screen passes, he will probably have earned half his salary right there. I remember only screen passes behind or too high or misses last year. I think NB gave up on that play in the last half of the season. I know doing pushups doesn't sound like much when a QB misses a screen pass in practice, but I think it's that little motivation to focus and put the ball just in front of the WR so that he gains at least five yards. Usually ours went for a one yard loss. Patrick is so accurate down field and this one facet of his passing game is absolutely essential in the pros, so it's very important that he develop it well.
If Shannon Dawson can teach Towles to throw effective...
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I love the pushup thing. It's not like he is doing up downs at 5am and that's not the intent.
It's programing accountability and stressing the importance of the little things. Love it!
I have a better motivator. How about every time he throws a terrible screen pass he gets sat down and Barker gets brought in.
I keep remembering something that Dawson said about how he evaluates QB recruits. He said that the main thing he looks for is accuracy. He said that he can teach most everything else but it is hard to teach accuracy, He said you either have it or you don't and he can not teach it to a player. Screen passes other short passes need accuracy and touch.
If you will watch some of the games later in the season you will notice that there was very little short stuff thrown over the middle. IMO this was because Brown lost confidence in Towles ability to throw those passes accurate enough to avoid some disastrous picks.
I keep remembering something that Dawson said about how he evaluates QB recruits. He said that the main thing he looks for is accuracy. He said that he can teach most everything else but it is hard to teach accuracy, He said you either have it or you don't and he can not teach it to a player. Screen passes other short passes need accuracy and touch.
If you will watch some of the games later in the season you will notice that there was very little short stuff thrown over the middle. IMO this was because Brown lost confidence in Towles ability to throw those passes accurate enough to avoid some disastrous picks.
Agreed. Frankly I'm not completely sold on Towles. Watching the second half of last year was beyond frustrating. And to a very large extent I believe, like Dawson, that accuracy is just an innate skill that you have as a QB or not. Comparable to a great shooter in Bball. You rarely see someone teach themselves after a certain age to be a great shooter. The other, and probably even more important skill set that Towles struggle with was processing info quickly and making the right decision. That is the one thing that NFL QBs HAVE to be able to do and Towles really struggled with that last year.
That said, he loves this school to his core and seems like a great kid who will work for what he wants. He definitely is mature enough to know what he needs to improve on. Just hearing he was watching LOTS of tape as part of his private lessons with a QB coach this summer was very encouraging.
Hope he puts it all together. Either way...great to have Barker in the wings.
I'm not sold on Towles either..Mel Kiper just rated him one of the top-10 QB's in the nation, YardBarker & FoxSports just rated him the #7 QB in the nation..but the heck with them, what do they know? It's not like they evaluate talent for a living..let's stick him on the bench, he reminds me of Joker and I just don't like being reminded of Joker..I want basketball on grass! I want a QB that can work miracles no matter if it's his first year starting and he's throwing the ball to a bunch of true freshmen behind the worst line in the league! Bench Towles! Those NFL scouts and these darn coaching staffs that keep naming him the starter just don't know what they're talking about! I mean, I know he was the 4th-leading passer in the league and had one of the best first years as a starter in UK history, but come on, I wanted perfection! Guys are supposed to be perfect their first season as starter! He missed on a couple throws and was inconsistent! I don't like that 
let's bench him! And you know what? Boom had some bad games last year and missed a couple holes and had some bad runs, while we're at it, I'm not sold on him either! I mean I know it was his first year starting playing behind a bad offensive line, but I don't care, I want perfection and I want it now! I like skill players that can carry a team regardless of what they have around them! I like basketball on grass and excitement! Let's bench Boom..and AJ Stamps, gosh he was inconsistent too, let's bench him...where was he the second half of the season, he reminds me of Towles..they say he's one of the most talented players on our team, but he wasn't perfect last year and I don't like it one bit Don't even get me started on Garrett Johnson, I mean where was he the second half of the season? Way too inconsistent..he dropped some easy passes..that is something you either have or you don't..Let's bench him.
