I know he isn't doing everything text book or perfect, but I think that Stephen Johnson has earned the right to be the man going forward at qb...yes, he has some things to work on, but I think that with continuted practice reps and now with the extra month of bowl practices he has great upside and I love his cool demeanor on the field...what say you?
Time For This Discussion...
- Thread starter sluggercatfan
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Not yet. UK isn't necessarily winning games because of him. He needs to become a much better passer. More consistent. The turnovers have to stop at some point I'd think.
With that being said, I think he's been remarkable so far. People might forget, but this is his first season in major college football. He was recruited to be Barker's backup. He seems to do a good job of "forgetting the last play" and plowing on. Certainly, I've become a fan. Just think he needs to keep improving before thinking of him as the rock solid favorite at QB for 2017.
GBB!!!
With that being said, I think he's been remarkable so far. People might forget, but this is his first season in major college football. He was recruited to be Barker's backup. He seems to do a good job of "forgetting the last play" and plowing on. Certainly, I've become a fan. Just think he needs to keep improving before thinking of him as the rock solid favorite at QB for 2017.
GBB!!!
Maybe not 'rock solid' favorite, but the job should be his until somebody beats him out. And I don't think he's reached his ceiling.
Let's see how Barker recovers and take a look at Hoak.
SJ has performed very well and we are lucky to have him this year.
But it would be a mistake to not see what the others can do.
As well as he has played, SJ has limited the offense somewhat with his lack of ability to hit the seam route or any route with the TE.
His mechanics may also cause some limitations.
I am confident the fumbles will be corrected.
It will be a good problem to have next year.
SJ has performed very well and we are lucky to have him this year.
But it would be a mistake to not see what the others can do.
As well as he has played, SJ has limited the offense somewhat with his lack of ability to hit the seam route or any route with the TE.
His mechanics may also cause some limitations.
I am confident the fumbles will be corrected.
It will be a good problem to have next year.
I didnt see enough "wow" from Barker in his few cameos to make me feel strongly one way or the other. SJ is winning games and ultimately that's all I care about. If we have a QB who can do it and look good in the process Im all for it. Barker was named starter for a reason but SJ has definitely upped the ante.
Needs to be a wide open qb race in spring practice next year. May the best man win.
SJ hasn't been a world beater and Barker we haven't seen enough of at this point. And we have no idea if Hoak or one of the qbs may be the true stud we all want at qb.
Every position, every year should be wide open for the best player IMO. I'm sure if someone was better than Tom Brady the Patriots would start that person
SJ hasn't been a world beater and Barker we haven't seen enough of at this point. And we have no idea if Hoak or one of the qbs may be the true stud we all want at qb.
Every position, every year should be wide open for the best player IMO. I'm sure if someone was better than Tom Brady the Patriots would start that person
The race would certainly be wide open coming into the season next year. I don't think Johnson has done enough to be 100 percent the guy, and I think Barker will get a chance when he is healthy. Barker had one heck of a first half against Southern Miss and then he may have gotten injured and that may have really set him back on his success.
The real question is whether this offense is better because of Johnson. With Johnson we don't really pass the ball and we almost force the run. That's been successful. Obviously, we think our offense could be better with a passing game, but to some degree I think that we are doing a great job making sure that we run the ball and limit mistakes (except the fumbles). It also may be helping our defense. So, we have to figure out if, as a team, we are better with Johnson and a more one dimensional offense, or if we are better as a team with Barker. Also have to figure out how the team themselves might react to a change.
The real question is whether this offense is better because of Johnson. With Johnson we don't really pass the ball and we almost force the run. That's been successful. Obviously, we think our offense could be better with a passing game, but to some degree I think that we are doing a great job making sure that we run the ball and limit mistakes (except the fumbles). It also may be helping our defense. So, we have to figure out if, as a team, we are better with Johnson and a more one dimensional offense, or if we are better as a team with Barker. Also have to figure out how the team themselves might react to a change.
I agree with this. Certainly needs to be more consistent but what I like about him is his make up. Doesn't let bad plays fluster him and doesn't let good plays get him too high. And he seems to have command of the huddle. All are good qualities, looking forward to seeing him mature further.
