Peace
Drew Barker or Stephen Johnson
- Thread starter screwduke
- Start date
Guilty as charged but NOT an air quotes user!
I just seem to recall a grammar rule about indirect references needing quotation marks. Perhaps there is a good New Year's resolution to be found here.
Peace
Which is why the offensive staff wants to put an emphasis on tempo, and checking plays at the line of scrimmage through the QB. If you move at a fast pace, it doesn't give the defense time to disguise without sacrificing the possibility of a busted coverage or a missed assignment, which can lead to big plays. I think Johnson also benefits from being in that kind of up-tempo offensive system (his junior college team averaged 103 offensive plays per game, which is absolutely insane). Barker has no experience in running an up-tempo offense and checking plays at the line of scrimmage.
There will absolutely be a lot of dink and dunk passes as well. Screens, short yardage routes, play-actions, and read-option will all be a big part of the offense based on what I seen from going back and watching some Cincinnati games. Seen a pretty good chunk of crossing routes out of the Cinci offense as well, which is a huge bonus for us. Being that Kentucky, as of late, has gone in the direction of big receivers, crossing routes are a great way of creating openings for the receivers like they were intended to do in an original air raid (defender gets hung up on one big receiver #1, big receiver #2 gains advantageous position to catch an open pass).
I know it's not an air raid offense, but passing schemes are passing schemes, and if you're a team that will use big wide receivers and tight ends in the passing game, creating distance between defenders and the receivers is as important as anything, since you really have to be less dependent on them being able to separate on their own.
All that said, Gran takes his fair share of shots downfield as well. I like the balance, seems like he has a good idea of when to extend the defense downfield, when to extend it from side to side, and when to implement his tight ends (which he's known for being successful at in his offense) in the passing game.
I agree with the others, but Pulley was only here for his true FR & true Soph seasons & he backed up Woodson the entire time. He RS'ed his 3rd year here & then he transferred for his JR & SR seasons. He certainly didn't "pan out" as you stated, but, IMHO, only because he wasn't able to stick around long enough.
Drew Barker is the starting quarterback. Johnson is the emergency backup. Hoak learns the system and prepares for the future.
Agree with all,Johnson came here to compete for the starter job.I have watched a little of Cincy since the Gran hire,also saw a few quick outs to the sidelines. I think that is what some here don't get,the offense is going to look different from pass routes, expanded use of the TE and blocking schemes all designed to make execution more simple for the players.
Barker could pick this up quickly,Johnson could excel in it.If either happens we could be at least as good as we were last year at the QB position
Johnson didn't come across the country to sit. He's come here to win the job and win football games. Barker will either accept it or be gone.
For me it's solving the OL problem first to see what type of QB you need. Don't have a good knowledge of Gran's history. If the OL learns to pass protect well then the best pocket passer, if not, a QB who can roll out or pull it down. We didn't throw to our backs and TE'S last year because they had to block. So, good pass blocking determines how the offense looks.
I think people are looking at Johnson all wrong. He is a pocket passer that can move his feet and run if necessary. I've only seen a couple of videos where he is actually roles out to throw. He runs only out of necessity. He seems nimble and fast. Doesn't mean he is a run first qb.
This will be an interesting off season. We will have a QB controversy before the season starts that may rival last years. Only this year it will be with a QB that hasn't even practiced with the team yet. This could get fun reading people argue over a QB they haven't even seen yet.
Well, ask yourself, are you impressed with what you seen from Barker? If not (and you shouldn't be), it's a legitimate debate.
He transferred to Florida A&M and I got to watch about half of one of his games there on TV and he was very impressive in that game, both in running and passing, although I think he was sharing the starting role with another QB.
Does it not concern those who are so high on Johnson that the reason he went the JC route was because he lost his starting position at Grambling St. after his injury and was unable to take it back? Yet he's expected to start in his first year in the SEC and lead to wins. I hope he can do that; but I'd suggest tempering expectations or it could be another very frustrating year coming up. The O-coaches (Gran & Hinshaw) also recruited Barker out of HS and still seem very high on him as well. We'll have a clearer picture who will start in 3 months.
I just want to win, and support whoever gives us the best chance to do so.
http://www.desertsun.com/story/spor...k-stephen-johnson-ii-signs-kentucky/78915834/
I just want to win, and support whoever gives us the best chance to do so.
http://www.desertsun.com/story/spor...k-stephen-johnson-ii-signs-kentucky/78915834/
I agree that he will not come here and take over... He will come to compete for the starting spot, but will be the backup to barker... I'm not judging barkers showing last year based on what was taking place on offense...
