Vaught: Johnson confident he can be starting UK QB
- Thread starter akaukswoosh
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He very well could. His challenge will be to get up to speed against SEC speed. He does that then the job is his.
I really don't understand why people assume Barker is going to play like he did the first two games he ever played and in nasty weather without his running backs to boot. That just seems to be a stupid outlook. Johnson has never even played against this level of competition, people have never seen him live, and yet we have fans here than just "know" how good he is. Come-on people get real.
I know, right. Sounds a lot like the people that were calling on Barker to replace Patrick last year. Barker had never taken a snap yet people wanted him starting.
Well I was one that was wanting Barker to get some snaps all along (not replace Towles) and maybe if he had the season would have turned out differently. The silver lining is that the season turning out the way it did Kentucky got rid of some locker room issues and an OC that was in over his head.
I agree on the locker room and OC issue. However I'm not sold on Barker. I don't think he is much different than Patrick. I'm biased though because I've never been a fan of the bigger QB's with cannons for arms. I'd much prefer a smaller QB who can make quick reads, and is mobile, rather than a big dude with bricks for feat and a huge arm who can't anticipate throwing lanes/windows.
Or why they've skipped over Gunnar Hoak. He's on campus as well. I see Hoak having as solid a shot at the job as Johnson.
If any of them can hit receivers on short and medium routes then they should get a hard look.As Wyatt Earp said 'fast is fine but accuracy is everything",if they can throw a ball that can be caught in stride without the receiver having to make a circus catch put them out there.Quick slants,medium crossing routes or swing passes thrown on time will be more important than an occasional 60 yard bomb.
No kidding. If the first question to a QB recruit of "Do you expect to come in here & win the starting job" isnt answered with "Absolutely, without a doubt", then the kid isnt worth a scholarship.
hope he plays that confident & that well in Spring. may the very best QB win & start in the fall.
LEX18 did a short clip on Johnson last night,showed him running mostly,the interview part sounded good ,it seemed like he had adjusted well,he spoke highly of Barker also.
Not sure why people throw Barker and Towles together as two players who are a lot alike. They are more different than alike. Towles is the better athlete, much stronger arm, and much bigger. Barker, according to some, makes quicker decisions with the ball, but that remains to be seen. :football:
Re Johnson, he's got to get bigger....says he's working on it. SEC LBs/DEs will break a 180 pounder in half.
Thank you Levibooty. And just who are these posters? I sometimes think that some of them are posers just trying to cause dissension on the board. - And others, I just question their knowledge and understanding of the sport. Go Cats!!
“I bring a great deal of talent to the team and I can help these guys to a championship. . ."
Dude doesn't lack confidence, that's for sure.
Dude doesn't lack confidence, that's for sure.
Barker... Johnson... Hoak... Mattingly.... Then add the 2017 kid from Florida... Mac Jones
Beats me who rises to the top... Different offense could require a different skill set than what some of the guys have in the tool box...
Should be an interesting few months... I will be surprised if a QB isn't awarded the job post spring... Actually I'll be disappointed.
Beats me who rises to the top... Different offense could require a different skill set than what some of the guys have in the tool box...
Should be an interesting few months... I will be surprised if a QB isn't awarded the job post spring... Actually I'll be disappointed.
You never know what a guy really has until he is able to relax and play. Don't think Drew got a chance to get there at all last year and still looked jittery which is understandable in your first real action. Kinda like Derek Willis situation. Hopefully he learns to settle in and mix a little more calm with his gung ho and see what he can do. Had a lot of real dicey throws last year into traffic and some missed pretty bad on some others. So far hasn't given me much confidence but like I say we probably haven't seen the true Drew yet.
Personally, I am not sure why fans are touting any of these QBs over the others. None of them had established a positive reputation on the SEC playing field. We have a competition and all we can hope is that one or more develops into a good to great P5 QB.
I hope Barker is confident as well. I want them both giving it a great shot, and the resulting competition getting us a guy who can help this team to a better year than the last couple. If we're ever going to compete in the SEC we've got to have quality depth, and good competition at every position including QB.
Whoever wins the job will have the benefit of Experienced wr RB and a oline with good talent and experience. Plus a stud te. The biggest reason I am not worried is Gran and Hinshaw will put a good product on the field with whoever wins the job. Barker and Johnson both have the ability to be good solid quarterbacks. Whoever goes the extra mile to leaf the offense wins.
Hoak should get his chance, but, if he doesn't win the job outright, then my hope would be for a redshirt.
LOL
"with bricks for feat"
That wasn't just for your spelling, I have no idea who you are but I would love to have the chance to bet on him in a race with you------or about 95% of the other posters on here.
He also won the shuttle event at the Elite 22 competition, which included a 5' 10" athlete playing QB. Huge misuse of his talent for him to not be allowed to run the ball last year.
Guess I got a D or an F on my essay, oh well. Not understanding what I have to do with being in a race with Barker, but I'll play your silly little game.
