Will we have another battle for starting QB this offseason?

WildcatofNati

Heisman
Mar 31, 2009
8,183
12,420
0
Thoughts?
One scenario is the Green Bay camp, or, in college, this year's Mississippi State camp. You have a guy and there is no competition whatsoever. Rodgers is going to start for Green Bay; Dak is starting for Miss. St. There's no question.

Another is a camp where it's a true open competition. Like UK had in 2013.

I would guess that next year is somewhere in between that. Barker is the presumed starter and it's his job to lose, but he could lose it. Or Phillips or Hoak could win it, whichever way you look at it.
 

Anon1712931820

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2008
9,060
2,141
0
I pray to God that we don't because the way Stoops handles it publicly sucks lol. I want one guy to be THE MAN and have the confidence of his teammates that on Saturday he will be leading them and get 75+% of the practice reps with the first team.
 

TBCat

Heisman
Mar 30, 2007
14,317
10,331
0
Hopefully there is more time dedicated in practice to the passing game whoever the starter is. To me it looks like we get almost no reps on passing routes. Again I attribute this to Stoops' focus on the running game.
 
Nov 27, 2009
21,246
21,450
0
Since Woodson left it really hasn't mattered that much who the QB has been. None have been very impressive outside of a few games here and there like Hartline against SC before he went out with an injury. It is a huge reason UK hasn't done squat for a very long time.
 

kb22stang

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2005
10,902
4,384
0
Hopefully there is more time dedicated in practice to the passing game whoever the starter is. To me it looks like we get almost no reps on passing routes. Again I attribute this to Stoops' focus on the running game.


Where do you guys dream up this's stuffs? Is there some kind of committee that thinks of stupid ways to criticize Stoops?
 
  • Like
Reactions: merrimanm

Katwatcher

Sophomore
Feb 17, 2003
563
153
0
I pray to God that we don't because the way Stoops handles it publicly sucks lol. I want one guy to be THE MAN and have the confidence of his teammates that on Saturday he will be leading them and get 75+% of the practice reps with the first team.

There is always competition for starting positions, quarterback is no exception. It might not draw the attention that we had this past season. but its in the coaches mind constantly.. Phillips will certainly challenge Barker and also the new freshmen coming in.

I think its good policy to wait till the last couple of weeks before season begins for the staff to announce who the starters will be. That keeps everyone competing. jmho
 
  • Like
Reactions: merrimanm

TBCat

Heisman
Mar 30, 2007
14,317
10,331
0
Where do you guys dream up this's stuffs? Is there some kind of committee that thinks of stupid ways to criticize Stoops?
I don't know is there a there a committee that thinks of stupid things like you post.
 

shutzhund

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2005
29,202
2,619
0
I'd say the handwriting is on the wall. Coaches, not just ours, get tunnel vision when it comes to qbs. I fear Barker's career will mirror Towles unless the young guys take over.
 

Floydboy12

Sophomore
Oct 31, 2015
150
110
0
If I were Coach Stoops every position would be an open competition. If we have been recruiting as well as the rankings suggest, by now there should be a worthy player for every spot. I look at a program like Iowa who played for the Big 10 championship last night without a roster of 5 stars. You can win without them. But it takes extremely hard work, mental discipline, and toughness to do it. I think we for some reason have a culture of entitlement within our program with some players. Why they feel that way with our lack of success I have no idea, but it seems to be there. If I'm Stoops, every position is open and on the line, because Stoops and his staffs jobs sure are.
 
  • Like
Reactions: merrimanm
Feb 21, 2006
8,403
9,162
0
As it stands right now...it wouldn't be much of a competition...

This staff needs to bring in a transfer or Juco...a mobile athlete...

If everything was in place for DB...if we had a competitive OL, a 1,300 yd RB, and a play making/clutch WR...I would say let him have it...

but we don't...

we lack consistent play making ability and production and a line that can give the QB be enough time...so we need some sort of versatility and ability at the QB position right now...

somebody who can extend plays and make them on his own...
 
Last edited:

WildCard

All-American
May 29, 2001
65,040
7,390
0
There shouldn't but there probably will be. I say that mainly based on this staff's extraordinarily poor handling of the QB position. Invest a year in Whitlow then move him to TE. Invest 2 years in Towles then watch him transfer. If Phillips is as good as some think, with no investment (or performance history) in Barker, I would say there will be a "competition". IMO, HUGE mistake to not have better prepared Barker (or Phillips) this past season.

