Poll: Starting QB in 2017?
- Thread starter Robcatt24
- Start date
No idea right now. Let's get a report on Drew first... and that for just a start. Clark enrolling early? I will say only one thing. As much as I like the kid and appreciate his effort, probably not Smitty.
Right now ill take johnson. Barker has shown me nothing in 4 games and he cant run the RPO
This yr Barker's first half against USM was far and away our best QB performance. However, once he got hit and fumbled he wasn't the same player.....for the rest of the game and for UF.
Barker's ability to throw gives this team the best overall chance to succeed. However, if he is a head case then it may open the door for Johnson.
First let me start by saying that Johnson has a winning record. Can't overlook that fact. I also think that the staff is holding him back from running more because our depth is lacking. But let's be honest....if he learns to fumble less and put a little more touch on his passes he could be a decent starter.
Ultimately I think the staff will open up a battle and Barker will win out early. After that we will see what happens.
Barker's ability to throw gives this team the best overall chance to succeed. However, if he is a head case then it may open the door for Johnson.
First let me start by saying that Johnson has a winning record. Can't overlook that fact. I also think that the staff is holding him back from running more because our depth is lacking. But let's be honest....if he learns to fumble less and put a little more touch on his passes he could be a decent starter.
Ultimately I think the staff will open up a battle and Barker will win out early. After that we will see what happens.
They don't want him running because he's a fumble machine. Also he made a few bad decisions on the read last night
Agree with much of what you say but it may be tougher for Barker to win a competition than you think.If Clark comes in early things could really be a mess in a good way (if that is possible)
Let's say we win one more regular season game and a bowl game,Johnson will have a mild claim to the spot,Hoak will surely be a factor and Barker has relatively little to show for his handful of starts plus his durability will be an ongoing issue.
Johnson at least helps the run game as he can run on read option. Barker is a statue and teams will just crash down on the read option action
It all comes down to can Barker passing offset Johnson running ability. And so far to me....Barker has shown the be a below average ARm strength and not that accurate of a passer. So I'd rather take my chances that Johnson can improve a bit passing as I know Barker isn't going to ever run the ball worth a flip
It all comes down to can Barker passing offset Johnson running ability. And so far to me....Barker has shown the be a below average ARm strength and not that accurate of a passer. So I'd rather take my chances that Johnson can improve a bit passing as I know Barker isn't going to ever run the ball worth a flip
Wow, I wonder if you watched Barker play? As far as pure ability he's a superb prospect. Arm strength, mobility, size, accuracy, etc. I don't see where he's shown you that he doesn't have the raw ability?
Now if you are questioning his mental ability.....or his ability to translate his skill set to the field of play.....then I absolutely agree with you.
Oh no. I wasn't echoing what I think. I was trying to project how I think the staff feels. I think the staff would favor the balance that Barker could bring and likely would lean towards him starting.
To me, it "may" be similar to the Cowboys' situation. Barker went down. Johnson jumped in and won games. (I totally understand that Johnson hasn't excelled in the way Dak has). To me, if Johnson wins another game between UT and UL....and then performs well in the bowl game that he would be my favorite to start.
I like Johnson's make up, steady and appears to be mentally tough...but he may be the weakest college athlete I've ever seen. If Badet makes the damn catch vs Ga Johnson may have become a legend. I'll say Johnson to start with Hoak as back up. Not convinced Barker ever plays again.
Are you actually commenting that Barker has raw ability in terms of size and mobility? He's 6'2/3 and couldn't outrun Mike Hartline in a footrace. Arm strength is a hard gauge (and somewhat overrated in college)...but I don't see him with a big arm at all.
His claim to fame in his HS rankings was decision making and accuracy...which he's not shown off all that much in the handful of starts he's had in college. Personally, I don't see much of a talent in Barker to back up the HS rankings.
This year alone...UK has established as a running/tough squad on offense as a identity to build upon. And Johnson aids in that identity by forcing teams to honor him in read option game and helps Boom/Benny. I'd rather not throw Barker in there and lose some of our run game and see if Johnson can improve on his passing in off season to go with his legit runnign threat.
I actually thought that SJ did a much better job with the Read Option this last game. He did might one bad read but it was a situation where UGA got penetration all across the line and I am not sure that there was a good option.
I think Barker is done at UK. This is Johnsons team now and with a season under his belt he will thrive.
I think he missed 2 reads. Considering we only ran the read a handful of times, that's not great.