Yes, Barker would destroy me in a race. You got me, I can't be a P5 college QB. My jealousy of Barker led me to my comments above. :joy:
I don't think he is the answer at QB. If he wins the job, then good for him. In his limited time last year I saw several throws that were absolutely horrible and have yet to see this amazing speed that people keep talking about.
The point of my original post before you got sidetracked with spelling errors was that I would rather have a smaller, more elusive, and very accurate intermediate passer that I would a big, "fast", cannon arm QB. Being able to throw a football hard and far is great, but if you can't anticipate where your WR is going to be, it's pointless.
I think the reason people are high on Johnson, and are high in the backup QB in general, is that they know that a surprise talent is the only shot we have at a really great season. We've seen Barker. I'm not saying he can't develop into a nice QB, but from what we've seen, it's irrational to think he becomes a world beater by game 1, or really, even halfway through the season. Fans know that UK's only chance at having a big time season is finding a diamond in the rough. Our perpetual need for a savior is what always drives the fans to want the next thing. THat will only change when we finally land a legit superstar QB that can compete at the highest levels!
First of all NEVER admit to a spelling error, call it a typo, you were on your iphone, typing while driving (well, maybe not), etc. And I seldom call out spelling because those things happen, although I cringe when I see how so many interchange reins and reigns, that is not a typo, but in this case I thought interchanging the letter was funny.
Also, sorry, but I thought you were talking about Towles, your description fit him much better IMO. If you can't outrun Barker then you aren't very fast.
And yes, our last QB that was good this century was a 5.6 that many on here claimed couldn't throw the ball ten yards, LOL. We have only had four four star QBs this century, (counting Moss, not 5.7 Newton, using Rivals) and so far only Woodson has panned out.
Of course he did didley until his fourth year, so too early to give up on Barker, in fact I would have liked to see Towles with these coaches AND improved talent (more experience and a left tackle mostly).
I always admit when I'm wrong, just one of my many character flaws I guess. Truth be told I was sitting at my desk at work and typing faster than I could think and not devoting the time to my post that was needed. lol
I'm not against any UK QB, I hope whoever is named the starter succeeds. I do however have a preference on the type of QB I would like to see run the type of offense that we have been told will be implemented with the new additions to the staff.
I suppose being a smaller guy leads me to support the smaller guys. I just think in size is highly overrated when it comes to QB's as well as arm strength, UNLESS they are being asked to throw deep post and go routes on a constant basis, then it's needed. Accuracy and quick decision making are much more important, IMO in the offense we will see.
Glad you didn't take my last post as me being serious. I never take message boards seriously, and always enjoy a good debate and other peoples opinions.
Maybe you would like to resurrect Audie Murphy, recruit him to UK and point to his WWII achievements and anoint him as our quarterback savior.
Although I appreciate your suggestion, and I'm not saying that it's unreasonable or lacks value, but I'd rather go with someone in the mold of D. Brees or R. Wilson.
I can't buy this. I formed my opinion about Kentucky football fans over a QB controversy that should have never happened. Kentucky fans spent years vigorously poor-mouthing Mike Hartline because they wanted another Andre Woodson. That abuse went on even though Hartline was thrust into the starting role his SO year and injure early in his Jr year. They couldn't wrap their brains around the fact that Hartline didn't have the same gifts that Andre did but he still played the game very well with the talent he did have. That is just one of the reasons I think a lot of Kentucky fans are ignorant of football in general and can't appreciate the less glamorous side of the game. You'll see some pretty silly posts and arguments with people who have played the game here. It is the arrogance of a Kentucky basketball fan coupled with the ignorance of a Kentucky part-time football fan and my personal opinion is they are often lead by their mentor ---Matt Jones.
People are high on an unknown quantity such as Johnson because they like the instant gratification they get from our basketball stars that can come in a make a difference in one year. They imagine seeing a John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, or Karl Townes type of impact player coming in and "surprising" the football world with Heisman like performance. They want to see a repeat of the Mumme shockwave that enthralled us for a few years. Even though it didn't have staying power in the SEC it was fun compared to the Curry years.
In the real world that coaches and players exist the old adage is heard all across the Nation, "It all starts with recruiting" is repeated by nearly everybody. The next thing you hear is "Recruiting is important but it is nothing compared to a coaches ability to develop talent". This is very true but what is lost at Kentucky most of the time even though it is often repeated is development takes time. All of that, Recruiting, development, and time is routinely lost in the minds of Kentucky fans who are wanting that "Surprise" . It doesn't matter if the surprise comes as a new offense nobody has seen or a QB nobody has heard of our fans want that instant gratification. It sure would be nice wouldn't it? A winning lottery ticket is so much more appealing than a lifetime of work too.
Stoops is IMO going about this in a very solid fashion. That's not to say he hasn't made some mistakes but most football savvy people whose opinion I value think he is putting all the basic building blocks in place with recruiting and hiring of coaches. I myself think Dawson was one of Stoops mistakes, I also think Gran and Hinshaw are examples of Stoops making the right moves. I think hard work over a number of years will build a strong program and last longer than some surprise.