I pulled for towles but after what i heard after the season i can say i was very disappointed in what i heard coming from him as well as other coaches..
There should never be players and position coaches siding against other players and head coach.... If that happened at my work place which i am manager, there would be firings on the spot!
Your comment is a joke, right? Or, to incite posters to reply. You cannot possibly be serious.
Curtis had a fairly serious drug issue that cancelled his opportunity to be an effective, talented quarterback for UK.
It is not even close! They are hyping this guy so that Barker will work during the off season and come in great shape mentally and physically! Barker will be the best QB we have had since Woodson and possibly better! His release is as quick as anyone in the NCAA!!!!
Believe the gospel of the backup quarterback my friend and you will be set free.
Johnson hasn't earned the spot yet, but I expect he'll compete for it like hell.
I highly doubt Johnson came to UK while being told that he was a certain starter. If you want to get to the NFL or even just prove yourself, you're going to go to the highest profile program you can in the highest profile conference.
Johnson is no longer The Guy and he shouldn't expect to be. He decided to come play in the SEC. The players are better than what he was surrounded with in JUCO and there's a risk he's taken with coming here. However, he's determined the potential reward to be greater than the risk. Be the guy, have no competition at a Podunk DII school, and do well... or have some competition and if you win, you can win big on a big stage.
Make no mistake, we should all expect Barker to be the starter. To that effect, we should in no way use Barker's performance last year as a gauge of his abilities. The Titanic sunk, folks. No captain could've pieced that ship back together.
Barker has experienced SEC speed, has more relationships with current guys, was (is) a great prospect, and all those things favor him going into the Spring. Both QB's will be learning a new system, but Barker has those three things going for him which I believe make him the front runner going into next season. Nothing short of Johnson destroying the competition or Barker having a meltdown should unseat Barker, IMO.
I highly doubt Johnson came to UK while being told that he was a certain starter. If you want to get to the NFL or even just prove yourself, you're going to go to the highest profile program you can in the highest profile conference.
Johnson is no longer The Guy and he shouldn't expect to be. He decided to come play in the SEC. The players are better than what he was surrounded with in JUCO and there's a risk he's taken with coming here. However, he's determined the potential reward to be greater than the risk. Be the guy, have no competition at a Podunk DII school, and do well... or have some competition and if you win, you can win big on a big stage.
Make no mistake, we should all expect Barker to be the starter. To that effect, we should in no way use Barker's performance last year as a gauge of his abilities. The Titanic sunk, folks. No captain could've pieced that ship back together.
Barker has experienced SEC speed, has more relationships with current guys, was (is) a great prospect, and all those things favor him going into the Spring. Both QB's will be learning a new system, but Barker has those three things going for him which I believe make him the front runner going into next season. Nothing short of Johnson destroying the competition or Barker having a meltdown should unseat Barker, IMO.
Barker and Towles. Put them in a sack, shake it vigorously and whoever comes out is the same quarterback. Pocket passers, slower type release, can run but not elusive, decision making on the deliberate side with great arms. Pair that with an offensive line that is improving but still lower SEC caliber, receivers who are suspect trying to run longer routes and we have a recipe for the same results as last year.
I'd like to see a good arm, good legs, quick decisions fast release paired with shorter routes and let the receivers
Seems as if the same type posts occurred in reference to Towles. I hope this staff truly opens the competition and if Barker wins then great. If not that's great too.
I'd like to see a good arm, good legs, quick decisions fast release paired with shorter routes and let the receivers
Seems as if the same type posts occurred in reference to Towles. I hope this staff truly opens the competition and if Barker wins then great. If not that's great too.
Conversely, nobody should be quick to crown a guy who has proven nothing in his time here. He sat extensively behind a bad QB, came in, and wasn't any better. SEC experience means nothing if you can't compete effectively.
I don't think Johnson has to destroy the competition. I think there will be different standards between the quarterbacks and how they perform, but it will not be based on SEC experience (example: Tyler Bray). I figure it will be based on who learns the system faster, who is more effective in it, who shows better footwork, and who can make pre-snap reads.
I agree, but again, I don't think it's fair to view Barker's competitiveness based on a shipwreck with Dawson at the helm basically telling the crew to bail the water IN.
Any college experience helps, IMO. I've never played, so I don't know.
What I do know is that I didn't crap my pants my first time in a real research setting because I had taken classes to prepare. I knew what to expect. I'm not an expert or professional by any means, but the point is that experience prepares people.
