Since the start of the year we've seen Mark Stoops and the coaching staff send in Max Smith or Jalen Whitlow from the sideline in relief of the other. If you listen to Mark Stoops' quotes from after this past game it is clear he isn't happy running a two quarterback system. In fact, Stoops and company haven't sounded very fond of the use of both quarterbacks since the beginning of the season. The problem? Neither quarterback has stepped up and proved he is the man for the job. Its clear the coaches would love for one of the two to take the reins and prove they can be the guy, but both have played so inconsistently that is has led to them both being listed at the top of the depth chart week after week. So who is the best option to lead Neal Brown's offense for the rest of the year?
The Case For Whitlow
The best case you can make for Jalen Whitlow to be THE guy going forward for the Cats is his dual threat ability with the ball. Something Jalen brings to the equation that Max simply can't is god given speed and the elusiveness of a running back.
With Whitlow there is an added bonus of making something out of nothing if the offensive line breaks down, whereas Max would take a sack. This year Whitlow has rushed for 169 yards this season some coming on scrambles and some on designed runs that adds another wrinkle to the UK offenses that opposing defenses are forced to prepare for. To go along with those yards,
Jalen has two rushing touchdowns. Whitlow's rushing ability also could be deadly when Kentucky lines up in a goal line package and rolls him out on play action. Whitlow however isn't all about the legs, he has a very good arm that is more than capable of making the throws needed in the Air Raid offense. Whitlow has 321 yards and a touchdown with his arm this season.
The biggest knock on Jalen is his decision making which at times can be very poor (under thrown deep ball in the end zone against Louisville) and can lead to turnovers which this team cant afford to give up with the struggles of the defense. If Jalen Whitlow can improve his decision making and make the right throws taking what the defense gives him then he will be the starter going forward like many predicted at the beginning of the year. Whitlow is simply too dynamic to keep off the field and that may be the deciding factor if Coach Stoops decides to put all his eggs in the Whitlow basket.
The Case For Smith
While not possessing the same speed and scrambling ability as Whitlow, Max Smith presents a strong case himself to be named Kentucky's starter moving forward. Smith, a sophomore, has the arm to make good throws to open receivers on west-coast style routes. Smith can be more accurate than Whitlow a good amount of the time but has also been
called out for his inability to throw the deep ball. In Neal Brown's offense if they want to stretch the field Max will have to be more consistent on deep passes to be the guy this season, and possibly into next season depending on just how good Drew Barker is as a freshman. This season Smith has thrown for 634 yards in four games, racking up huge yardage against Western in week one in the latter stages of that tilt. Smith has four touchdowns to go along with that and one interception. Smith has the arm and the mindset to lead this potentially high powered offense but
the biggest concern for Max Smith is with out a doubt injury concerns. Smith's shoulder has been a question mark this year and he went down last year to injury as well forcing both Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles to see the field. Smith seems to unfortunately have the injury bug and if it continues throughout this year and the rest of his UK career it could take him out of contention for the starting job more than once. Given Max's injury history and his lack of running ability it seems that it would be hard to envision Mark Stoops and Co. going with Smith for the rest of the year as the full time starter.
No matter who the coaches select to name the starter, one must be selected sometime soon. History has proven that if you have two quarterbacks you really have no quarterback (cliche I know) and this offense will have to be handed over to one or the other. While either QB has the skills to make this offense run it has to be said that the offense needs an athlete as talented as Whitlow to be on the field as much as possible. He is a young QB and the decision making is concerning at time but Smith's injury prone tendencies are an even bigger worry and that injury bug could make this a moot point if he goes down again. Whoever is handed the keys to the offense will have earned it, that we can be sure of and trust Mark Stoops with.
Go Cats.
@DaveyRudolphKSR
The best case you can make for Jalen Whitlow to be THE guy going forward for the Cats is his dual threat ability with the ball. Something Jalen brings to the equation that Max simply can't is god given speed and the elusiveness of a running back. With Whitlow there is an added bonus of making something out of nothing if the offensive line breaks down, whereas Max would take a sack. This year Whitlow has rushed for 169 yards this season some coming on scrambles and some on designed runs that adds another wrinkle to the UK offenses that opposing defenses are forced to prepare for. To go along with those yards, Jalen has two rushing touchdowns. Whitlow's rushing ability also could be deadly when Kentucky lines up in a goal line package and rolls him out on play action. Whitlow however isn't all about the legs, he has a very good arm that is more than capable of making the throws needed in the Air Raid offense. Whitlow has 321 yards and a touchdown with his arm this season. The biggest knock on Jalen is his decision making which at times can be very poor (under thrown deep ball in the end zone against Louisville) and can lead to turnovers which this team cant afford to give up with the struggles of the defense. If Jalen Whitlow can improve his decision making and make the right throws taking what the defense gives him then he will be the starter going forward like many predicted at the beginning of the year. Whitlow is simply too dynamic to keep off the field and that may be the deciding factor if Coach Stoops decides to put all his eggs in the Whitlow basket.
The Case For Smith
While not possessing the same speed and scrambling ability as Whitlow, Max Smith presents a strong case himself to be named Kentucky's starter moving forward. Smith, a sophomore, has the arm to make good throws to open receivers on west-coast style routes. Smith can be more accurate than Whitlow a good amount of the time but has also been called out for his inability to throw the deep ball. In Neal Brown's offense if they want to stretch the field Max will have to be more consistent on deep passes to be the guy this season, and possibly into next season depending on just how good Drew Barker is as a freshman. This season Smith has thrown for 634 yards in four games, racking up huge yardage against Western in week one in the latter stages of that tilt. Smith has four touchdowns to go along with that and one interception. Smith has the arm and the mindset to lead this potentially high powered offense but the biggest concern for Max Smith is with out a doubt injury concerns. Smith's shoulder has been a question mark this year and he went down last year to injury as well forcing both Jalen Whitlow and Patrick Towles to see the field. Smith seems to unfortunately have the injury bug and if it continues throughout this year and the rest of his UK career it could take him out of contention for the starting job more than once. Given Max's injury history and his lack of running ability it seems that it would be hard to envision Mark Stoops and Co. going with Smith for the rest of the year as the full time starter.
No matter who the coaches select to name the starter, one must be selected sometime soon. History has proven that if you have two quarterbacks you really have no quarterback (cliche I know) and this offense will have to be handed over to one or the other. While either QB has the skills to make this offense run it has to be said that the offense needs an athlete as talented as Whitlow to be on the field as much as possible. He is a young QB and the decision making is concerning at time but Smith's injury prone tendencies are an even bigger worry and that injury bug could make this a moot point if he goes down again. Whoever is handed the keys to the offense will have earned it, that we can be sure of and trust Mark Stoops with.
Go Cats.
@DaveyRudolphKSR
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