How Much Will Barker Play?

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Personally, I hope to see Barker play quite a bit vs. EKU. Coach Stoops said he is really itching to get Barker in the game too.

We need to develop a backup QB with some snaps. You never know if PT will get injured or something. Barker will be expected to step right in and play once PT graduates or gets injured eventually. I feel like EKU should be a perfect game to finally see Barker for the first time.

Do you think we'll see him for a full quarter? How do you think he will look in his debut?

The more I think about it, as a coach, you could even start Barker with PT's full support and see how Barker does from the beginning of the game and see if he could get us on the road to a victory vs an inferior opponent like EKU. That way, if Barker looks terrible or if EKU plays us tough, you can always put PT in immediately to save the day.

What say you?

 

[TeoJ]

Hopefully not quite as much as you think,PT is still the starter but would like to see some.

 

[dyersburgcatfan]

I wouldn't start Barker. Put him in sometime the 3rd Qr if we have a comfortable lead...but don't make him play super conservative. Let him get in and play as if the game were close.

 

[Brock28]

Hopefully mop up duty in the second half.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Ideally Towles will come out and blaze the first half.....leaving no doubt. Towles will come out the 2nd half just to establish dominance again....just for a series or two. Then Barker the rest.

 

[Levibooty]

I would like to see Towles come out and play well. I would also like to see Barker play at least a half and even more just to get him experience. I want to see both QB's play well and Barker get his first experience in more than a series or two.

 

[vhcat70]

7 minutes,13 seconds.

 

[mrschwump]

2-3 series.

 

[hay_boyz123]

The staff needs to get Barker quite a few snaps. Towles will be in the NFL and Barker will be the starter next season.

 

[9FFrodo]

3rd series. Hopefully after UK is up 14-0 at the time.
Then, the entire 4th quarter, again, if we take care of business.
Need him to play some when passing isn't considered bad sportsmanship. Reps handing off the ball aren't that helpful.

Btw, hope folks don't freak out when EKU has some success against us at times. I expect that we'll see a LOT of backups getting big time. They'll make mistakes. So, chill.

Also, if Barker happens to light up EKU in his time, that is a good thing and bodes well for our future.
BUT, it doesn't mean he is ready to be the starter versus Auburn.

Perfect timing for this game, btw. Rest guys who are dinged up a bit. Get youngsters some more playing time. Then a bye week to rest and prep for that AU game.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

I'd like to see him every 3rd to 4th series and then the whole 4th of we have a large enough lead.

Needs reps, always only 1 snap away.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

The staff needs to get Barker quite a few snaps. Towles will be in the NFL and Barker will be the starter next season.

Don't think so. Towles would have to be a first or 2nd rounder to leave - and he isn't yet. He loves UK too much to leave as a tweener pick, and I'm not so sure he is a pick yet.

 

[kyboy1998]

I hope he plays very little. If he was to complete a few passes it would just create controversy every incompletion Towles had going forward.

Also EKU isn't that good and Barker has happy feet. After a 10 yard run against scrubs our fans would think he's Micheal Vick with laser precision. That with a closing line of 3-5 for 41 yards and 2 carries for 15.

 

[sgt4269]

I'd say. 2-4 series. Wouldn't be surprised if it was entire quarter

 

[point1zerorock]

3rd series. Hopefully after UK is up 14-0 at the time.

Then, the entire 4th quarter, again, if we take care of business.

^ Close to this. A series in the 2nd quarter then mid 3rd quarter on if the game is in hand.

 

[BleedBlue08]

Does Barker playing mess with Towles' stats?

 

[gsayers]

Some in the 4th.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

The staff needs to get Barker quite a few snaps. Towles will be in the NFL and Barker will be the starter next season.

I hope you're joking. If you aren't, please go back to Rafters permanently.

 

[hmt5000]

stoops mentioned getting barker some meaningful snaps while the game is still in doubt. got to think that they will give him what appears to be the last possession of the first half and then probably the 4th quarter if we take care of business.

 

[maysvilleky]

Hopefully mop up duty in the second half.

This...I think we want Towles and the 1st team to work out any kinks they still have in the offense. Hopefully that all gets taken care of in the 1st half and UK has a big lead going into the 2nd. Then you can bring in Barker.

I don't want us to bring him in just for the sake of bringing him in (and to appease some fans) and still have a close ball game. We don't know how he'll react to live play and we certainly don't want to allow EKU to stick around.

 

[appaws]

The staff needs to get Barker quite a few snaps. Towles will be in the NFL and Barker will be the starter next season.

Don't think so. Towles would have to be a first or 2nd rounder to leave - and he isn't yet. He loves UK too much to leave as a tweener pick, and I'm not so sure he is a pick yet.

So much depends on his continued development the rest of this season. I have always thought he will get a look because of his size, arm, and athleticism. But when I say "a look" from the NFL, I am not talking about being a first or second round pick.

If Goff, Hackenberg, Cook, and Keil are the top tier of NFL prospects currently, it would be useful to make some observations and compare them.

Many have noted that the biggest problem with Towles is his "happy feet" or lack of pocket presence. Of course this can be attributed to failings with the pass blocking making him skittish. Talented QBs have been ruined by being stuck on teams with bad lines. But if you watch Hackenberg, who has a brutal OL in front of him, like turnstyles at tackle sometimes, you can see that he does not demonstrate those same traits of getting "happy feet" at all. Much more solid, and a much more consistent delivery.

People are super excited about Goff right now, he is the trendy one to talk about. I am skeptical of the Cal offense and his physical development. He looks skinny to me and not very strong armed. But I admit I only watched one of his games. Towles has a much better arm than Goff does, IMO. But again, I only watched one Cal game.

Towles has a better arm than Connor Cook as well, so that is a good sign. But of course he is not as good as Cook in other aspects of the game. And it is hard to judge considering what a great team Cook is on.

I don't think he is an NFL prospect at the moment, despite the fact that some commentators like Kirk Herbstriet seem to want to elevate him to that status. He has some of the tools, particularly his arm, but we just can't know about his "head" game. Remember how much of the QB position is mental. That is why we have guys like Jay Cutler, who is John Elway from the neck down, but a big blockhead who shows flashes of brilliance but will never have any more than flashes.

Does Barker playing mess with Towles' stats?

I guess. Do you have him in a fantasy league?

 

[CB3UK]

The staff needs to get Barker quite a few snaps. Towles will be in the NFL and Barker will be the starter next season.

Eeeeeeeeasy there big fella.

 

[ukbrian]

Playing Barker isn't to appease the fans. Playing him is to help get him prepared in case Towles gets hurt.

Towles goes down and some of you would be happy with Barker having played the fourth quarter in a blowout vs. EKU.

Barker needs some snaps. Has nothing to do with Towles being friggin replaced.