let's bench him! And you know what? Boom had some bad games last year and missed a couple holes and had some bad runs, while we're at it, I'm not sold on him either! I mean I know it was his first year starting playing behind a bad offensive line, but I don't care, I want perfection and I want it now! I like skill players that can carry a team regardless of what they have around them! I like basketball on grass and excitement! Let's bench Boom..and AJ Stamps, gosh he was inconsistent too, let's bench him...where was he the second half of the season, he reminds me of Towles..they say he's one of the most talented players on our team, but he wasn't perfect last year and I don't like it one bit Don't even get me started on Garrett Johnson, I mean where was he the second half of the season? Way too inconsistent..he dropped some easy passes..that is something you either have or you don't..Let's bench him.
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Start Richie!!!I'm not sold on Towles either..Mel Kiper just rated him one of the top-10 QB's in the nation, YardBarker & FoxSports just rated him the #7 QB in the nation..but the heck with them, what do they know? It's not like they evaluate talent for a living..let's stick him on the bench, he reminds me of Joker and I just don't like being reminded of Joker..I want basketball on grass! I want a QB that can work miracles no matter if it's his first year starting and he's throwing the ball to a bunch of true freshmen behind the worst line in the league! Bench Towles! Those NFL scouts and these darn coaching staffs that keep naming him the starter just don't know what they're talking about! I mean, I know he was the 4th-leading passer in the league and had one of the best first years as a starter in UK history, but come on, I wanted perfection! Guys are supposed to be perfect their first season as starter! He missed on a couple throws and was inconsistent! I don't like that
I like Towles. Has great arm talent. Watch the MSU game again to remind yourself of the throws that he can make that most QBs cannot
That said, his decision-making and his touch must improve for him to approach his potential. IIRC, Andre Woodson struggled with his touch on short passes through his sophomore season.
Towles' accuracy issues, in the past, have often looked like poor footwork/mechanics imho.
The sloppy footwork and questionable decision-making, especially in the second half of the season, could be partially explained by his having lost confidence in the protection.
I am looking for the more physical Dawson running game philosophy coupled with improved pass protection to lead to diminished pressure on our QB. If that happens, I expect Towles' to have a breakout year.
That said, his decision-making and his touch must improve for him to approach his potential. IIRC, Andre Woodson struggled with his touch on short passes through his sophomore season.
Towles' accuracy issues, in the past, have often looked like poor footwork/mechanics imho.
The sloppy footwork and questionable decision-making, especially in the second half of the season, could be partially explained by his having lost confidence in the protection.
I am looking for the more physical Dawson running game philosophy coupled with improved pass protection to lead to diminished pressure on our QB. If that happens, I expect Towles' to have a breakout year.
You don't want your star quarterback playing in fear of being benched over every mistake. Dawson plans a more vertical passing attack than what we saw the last 2 years. Our offense will succeed or not with execution of a more aggressive plan. The coaches are having a quarterback competition, and they will go with the quarterback who gives us the best chance to win in Dawson's system. That doesn't mean our quarterback will never make a mistake.
I'm really looking for Towles to utilize the TE this year. Rarely even looked his way last year (for good reason, for the most part), but a solid TE is a QB's best friend. Would love to see us have a TE or two that opposing defenses have to account for which will open up the outside.
Yes, PT does need to be more accurate on the screens but I'm hopeful we'll see fewer of the slip screens this year. Tired of seeing us run that play so ineffectively over the past several years. Screens to the backs - fine. Screens to the WR for no gain - no thanks.
Yes, PT does need to be more accurate on the screens but I'm hopeful we'll see fewer of the slip screens this year. Tired of seeing us run that play so ineffectively over the past several years. Screens to the backs - fine. Screens to the WR for no gain - no thanks.
It's funny. The more talent a QB has around them, the better a QB usually plays. In this case, the pieces around him should be better this year. I think that translates to a better performance by Patrick.
This the same thread that posters questioned Andre Woodson's and later Mike Hartline's ability to run the offense proficiently. Posters were severe in their criticism and expectations. So, what's needed? Patrick Towles will be just fine and definitely more polished than last year. And, Drew Barker is a half step behind in preparation to take control of the offense.
