The question is, does HINSHAW think he can start in the SEC.
Right now, we HOPE Barker can start in the SEC, and we KNOW Spurier and others wanted him. But, that and $4 gets us a cup of coffee.
Stephen Johnson is Expected to Arrive on Campus Tonight
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The question is, does HINSHAW think he can start in the SEC.
Right now, we HOPE Barker can start in the SEC, and we KNOW Spurier and others wanted him. But, that and $4 gets us a cup of coffee.
I understand that Barker went into a horrendous Dawson offense, but seriously, we've all seen Barker run. The dude is slow to say the least. I don't worry as much as some people do about Barker's 50% completion percentage because of the horrible scheme, but with Barker, you take out an entire dimension of the offense. Maybe I just have a preference to dual-threat QB's (actually, I definitively have a preference with them) because they're not limited to just throwing the ball effectively.
I'm not sure what your standard of athleticism is, but I want a guy with a 4.56 forty running the ball, not a guy with a 4.9 forty. Much easier for Johnson to go around the defense, but if you watch the film, he has the ability to go over the top of the defense as well, which is invaluable when it comes to short yardage/goal line situations.
I'm just saying, if Johnson comes in and has the ability to complete 59 or 60% of his passes, I would take him over Barker if Barker was completing 64 or 65% of his passes, because that added dual-threat dimension.
Is it really that hard to decide whether to be a backup QB at UK in the SEC or at Arky St.?
Rest assured, he's not coming here to sit the bench, and at no point was he sold on the idea that he would sit the bench. He's obviously going to come in and compete if he chooses UK, but I'm sure he realizes that the chance he sits the bench at Kentucky is much, much, much higher than it would be at Arkansas State.
Gran and Hinshaw's track record speaks for themselves. Have developed and coached some great QBs. Known across the country as two of the best football minds out there. If they went after Johnson the second they came to Kentucky, it's for a reason. There are dozens of unsigned QBs left out there in the country they could've gone after, and probably could've gotten considering they're known as fantastic recruiters. Great track records, explosive offenses, well respected, fantastic recruiters, and they instantly go after Johnson. Even wanted him back at Cincinnati. That's all I need to know about him. Offers and star ranking doesn't mean a thing. Rich Brooks said it about Cobb, that he was amazed the big name schools weren't attacking him, and that they knew from the start he was a star. If the staff is this quick to go after him, I'll sure as hell take it over a recruiting website 10 times out of 10. Do I think he'll be a day one starter? Not at all. I think Drew is talented and was thrown in with the sharks. He wasn't put in position to succeed in the slightest when he played, so the people counting him out ready to move on to the next are crazy. But to think Johnson isn't an adequate 2nd string QB right now is absolutely pathetic, given the resources handed to us in film, statistics, and instant coaching interest from two of the best football minds we've had at UK in a while.
Also, I think Johnson coming here will light a fire under Barker to keep his starting job. I think if the staff brought in a scrub just in case of injury and handed the reins to Drew, he would coast and his offseason training wouldn't be near what it needs to be. When Towles and Phillips left, you have to think Drew thought the job was his and was able to "kick his feet up", per se. Nothing to necessarily work for. Now that UK found an impressive QB, he'll have to get back to work and push himself even harder to show the coaches that there should be no doubt in their mind that he will put the team in best position to win. Nothing can go wrong with signing Johnson.
Good point, I had the same thought. It still makes me mad when I think of the quote from our DC when asked about preparing for the different qbs from UL. He basically said they were about the same and didn't require any different prep.
Not sure why people say Drew hasn't shown he's capable. He hasn't yet...but he just finished his freshman season...freshman. is he even 20 yrs old yet? His snaps came when the ship was already sinking, so really ignorant to judge him based off of that alone.
All that said, let's hope we sign a guy that is capable of playing and see what happens. Drew will get it right or the new guy will have an opportunity.
All that said, let's hope we sign a guy that is capable of playing and see what happens. Drew will get it right or the new guy will have an opportunity.
I think Hinshaw and Gran know just a bit more than you do. Just a thought...
Aren't both statements true?
Barker was only a freshmen who didn't play until the offense hit the skids AND he hasn't shown that he's capable.
People should neither be critical of Barker's play nor should they declare that he is going to be an above average SEC QB.
But we don't know that do we? Could be 50% vs. 70% or 58% vs. 60%. No way any of us can judge that.
We only know about Johnson because of Hinshaw. I have yet to hear a poster criticize Hinshaw and his ability to assess the strengths of a QB and to develop QBs. This is the guy who identified Johnson for UK. Hinshaw is the guy whose rep is at stake. Then, the video resonated with many here, as well.
I am going to trust that Hinshae and Gran know what they're doing.
I am going to trust that Hinshae and Gran know what they're doing.
I agree and I really like Hinshaw. I wanted him on Stoops' first staff. But there aren't many uncommitted good QB's left that we could get. Johnson may be the only realistic option at this point. I hope I'm wrong and he comes in here and kills it.
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I too think he's the best of the rest. Just because Hinshaw likes him doesn't mean he's a great QB. However, that doesn't mean he won't be a great QB. Only time will tell. I think Hinshaw is a reall good QB coach. He will coach up all of our QBs.
Which is why I added the stipulation. Is it starting to come full circle for you now? I want a dual-threat. Not a QB that can only run, and not a QB that can only pass. I want a QB that can do both. Now, if one of our QB's were dominant in one fashion or the other and they didn't need to be a dual-threat, that's fantastic, and I would be satisfied with that, but against some of the defenses we will see, a dual-threat QB is the biggest and best weapon that a team could have. It goes a long way in maintaining a consistent offense. If one weapon gets limited, you have others at your disposal.
No
and outside of Tennessee & Ole Miss, everyone else in the SEC is in the same boat for 2016
All of this debate on this guy is pointless. No one knows if he is any good. His offer list is not impressive, but certainly there have been quote unquote "diamonds in the rough" that we have had and other teams have had that came in and did well in big conference football. I guess we will just see what happens if he even joins this team.