If SJ was more of a threat to run then he would have the upper hand by far (and hit his TE!!!).
He is a good scrambler but not much on the read option.
He is a good scrambler but not much on the read option.
I think he's being told not to run by the coaches. They want to keep him in the game vs. what they have on the sidelines to replace him with. His tendency to fumble doesn't help either.
it needs to be an open competition at this point. He's done a great job at managing the offense but you have to wonder what a decent Passing or Dual Threat QB could with this offense. My goal one of these days is to fgo into a season with a returning QB that there is zero debate he is the man.
Don't disagree with this whatsoever, and I agree with the coaches if it is true.
Still, he does not posses natural running skills, which would make us that more dangerous and solidify his job preseason next year much more.
Scrambling out of the pocket is way different than a set run play. SJ seems to be more Fran Tarkenton than Vick that is for sure.
@bthaunert makes a great point, what if he was a better dual threat guy or better passer? Either could really take this offense to the next level.
Not to say he hasnt been more than serviceable in any way.
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I agree, and said he has a lot of improving to do , but I just now feel more comfortable than I did with DB on the field. I agree about about the tos , but see him as getting better each week because of what he has between the ears. Also had the pleasure of talking some with his mom and dad yesterday on the way back to our car and I can see where he gets his wits from. His dad also said he loved KY and the folks have been great. The bowl game practices should be just what the doctor ordered for him...#GOCATS
Very lucky to have him and I really appreciate what he has done but we have a VERY talented and deep wr corp mostly going to waste If we could add them to our new running attack it would be an awesome offense,
Nice post, we would be way ahead if we had all those extra practices almost every opponent has had for years now.
I'd argue we watch what he does the rest of the year vs. UGA, UT, Appy and UL. Then we'll see him vs. better foes and how he does. But if he can be the QB and we still put up 30+ pts a game vs those teams...he's my QB in 2017.
Next spring, best player plays, at every position.
To do otherwise would be foolish.
End of story.
Thanks for playing, what's next?
To do otherwise would be foolish.
End of story.
Thanks for playing, what's next?
That is true. I personally think that Barker gets a shot or Johnson stays the starter. I don't think that the coaches will change to a redshirt freshman with no experience over a senior who has started 10 games and won a pretty good number of them. If Barker is done and the back is too bad to go again then I think the coaches will bring Hoak in from time to time, but I think Johnson would be the main quarterback.
I think that is the way it always is, but you also have to rely on the guys that you know have experience and you know how they do in the games. You can then bring in backups from time to time and if they begin to get the experience and do better than the starters then they begin to get more reps and more playing time.
Still, this position is not necessarily about the best player. There are a lot of intangibles that go into this position that effect the entire team. So, let's say that our offense in practice moves 10 times better with Hoak. Do we throw him immediately to the fire as a redshirt freshman despite the fact that Johnson will have 10 starts under his belt and a pretty darn good winning record? Also, how do your others players respond to their leader from a year ago no longer getting the position after leading them to a bowl game? So, "best player", when it comes to quarterback, is a lot more than just who does best in practice.
It is his job until Barker or somebody actually beats him out. As things stand right now, he should be #1 going into spring and get any "benefit of the doubt" that goes with being the near season long returning starter. JMO
Peace
Peace
He did wow me in the first half of the first game and if Drew did hurt himself in the second half and tried to play through it before being sat due to his injury, he should get a chance to compete for the starting job. Besides it needs to be that way so that we don't have another Towles/ Barker situation happen. Let them win it on the practice field.
IMO, I don't see Barker staying at UK. I think he sees the success Johnson is having with this team and also knows we have other QB's coming into the program with very similar skill sets that he posses. However, I think they may already be more advanced that he is. I just never thought he seemed like the right fit here, but I was very grateful he helped secure a great recruiting class for us. Just seems like he would be better suited to pull a Towels and try elsewhere. I have nothing against the kid other than he seemed a little immature early on and obviously I could be dead wrong. Just have that feeling we won't be seeing him taking snaps in a UK uniform again.
