Phillips made what, in social media, appeared to be an emotional decision to leave the cats. Had he stayed, he would now be the starter with a chance to make his statement over the course of a season. I sincerely hope things are working out well for him, but it looks like a bad decision in the rear view mirror. Horton had to climb numerous spots to get on the field. Phillips had to wait behind one.
Emotional Reese Phillips
- Thread starter Beatle Bum
- Start date
Phillips may have made an emotional decision, but it wasn't rash. It's not just that he wanted playing time. He thought he had earned it but wasn't getting a fair shot. I don't think that's true. But if you do think that, you're not looking for playing time. You're looking for a new coaching staff.
Reese Phillips is third string behind Brady Gustafson and Chad Chalich. Phillips had mop-up duty in yesterday's game vs. Sacramento State. He finished 3-7 for 15 yards.
He didn't have the talent to win here. If you can't start at Montana you have no business starting in the SEC. How many of Joker's former players transferred down and still couldn't get on the field?
If UK only started to look at Johnson after Phillips decided to leave, it's very possible that Phillips would indeed by starting. The only other realistic alternative would have been Hoak, considering the injury to Barker. If UK was going after Johnson anyway, then Johnson probably would have received the nod ahead of Phillips.
Speaking of Phillips, I haven't seen much of Mountain Air lately. Haven't seen him in months. I suspect he is now a regular at a Montana forum, insisting to all of the Grizzly fans that Phillips is actually a far superior choice to the two guys in front of him.
Speaking of Phillips, I haven't seen much of Mountain Air lately. Haven't seen him in months. I suspect he is now a regular at a Montana forum, insisting to all of the Grizzly fans that Phillips is actually a far superior choice to the two guys in front of him.
Good point about SJ. I thought Hinshaw hit the pavement after Phillips bolted. I also know Phillips' decision did not sit well with Stoops, kind of like Barnett'a with Saban. So, I think Phillips must have been in the mix at some level. I don't know who is at Montana. But, I do know there are plenty of lower division QBs who can and have played at P5 schools.
I'm sure Phillips is a good guy be he doesn't have SEC-level QB talent. That's being demonstrated now as he's a 3d teamer all be it on a good lower division team. Haven't looked in a week or 2 but last time I did he'd played in 2 of 5 games and had thrown for something like 35 yards. If you can't play for Montana you can't play for UK.
If you're interested in ex-UK players check out Josh Clemons at Jacksonville(Ala) St. Having a nice year.
If you're interested in ex-UK players check out Josh Clemons at Jacksonville(Ala) St. Having a nice year.
I can't remember a time our fans didn't want a backup QB or a transferred QB to be our starter. Johnson is the best we have, and he's 3-1. I'm not sure what the expectations are at this point.
Hindsight is 20/20, but to me it looks like Towles, not Phillips, made the rash move. He would be starting and he'd have a real SEC offensive coordinator and QB coach. I'm pretty sure that Towles problems would not have been magically "cured", but starting here is better than starting at 3-3 BC.
(BTW, don't let Towles numbers fool you. They look good on paper, until you realize that they all came at the expense of bottom feeders UMASS, Buffalo, and Wagner).
(BTW, don't let Towles numbers fool you. They look good on paper, until you realize that they all came at the expense of bottom feeders UMASS, Buffalo, and Wagner).
Don't put up facts to the chronic cryers on this board.
UK fans' only lament for a backup when the starter is a disaster...but when we've had decent play, it's a reasonable fan base.
Towers would be the starter right now. Johnson would not be around. So, no real need to compare & contrast.
If Johnson heals up and settles down, I think he has shown signs of being a serviceable passing QB. I certainly like his demeanor and quicks.
If Johnson heals up and settles down, I think he has shown signs of being a serviceable passing QB. I certainly like his demeanor and quicks.
True on Hinshaw's effort. While I like Stoops, what he thinks of Phillips' decision is immaterial. It's RP's life.
There were times during Hartline and Woodsons career that a lot of people asked for the back up. If the best 2 QBs in your programs history are the only time you havnt asked for a different QB, look in the mirror. I'm not saying Johnson is Joe Montana. I'm saying he is our backup QB and is played admirably.
I don't think that fans are pining. It was just an observation about what appear to have been shot-sighted decisions.
The point was not that it was not RP's life but that Stoops clearly did not want RP to go.
The kid is starting at BC. I suspect and hope he is happy. Cannot say he made a bad decision.
During Hartline's career...for sure there were rumblings for Morgan Newton. But his Sr year that noise went quite quickly.
Woodson years....there was hardly any portion asking for backups.
You guys are making up stuff to fit a stereotype. If your QB is playing solid ball, nobody is asking for a backup to play. But when your QB play is shaky (and UK is going on 7 years from Hartline's last year and we've had some of the worst QB play in SEC for going on a decade). The 10 years before that were JLO, Woodson and Hartline last year....it was a completely different story. Stoops needs to get the QB play to at least a mediocre level and alot of this mess goes away.
Actually, Gran & Hinshaw do. But may not happen if SJ is all there is to work with. I've got hope though.
As I recall Hartline's Sr. year didn't start with fans supporting him and ended with fans ragging on him for getting in trouble before the bowl game when in actuality he was trying to stay out of trouble and Joker overstepped his punishment. People are remembering Hartline's Sr year a whole lot different than I do. He didn't have much of a Jr. year for fans to gripe about before he was hurt. Hartline took a lot of grief he didn't deserve while he played here his entire career. I remember many a argument about him on this board. Fans are trying to polish their image by saying he was treated well.
I saw Neil Brown say more than once that Reese had what is needed to be a very solid QB in the SEC.
Either he was lying or ???
Either he was lying or ???
I think most of the problem with Johnson is he seems to hesitate for that split second before letting it rip, and that's all it takes for the open man to no longer be open. Hopefully with experience he can correct that.
He is throwing into smaller windows than he saw in JUCO, for sure. He is quietly working through some confidence issues, I think.