How well Towles play depends on Shannon Dawson

[UKani]

Through 4 games we've seen Shannon Dawson call some long bombs to start the game against Louisiana Lafayette and saw Dawson not make adjustments to help out the QB and give him some hard throws in the passing game against Florida and an over aggressive DLine to start the game.

But against South Carolina and again against Mizzou, Shannon Dawson started out by giving Patrick Towles easy throws and completions to start the game. This allows Towles to get in rhythm early. Notice also when that happens Patrick Towles looks like a totally different QB. I hope that Shannon Dawson has learned what it takes to get his starting QB going. That's no fault of Patrick Towles, many QBs are like this in college and the NFL.
With that said how well Towles plays is all dependent upon how Shannon Dawson calls the game. Shannon Dawson didn't call the plays at WVU and through 4 games we are seeing him evolve as a play caller. Utilizing a moving pocket, putting a TE at the line to help your tackles, and requiring your RBs to help block were all good adjustments against a really good Mizzou DLine. Those same tweaks were needed against Florida, along with some quick slant routs or some quick out throws..... Shannon Dawson is evolving and Towles is benefiting.

 

[Gary4UK]

Florida was causing us to not play as good as we can... .If we played them Saturday, I think it would turn out different.... JMO

 

[PRPcoach]

I hear you Kani - but I think you also can make the argument that vs. Fla - Towels played tight, the interception early spooked him and he quit throwing to the middle of the field, and it basically forced Dawson's hand into having to eliminate part of the playbook.
Fast fwd a week - Towles was sharp, and it allowed Dawson to use his full playbook. He called a GREAT game on Sat - and even with the awful field position over and over again, we did enough on O to win the game..

 

[Levibooty]

Didn't Towles say something about him having gotten into a bad throwing motion and correcting it after the UF game? He was throwing 3/4 instead of over the top.

He did come out against Mizzou throwing a much more catchable pass than Florida. I'm not sure he threw a single pass in the Florida game that wasn't high. Something got corrected! Maybe a few things. The OL certainly got some help from the TE and RB position in the Mizzou game they didn't get in the UF game.

 

[dcspurlock]

The more I think about how crappy our field position was almost every position the more impressed I am with the way our QB played. Takes a mentally tough QB to keep focus backed up in your own end zone starting a drive against a defense like that. An early mistake seems to rattle him though. Hopefully he grows and Saturday gives him confidence going forward. But some of our 90+ yard drives against that defense were incredible.

 

[kats23]

Dawson played to Patrick's strength Saturday. Let him scramble, short high % passes and giving him more options by using the tight end. Save the debate for how good Towles is or isn't. That's been run through the ringer at this point. The best thing Dawson did was get the entire offenses' confidence up by getting a few short passes completed and getting them into a nice rhythm. Dinking and dunking it down the field isn't the worst thing in the world with this team. It's how you're going to win most games and stay in most games. The biggest key is keeping defenses on their toes and I thought for the most part Dawson did a nice job of that Saturday.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

I totally agree with OP. Dawson needs to keep rolling out the pocket for PT on some plays and let him run more on draw plays. I think those two things really benefit his game. I think PT will be up and down with his accuracy all year long. Dawson needs to let PT make plays with his running ability every game.

 

[StubbornPenny]

PT running get him in his groove. It's part of his game. Use it.

PT and Dawson calling for the middle of the field changes our offense immensely.

He's also helped a lot by a consistent running game, aka Kemp.

 

[hmt5000]

I hear you Kani - but I think you also can make the argument that vs. Fla - Towels played tight, the interception early spooked him and he quit throwing to the middle of the field, and it basically forced Dawson's hand into having to eliminate part of the playbook.
Fast fwd a week - Towles was sharp, and it allowed Dawson to use his full playbook. He called a GREAT game on Sat - and even with the awful field position over and over again, we did enough on O to win the game..

Field position was huge in that game. If we can flip the field we score another couple times.