Although to be fair, it may have been a predetermined handoff with the fake keep.
This is an important point. SJ is basically a first time started at this level. He definitely needs this experience to grow. If he doesn't et better, then you find the best option.
A healthy Drew Barker.. Probably will be in competition with both Danny Clark and if Stephen Johnson can learn to throw to a TE consistently as well.
Totally agree that I would go with whomever is best for the team. Right now, I think it's Johnson too.
But seriously. How can you not see the physical tools Barker has? He didn't have the straight line speed that Towles did but was quicker. And Hartline? My goodness I hope you were just trying for a hyperbole. In the USM game alone Barker through a deep ball through double coverage off his back foot to Juice.....the ball was perfectly accurate and was screaming in the air for well over 40 yds. He also had 30 yds rushing at 4.1 yds/carry. Now certainly you may note the level of competition, but the argument is over raw ability not execution of play.
What is a little comforting is what we have returning in the OL, RB, and WR. Not to mention more experience playing.....and more instruction from Gran/Hinshaw. Whomever is the starter doesn't have to set records.....just has make good decisions and protect the ball.
Wow...really...
For the first time in a while we have an offense with an identity, we are competing at a relatively high level, we are in play to finish top 2-3 in the east, and folks want to shake it up with.
The worst thing this staff could do is not name SJ starter. Open competitions can divide a locker room and staff and negatively affect the confidence of whomever gets the nod if it was a close competition and there is a chance the other guy can come in at the first sign of trouble.
Folks we've been through all uncertainty at QB really since hartline left and even he was questioned at every turn, and nothing good ever came from it.
We haven't had stability at the position since Woodson.
Barring disaster, SJ should be named starter very early on next spring. He hasn't even been on campus or in a big boy football league for a year yet and is still developing. A full off season's work of being the guy, getting the lion's share of reps, building a chemistry and confidence with the team and starters, etc will go a long way, and he'll have the experience of an SEC season under his belt.
I understand the position CMS and crew are in. DB is their guy, a founding member of Stoops' Troops, they've promised him the world, they ran off pat for him, and he may be more of a pure QB than SJ, but messing with the mojo can really come back and bite you in the ***.
For the first time in a while we have an offense with an identity, we are competing at a relatively high level, we are in play to finish top 2-3 in the east, and folks want to shake it up with.
The worst thing this staff could do is not name SJ starter. Open competitions can divide a locker room and staff and negatively affect the confidence of whomever gets the nod if it was a close competition and there is a chance the other guy can come in at the first sign of trouble.
Folks we've been through all uncertainty at QB really since hartline left and even he was questioned at every turn, and nothing good ever came from it.
We haven't had stability at the position since Woodson.
Barring disaster, SJ should be named starter very early on next spring. He hasn't even been on campus or in a big boy football league for a year yet and is still developing. A full off season's work of being the guy, getting the lion's share of reps, building a chemistry and confidence with the team and starters, etc will go a long way, and he'll have the experience of an SEC season under his belt.
I understand the position CMS and crew are in. DB is their guy, a founding member of Stoops' Troops, they've promised him the world, they ran off pat for him, and he may be more of a pure QB than SJ, but messing with the mojo can really come back and bite you in the ***.
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We haven't had.
I think they stopped his running because they wanted to take the pressure off him so that he wouldn't get to thinking about fumbling
I think they stopped his running because they wanted to take the pressure off him so that he wouldn't get to thinking about fumbling
Messing with mojo?
How about being able to use the entire playbook?
We have not lost any games because of SJ but until he develops an intermediary game we will not win any big ones that we cant simply run over the opponent.
In play to finish top 3 in the worst division in p5, major accomplishment there
Can you show me a single youtube highlight of Barker in a UK game that showed any speed/quickness that you're seeing?
I just remember some good throws at times (along with as many really bad throws) in the handful of games he's played. ANd I've never seen him make a play with this feet on any level.
That was the best papaw brooks was able to do...tied for 3rd one time in 06'...before that curry did it once in 93' with whomever the qb was then...before that curci in 77' finished first...
That's the whole point. Give SJ an entire off season to develop and get the lion's share of the reps, learn the play book more, work on his mechanics, timing with the wrs, etc...next year he will be able to be more of a passing threat...
I would agree that the coaching staff has had to use a limited playbook with him. He's a juco transfer that wasn't really expected to play a lot. Like I said before he is new to football on this level.