That's what I'm trying to get at. Experience shouldn't be the sole factor in determining a QB, but it should definitely be a consideration. If Johnson is far more talented and picks up the offense quicker, he's got to be the guy. No doubt about it.
I really have no expectations for either qb. I can gurantee one thing. The offense under Gran and Hinshaw will be wayyyyy better than under Dawson. These guys didn't leave a good situation to come to UK if they did not believe we had talent to compete.
Coaches Gran & Hinshaw went after Johnson when hired by UK. Both know Drew well and are aware of his limited D 1 experience.
I am in total agreement with this. By the time he took over the team was divided as well as the coaching staff. One thing you could see in him was quicker decision making. Not always the best choice but he made one. That's what I didn't see in Towles. Let hope with the experience and better coaching and system the whole team will be better.
I don't know whether Barker or Johnson will be our starting quarterback in the fall. Nobody knows. We won't know until August. There is a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback coach. The quarterbacks have to show them something in April. We don't know how quickly either quarterback will pick up new terminologies and sets. Johnson has not even set foot on Kentucky's football field yet. That's a lot of variables. But we can talk about what we do know. We know that Barker was terrible in November, obviously not ready for SEC football. People can blame that on Dawson if it makes them feel better, but it would be dumb to minimize the leap from Connor High School to the SEC being a bigger factor. We know what Gran and Hinshaw have publicly said about what they want in a quarterback, and we know they picked Johnson on that basis. Gran told Johnson he is being brought to Kentucky to play. What Barker has going for him is a high ceiling that was acknowledged by everyone when Kentucky and South Carolina were competing to sign him. But we don't know how long it will take Barker to develop. What Johnson has going for him is a chance to prove he was overlooked, plus the fact that he has been hand picked for this role by Hinshaw. Second chances don't come along for everyone. This is Johnson's, and that's powerful motivation. The spring competition should make both quarterbacks better. But if Steve Johnson turns out to be a starting SEC quarterback, that will be 1 of the weirdest stories in Kentucky football in a long time.
I myself am not ready to give up on Barker. Throwing him to the wolves last year after a lot of the rest of the team had seemed to already given up was not a fair assessment of his abilities. It was kind of like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. That little bit of experience will help Drew no matter what anyone says. I really don't see Johnson taking the starting job but I do see him getting more time on the field than Barker got last year. Dawson and his system were a train wreck. I think the offense will be much better managed this year and we will see improvement if for no other reason than we will have a more experienced, deeper and more talented offensive line and a solid left tackle in Tate Levitt, not to mention the new freshmen linemen coming in, Young will help us a lot and maybe Drake will get some playing time as well.
Bottom line - It won't matter who is the quarterback unless the offensive line is significantly better. If they are, both will be able to do well.
This is right WildCard. It's a fast game and the number one thing I want in a QB is to be able to make quick decisions in a hectic environment. I don't want my QB even looking at 3rd or 4th options . . . dual threat or not I want my guy taking off getting his 5 to 8 yards if 1 and 2 are not open WITHOUT HESITATION.
Don't know if anybody has charted it but I can't imagine the completion percentage for 3rd or 4th reads is anywhere above 10% from the pocket. If one or two aint there get moving and make your decisions on the fly from there. Sacks kill an offense, positive yards on scrambles kill a defense.
I think that Juco transfers typically sign with programs that have given them some sort of indication that there is significant playing time to be had...
Staff's usually do not hit the juco trail hard for a QB unless they believe they really need one...
I believe that if the goal was to fill out the depth chart and have enough arms for throwing drills then DB, Hoak, Hughes, and the walk on would suffice...
the staff didn't go on the hunt for somebody who could be an emergency option in case of injuries...they went looking for an experienced play maker...
I think it is DB's job to lose...he has got to be the leader in the club house as of right now for no other reason than he's been in the program, he has the chemistry with the guys, and that he is Stoops' QB...
however, word is that johnson throws hard and can really spin it...if he brings some mobility, athleticism, and ability to make plays outside the pocket he could win the job...
unless somebody just runs away with it and blows the competition out of the water...wouldn't surprise me to see both play early on in the season...
Staff's usually do not hit the juco trail hard for a QB unless they believe they really need one...
I believe that if the goal was to fill out the depth chart and have enough arms for throwing drills then DB, Hoak, Hughes, and the walk on would suffice...
the staff didn't go on the hunt for somebody who could be an emergency option in case of injuries...they went looking for an experienced play maker...
