Was CMS To Quick To Name Barker The Starter?
- Thread starter El Gato Calvo
- Start date
Probably not. Next week he will face the toughest D yet, after playing two lackluster defenses. So we will know a little better how good he is.
It may be that Johnson is simply better in games than at practice, if so, can't blame Stoops for starting Barker.
It may be that Johnson is simply better in games than at practice, if so, can't blame Stoops for starting Barker.
My recollection is not perfect, but I recall that Barker was effectively named the starter when Towles transferred. I never got the impression that there was a legitimate competition between Barker and Johnson for the job. It seemed like it was "Drew's team" from day one. I may be wrong about that, though. In any event, it's turned out to be a real blessing that Johnson decided to come here. He's played very well and helped us win 2 games now. Hopefully, he can keep it up and improve along the way. We need him to ....
I thought both Luke Wright and Gunnar Hoak looked more poised / comfortable in spring game than Barker or Johnson but neither got enough snaps to show anything. I believe Hoak is gonna be really good.
No. Barker has the experience with this team and knows the offense.
Stoops named Barker the starter because of fan pressure after Towles began to fall apart. Still think Towles is better than Barker though.
This is probably true, along with hoping to boost faltering season ticket sales.
I have always considered Towles to be better than Barker, but Drew has time to improve and show himself to be an SEC-level quarterback.
I think Barker just needs to relax and play like he's capable of playing.....letting the pressure get to him.....Maybe he will at some point?
And when you consider that Johnson was an "emergency", very late in the game, lightly recruited prospect it probably made plenty of sense to do just that.
Johnson had a workmanlike first start against SC. We will get a better sense of Johnson and the offense in the Vandy, MSU, Mizzou stretch following the AL game. JMO
Peace
Appears that way. Johnson plainly looks like a better fit to run this offense.
But it's hardly surprising Barker began the season as the starter since he was the returning presumed starter, and Johnson was the unknown new guy.
I'll just say It sure is a good thing that we landed that unknown juco late, I don't know what we'd do this year without him (we'd almost assuredly be 0-4 right now). For a program usually known for bad breaks, picking up that kid looks like a rare lucky break for us.
But it's hardly surprising Barker began the season as the starter since he was the returning presumed starter, and Johnson was the unknown new guy.
I'll just say It sure is a good thing that we landed that unknown juco late, I don't know what we'd do this year without him (we'd almost assuredly be 0-4 right now). For a program usually known for bad breaks, picking up that kid looks like a rare lucky break for us.
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Now that there is some good film on Johnson let's see how defenses change the way they play. Barker looked great for first half of USM game. Wonder if he didn't get hurt on that fumble start of half, because he didn't look the same sense then.
Only tape leading on Johnson was not a game plan set for him against a very week defense. Against USC we had to run what we wanted to as it was a must win. Like a rookie in any sport, once they get good tape and teams learn to play against them they the Struggle alittle.
Only tape leading on Johnson was not a game plan set for him against a very week defense. Against USC we had to run what we wanted to as it was a must win. Like a rookie in any sport, once they get good tape and teams learn to play against them they the Struggle alittle.
Guys, we beat a horrible team two weeks ago, and a bad team Saturday night. Glad that SJ proved to be at least capable, which is more than I expected, to be honest, but outside of a couple of nice scrambles, he pretty much handed off to Boom and Snell all night. Once Barker gets healthy, I still think he has considerably more upside.
More life than that first half against USM? The whole team quit that 2nd half.
I love SJ but let's not be too quick to give up on DB.
Neither of them played well against UF. And Barker got hurt early against NSU. So we really don't know how he would have done.
I think for what Gran wanted to do going into the season, it really wasn't. They've had to adjust with the Barker injury and the emergence of Snell has helped hide some of Johnson's deficiencies. Still, it isn't like UK has played a quality opponent durimg Barker's injury. Throw out this week, let's see what happens against Vandy before you have your answer.
However, Johnson should play until he plays himself out of it if Barker gets healthy.
However, Johnson should play until he plays himself out of it if Barker gets healthy.