Also agree that when towles is playing well they open up the playbook and when he's not they seem to go ultra conservative. We have to play on the edge to beat msu, ut, and aub this year. So towles will have to play well and Dawson will have to be a little aggressive.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

I'd put a large part of Towles struggles against Florida on the oline and receivers. As bad as he played, if Baker catches that TD it's a different game.

I honestly believe when the Cats break the Florida streak it will be on the road. Looking back, there was so much pressure on these guys to deliver against UF and it made them play tight. Next week, not nearly as much pressure against possibly a better team and they deliver.

But you're right that Dawson is evolving as a playcaller with this team. You begin to learn what is working and what isn't. Dawson called an amazing game Saturday and the first half against SC. It's a thing of beauty to see when it all comes together.

 

[K_TIME]

First and foremast...Towles was simply sharper vs. Mizzou than Florida. Early and late in the game, he was simply seeing the open man much quicker and making better throws. I don't know if I can give that credit (or blame) to Dawson...Pat just threw it better. The pass to Conrad when backed up to our endzone was tremendous. Another crossing route to Juice with a blitzing LBer hitting Towles as he released was outstanding as well.

Secondly, I think UF has a better defense was part of that. I'd also argue, Mizzou had Charles Harris at DE and he was unblockable at times. But I didn't see the rest of the Mizzou DL as good as UF. UF had two DE that we couldn't block very well and a DT that generated good pressure. Mizzou had one DE, #79 at DT was solid but the other DE wasn't that big of a problem.

Finally, I'd give Dawson credit for adjusting to leaving in a RB to hlep Mosier on Mizzou DE. We needed that more than a RB in passing route was helpful to Towles.

 

[gjcollins79]

Towles played a fantastic game Saturday night and had support all around him. JoJo Kemp was a force and the WRs certainly did their job.
Next two weeks should be a lot of fun with EKU coming to town and Auburn coming in limping.
These boys could be 5-1 heading to Starkvegas.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Love what Dawson says about Mosier and JoJo, but his letting Towles run boot in 3rd and long is why this guy will be a great teacher and coach.
http://ukfootball.bloginky.com/2015/09/27/qa-dawson-after-missouri-win/

 

[RV2]

... Dawson called an amazing game Saturday and the first half against SC. It's a thing of beauty to see when it all comes together.

Amazingly both were against cover 2 defense. Of course there's probably not any correlation but against a man defense your guys have get open and must make plays against their guys.

 

[Poetax]

I hear you Kani - but I think you also can make the argument that vs. Fla - Towels played tight, the interception early spooked him and he quit throwing to the middle of the field, and it basically forced Dawson's hand into having to eliminate part of the playbook.
Fast fwd a week - Towles was sharp, and it allowed Dawson to use his full playbook. He called a GREAT game on Sat - and even with the awful field position over and over again, we did enough on O to win the game..

Didn't see many of those down the middle passes, but I am sure glad that he let the big TE roll in the MO game.

 

[UKani]

I hear you Kani - but I think you also can make the argument that vs. Fla - Towels played tight, the interception early spooked him and he quit throwing to the middle of the field, and it basically forced Dawson's hand into having to eliminate part of the playbook.
Fast fwd a week - Towles was sharp, and it allowed Dawson to use his full playbook. He called a GREAT game on Sat - and even with the awful field position over and over again, we did enough on O to win the game..

Yes, but this is also why I talked about the evolution of Shannon Dawson as a play caller. There is no doubt in my mind that the Florida DLine dictated the game and got into Patrick Towles head. What I'm saying in terms of Shannon Dawson's play calling as regard to that game is #1 Dawson didn't utilize the RBs for blocking nor did he use his TE, nor did he move the pocket. All of this would help block that Florida DLine. That DLine flustered Towles.... Also quick and short throws tire down the DLine as well and builds a rhythm for the QB. That was done during the Mizzou game, not the Florida game. So the evolution of Shannon Dawson's play calling is tied to Patrick Towles quality of play as well.