Towles really likes CJ Conrad, I know that he is pumped to have a legit TE to throw to. He is going to go off this year now that super conservative Neal Brown is gone and the Freshman playmakers know the system. Dawson is going to let it rip, the Towles that we saw against Florida and Miss St. is the real Patrick Towles and that's exciting.
You also don't want your QB throwing some of the type screen passes and short passes over the middle that I saw Towles throw last year. I am pulling for Towles because we need the experience in there but some of the short touch passes just have to improve. The short passing game in the Air Raid sets up most of the rest of the offense and if it is poor the whole offense is going to suffer. I was less than serious about sitting the starting QB after mistakes but better throws in the short stuff is going to be necessary if the offense is to move forward.
I don't know how we know that the Towles we saw in those games which by the way were losses is the real Towles. How do we know that some of those poor performances we saw wasn't the real Towles?
I like Towles and am pulling for his success but IMO we need to wait before the coronation. He definitely has the tools to be a very good QB but if he has not made a substantial improvement in his accuracy especially for the short stuff and his reading of the field he will struggle again this year.
I keep seeing Coach Dawsons statement that accuracy is the one thing he can not teach and that it is an inborn ability that a QB either does or doesn't have so I am skeptical and will wait for my coronation.
someone us going to have to link the comment by Dawson that accuracy can't be taught. That is what I QB teacher teaches. Hard for me to believe he said that.
IMO Towles completion % will go from 57% last year to at least 65% this year. More depth at WR, TE's who can catch, another year of experience and hopefully a little better O line. Now if he could just throw screens. He has the accuracy down field.
Accuracy can be taught.
Especially on the short stuff.
My biggest concern with Pat is him finding the second and third receiver.
He missed seeing several open receivers last season because he ran the ball after he saw his first receiver covered.
Especially on the short stuff.
My biggest concern with Pat is him finding the second and third receiver.
He missed seeing several open receivers last season because he ran the ball after he saw his first receiver covered.
This is the reality. Towles is starting. That was decided in the spring. It was evident when he took every one rep in the spring. Yesterday he took every one rep. This staff doesn't remotely let on publicly how excited they are about Towles.
Stoops the other day said Towles is going to have a great year. Language that is inconsistent with a TRUE QB competition.
QB screens. Yes that will decide the starter for sure.
The Hall of Fame is full of great screen passers.
Yes you are correct the Hall of Fame is full of players that were good at throwing screen passes. They are all players that can make all of the throws and are very consistent . Yes they were also good at getting the ball down field.. The key is they could make all of the throws. I am not saying that Towles isn't going to be able to make all of the throws which a QB needs to do to be most effective but he has been fairly weak with the short stuff to this time.
Concerning the statement by Dawson that it is difficult to teach accuracy. It was a statement in one of his interviews about what he looks for in his QB recruits. He stated that his number one thing is accuracy because he could teach everything else but that it is very difficult to teach accuracy and that his opinion is a QB either has the ability for accuracy or he doesn't and if he doesn't he likely will not be a great QB. He said a lot of other coaches think they can teach accuracy but he just doesn't believe it to be possible if they do not have the natural ability for accuracy.
In the past several year UK has had several QBs that had cannons for arms that never seemed to get better because they just were not accurate enough. Even with a very good QB coach they just never seemed to become more accurate. Boyd and the big kid from Carmel Indiana come to mind. I can not think of his name at this time. They had the size, big arms, and were mobile but never could get the accuracy down. Heck they had Peyton Mannings QB coach at UT teaching them and they did not become accurate. I believe there is truth in Dawsons statement.
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All quarterbacks make an occasional bad throw. No point obsessing over the lowest moments of last year, when Towles was a 1st time starter. Let it go. With another year of experience, Towles will improve like all players improve with experience. Our coaches are having a quarterback competition, and they will pick the quarterback who gives our team the best chance to win. Irishcat and SanAntonioCat got this right. It is remarkable how much better a quarterback plays when he is surrounded by better players on his offense. This year, we have better tight ends and 10 capable wide receivers. Boom Williams will be an improved player, for the same reasons. I remember everyone slamming Woodson and Hartline when they were 1st time starters. Even Tim Couch had a rough start to his career. All of them turned out alright. Towles is 1 of the top returning quarterbacks in our league.