Peace
 

Anon1712931820

All-Conference
Apr 11, 2008
9,060
2,141
0
There is always competition for starting positions, quarterback is no exception. It might not draw the attention that we had this past season. but its in the coaches mind constantly.. Phillips will certainly challenge Barker and also the new freshmen coming in.

I think its good policy to wait till the last couple of weeks before season begins for the staff to announce who the starters will be. That keeps everyone competing. jmho
Most top teams know on a regular basis who the man, so to speak, is going to be before the season starts. Yes competition breeds results on many occasions, but the QB is the leader of your team and it has an effect on the rest of the team in practice if they don't know who is going to be their leader. I hope Barker grabs it by the ball and at the start of fall camp Stoops can come out and say Barker has proven without a doubt that he is the starter. Not this, "Both quarterbacks are doing well and we will see".
 
Oct 1, 2001
5,199
1,898
0
Drew will be the starting quarterback and a team leader so desperately needed at this point of time. I hope to God Mark doesn't go through the "competition is open" coach speak.
 

shutzhund

All-Conference
Nov 19, 2005
29,202
2,619
0
Drew will be the starting quarterback and a team leader so desperately needed at this point of time. I hope to God Mark doesn't go through the "competition is open" coach speak.


I swear I think I heard someone say something similar about Towles last year.
 

Katwatcher

Sophomore
Feb 17, 2003
563
153
0
Most top teams know on a regular basis who the man, doing well and we will see".[
We did have the competition this spring and fall though. It may have been a competition in name only, I honestly don't know.
After watching Barker and Towles perform in the games, I feel they made the right choice by choosing Towles. There are so many things to consider when evaluating talent, especially a quarterback thats going to be your team leader.

All of this is now water under the bridge, and another competition is underway. I think Barker has the talent to lead the team, but Phillips and the freshman coming in may have their own ambitions to do the same.

With a another year under their belt coupled with a group of redshirt freshmen linemen ready to compete, there could be huge improvement next season. I'm sure the coaches learned from this season they need to be on same page. I hope they realize they did not get the most out of some players, and need more discipline then they applied. The bottom line is that 2015 was a learning year for players and coaches. jmho
 

Levibooty

All-American
Jun 29, 2005
26,547
7,667
0
I don't want to hear anything about a QB competition. That didn't do a dang thing for us this past year, in fact it may have hurt. I would like to see the back up QB get reps so that he is prepared. I don't buy this idea that the starter has to get every snap during the season to develop. I think the most benefit to the team is to have your back up getting reps and knowing he is being developed. That also better prepared him if he does have to take over for some reason. Addressed properly during the season tension on the team is relieved and everybody feels they are contributing.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,100
24,958
113
I hope there is no legit QB competition...usually that just states if you have a two or more QBs...than you for sure don't have 1 really good QB.

We really need Barker to take the job (warts and all) and stabilize the QB position. And this would allow Dawson?Stoops to focus on our OL issues, WR drops, WR piss poor routes at times, RB blocking, etc..all the little things that are also holding our offense back as it's not all a QB issue.
 

Rickman

All-Conference
Jul 18, 2005
4,950
4,617
66
QB discussion was vastly overrated all year long. With the tools they had (WRs, OL, play calling), the QB really didn't matter much. Granted, part of that was also QB play that left a ton to be desired. Neither was remotely capable of overcoming the weaknesses around them.

If Tate comes in and proves to be a good LT (which would be a huge upgrade), our offense will look a ton better. If someone - even a true frosh like Landon - can come in and be a good RT (and even bigger upgrade), we'll actually have a chance to look decent on O. I know it isn't optimal to start a true frosh on the OL, but we have to find a RT. (pretty confident that Tate will be our LT) We also need to be able to leave GAA at his natural position of OG.

If we solve the tackle spots, our QB play will look a ton better. Our running game will be better. We may be able to utilize our talented TE in the passing game. Our WRs may have more time to get open. And it should be easier for the OC to call a good game.

In short, everyone still seems focused on the QB spot when the focus should be on the Tackles.