I think it is DB's job to lose...he has got to be the leader in the club house as of right now for no other reason than he's been in the program, he has the chemistry with the guys, and that he is Stoops' QB...
however, word is that johnson throws hard and can really spin it...if he brings some mobility, athleticism, and ability to make plays outside the pocket he could win the job...
unless somebody just runs away with it and blows the competition out of the water...wouldn't surprise me to see both play early on in the season...
I want to say that I'm excited about Johnson. From all that I've read and seen, he seems to have confidence, speed, intelligence, leadership ability, and plenty of skill.
Granted it's JUCO, but after his first two games of this past season, he threw for 34 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and it looks like about 3000 yards in 8 games. On film, you can see him run over someone, jump over someone, flip into the end zone, and make a variety of challenging throws. Not to mention his speed.
His coach has said:
- “He lived up to the hype and then some, man...“He was consistently setting our guys up to make plays and he’s someone who made everyone around him better. That was big for us this year.”
-reports that Hall of Fame QB Doug Williams said that Johnson is the best he's ever seen at throwing a receiver open and has remarkable presnap read ability
http://www.aseaofblue.com/2016/1/16/10717082/stephen-johnson-commits-to-kentucky-wildcats
His coach just continues to rave about him
“He’s a complete guy,” Steptoe said in an interview with The Courier-Journal. “Not only that, he’s a great character kid. Stephen has no problem with mechanics. He’s got a great touch pass. He’s got a great zip pass. ... He has great football intelligence.”
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...01/16/coach-uk-qb-recruit-real-deal/78894596/
“He’s amazing to watch, man, but he’s a very humble kid,” Steptoe said. “Players elevate to him. It’s real simple: when the going gets tough you want to put the ball in Stephen’s hands.”
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...01/16/coach-uk-qb-recruit-real-deal/78894596/
It goes on and on. I know coaches can be salesman for their players and It's hard to tell how much expertise this JUCO coach has, but he's got a pretty good sales pitch. I must say.
I like what I've heard from Johnson as well. And I like the look in his eye. Overall, I just get a good impression. I'm excited to see what he can do!
Granted it's JUCO, but after his first two games of this past season, he threw for 34 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and it looks like about 3000 yards in 8 games. On film, you can see him run over someone, jump over someone, flip into the end zone, and make a variety of challenging throws. Not to mention his speed.
His coach has said:
- “He lived up to the hype and then some, man...“He was consistently setting our guys up to make plays and he’s someone who made everyone around him better. That was big for us this year.”
-reports that Hall of Fame QB Doug Williams said that Johnson is the best he's ever seen at throwing a receiver open and has remarkable presnap read ability
http://www.aseaofblue.com/2016/1/16/10717082/stephen-johnson-commits-to-kentucky-wildcats
His coach just continues to rave about him
“He’s a complete guy,” Steptoe said in an interview with The Courier-Journal. “Not only that, he’s a great character kid. Stephen has no problem with mechanics. He’s got a great touch pass. He’s got a great zip pass. ... He has great football intelligence.”
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...01/16/coach-uk-qb-recruit-real-deal/78894596/
“He’s amazing to watch, man, but he’s a very humble kid,” Steptoe said. “Players elevate to him. It’s real simple: when the going gets tough you want to put the ball in Stephen’s hands.”
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...01/16/coach-uk-qb-recruit-real-deal/78894596/
It goes on and on. I know coaches can be salesman for their players and It's hard to tell how much expertise this JUCO coach has, but he's got a pretty good sales pitch. I must say.
I like what I've heard from Johnson as well. And I like the look in his eye. Overall, I just get a good impression. I'm excited to see what he can do!
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For the record, ESPN gave Stephen Johnson a 79 overall in their renewed rankings, which is nearly a 4 star (80 is considered a 4-star at ESPN). Right outside the top 50 in JUCO rankings.
Exactly. This staff was way too hot on Johnson to think he doesn't have a real shot. Whether that's a good thing or not; we'll see.
I want whichever one turns out to be the best for this team. I can't say which that is. Just to have to rely on the staff to make the best call for the team. I guess I'm rooting for both to do well this spring and summer, and make it a good competition.
No, Johnson is a pocket passer who is mobile. He fits the spread well and from film I've seen on him he is a pure passer first, runner second.
I think it'll be Barker's job to lose. BTW, he doesn't run a 5.13. That's a stat from his HS ESPN profile. There's also articles out there saying he runs a 4.7, who knows. Seeing him run, I'd lean closer to 4.7 than 5.13. I'm not sure Johnson's 4.58 is credible either. I think both will play.