Captain Obvious says... I want the the QB that gives UK the best chance to win taking the snaps, I don't care who that is.
How are you going to put a QB on the bench when he's winning games?
opcorn: please explain.
opcorn: please explain.13/24 208yds. 2tds/1int to go with 374 yds rushing...bet Mark Stoops would disagree with you:football::football::boxing::boxing::sunglasses:
Exactly what I was thinking, I feel like the coaches have told him to hand off to the running back. Now that we have a chance at a special season we can't afford to lose him to injury.
Defintiely think this was true against MO. But tougher opponents require you to use more options (PI).
Johnson doesn't have the passing game that Barker has, but I think we are a better team because of it. If we were still trying to throw the ball like early in season we would not have developed the running game which has really turned our offense on to a new level.
If I had to pick one player that has been responsible for our latest success I would go with Johnson. He has a calming effect on the whole team and I believe he is well liked by his teammates . Go Cats
What if we win out and win a bowl game.
Barker was with the team yesterday, but I don't know if he dressed or not. Didn't know they took injured players on road trips.
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He's not perfect, nobody can say he has a cannon for an arm, he won't complete 70 percent a game. However, he has something I haven't seen a QB at UK have since I don't k is when. The kid stays calm and poised in the pocket. I think that is a very underrated quality in a QB.
What he did on the final drive against State, the clutch runs against Vandy and Carolina....he's special, just not spectacular.
What he did on the final drive against State, the clutch runs against Vandy and Carolina....he's special, just not spectacular.
I don't like Johnson as much as I like what it FORCES our coaches to do, which is become a run-oriented offense that simplifies the play calling and utilizes our strengths..I just get the feeling that when/if we stick a Barker or Hoak, etc we will go back to becoming a team that tries to get too creative with the play calling that focuses on the pass (which is more hit or miss) instead of becoming a grinding team that uses the wildcat to win games..this is a league that wins games with running the ball, controlling the TOP and playing solid defense..if we stick Barker back there I would almost guarantee you this would look like a totally different offense that tries to become more passing oriented..IMO Barker is more talented and is the better prospect, but Johnson gives us a much better chance to win because of how it forces us to run the ball with the wildcat which is clearly, clearly our strength
If we go out and win them all then I don't think there is any way the coaches can replace Johnson. They may have an "open" competition but it would likely just be as a favor to Barker rather than really looking to replace Johnson. Again, I think there is more to this than just who is better because that could mean so many different things. Barker might be better moving the offense, but a faster offense may put our defense in a bad spot and cause us to also give up more points. So, it might be more productive for us, in the in column, to have Johnson. The effect of those wins will also lead UK players to really back Johnson and wouldn't want him replaced, so that could really hurt team moral as well.
As i said, I am not knocking Johnson, but I think the improvement in the OL and "finding" Bennie has more to do with our improved offense than anything else. Using Conrad as a big mobile blocker also helps. The fact that the D has to worry a lot more about our running game also really helps the passing game now, along with not having as many third and long situations.
Like Woody said long ago, three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad------although with the emphasis on the PI calls and passing in general that may not be quite as true any more. BUT I think we have more excellent
receivers (nothing to laugh about) than ever before and I think a balanced attack is the hardest to defend.
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Johnson is completing 57 % of his passes for 1,100 plus yards, 7 TD and 3 int. Yes his fumbles have hurt us some, but he is 5-1, that is all you need to know. We are most certainly Bowl bound, and the 15 extra practices will only help.
Also, next season he should play at around 200 lbs, not the 183 he is now. This off season strength and conditioning should really help him.
Also, next season he should play at around 200 lbs, not the 183 he is now. This off season strength and conditioning should really help him.
? 292 yards passing against MSU and 205 yards against Mizzou - when you're getting chunk yardage running the ball downhill, there isn't any need to put the ball in the air any more than that. This offense is almost a picture perfect balance of establishing the run to set up the pass. It's been nearly textbook except for the TOs.
After several times when it was clear he should pull the ball and take off but did not, I'm assuming he's gun shy at this point. Just afraid of another fumble.....