There is some similarities shared by Towles and some minor league pitchers. Great arm. size and potential but can't hit the corners of the plate.
So far Towles is a Ky boy with lots of fan and media hype but not a whole lot of production when under the gun against tough competition.
Can he change? That has been the unanswered question going into his fourth year at UK. Maybe we expect too much.
So far Towles is a Ky boy with lots of fan and media hype but not a whole lot of production when under the gun against tough competition.
Can he change? That has been the unanswered question going into his fourth year at UK. Maybe we expect too much.
I disagree, and I will give you evidence. You can focus on the plays that were not perfectly executed, but all quarterbacks have those. Towles was sacked and hurried more than any other SEC quarterback last year. Pressure results in missed throws. Quarterbacks are not machines. As a sophomore, and a 1st time SEC starter, Towles ranked #5 in the SEC in passing yards per game. Only Thompson, Prescott, Sims, and Wallace were better. Towles did this with the least experienced receivers in the league. He outranked Nick Marshall and Matty Mauk. Of the 4 SEC quarterbacks who outperformed Towles, only Prescott returns this year. Our quarterback is 1 of the best in our league, and he will be even better this year with a better group of receivers. The numbers don't lie.
Accuracy can be greatly impacted by things like reading defenses, making progressions, being calm, etc. So yes, you can have some impact on accuracy through coaching. I have no doubt of this.
Towles can be as good as they say. I also don't doubt this. We'll see if his head game catches up to his big arm soon. If it does, he will be all they have him pegged for. I love that he's being pushed by a VERY talented player nipping at his heels. I think competition is as good as any coach in terms of motivating, etc.
Towles can be as good as they say. I also don't doubt this. We'll see if his head game catches up to his big arm soon. If it does, he will be all they have him pegged for. I love that he's being pushed by a VERY talented player nipping at his heels. I think competition is as good as any coach in terms of motivating, etc.
Accuracy can be impacted by getting hit in the pocket too. Towles was sacked and hurried last year more than any other SEC quarterback. It amazes me that nobody seems to get that.
IMO a fair comparison . IMO a QB that has shown promise but still has minor league accuracy with some of his throws. The good thing however is he is still of the age a likely minor leaguer would be and has the potential to move up to the bigs.
I dont doubt this kids potential but unlike some of the posters in this thread am not quite ready for the coronation ceremony until I see more accuracy and better reads of defenses. He is a redshirted Junior starting his fourth year in the program. inexperience is no longer a viable excuse. Time to step up too the plate and hit it out of the park. If he doesn't this year I doubt he ever will.
Agreed on towels seeing 2nd 3rd receivers he missed s couple big plays last year because of it. I'm not sold that Barker is gonna be a great QB he played in NKY not much competition there and dude keeps getting in trouble when he got punched at EKU not one person helped him that tells you a little. Hopefully he will learn a lot if Pat starts this year a mature some and be ready when his chance comes
Its the same thing with every fanbase, the backup qb is always the most popular guy on the team. We had fans saying Mason was a much better qb than Murray was but Richt and Bobo wouldn't give him a shot. We saw how right they were. Towles is a known commodity and like all qbs he has his strengths and weaknesses. Barker is an unknown except for what he did in HS. The only givens are that Barker has been through 2 spring practices and starting his 2nd fall camp, 2 OC's and he has yet to take the spot. That should tell you who the UK staff feels gives them the best chance to win. I wish Towles was our qb, don't know about Barker we could have a whole group on his level or he could be better than anyone we have, he ability on an SEC field is an unknown and any results predicted is speculations.
Amen Blue, Pat had a very short internal clock last year, he left the pocket many times when there wasn't any real pressure on him. Typical of a first year starter.
I do understand making bad throws while under pressure. It is true that this happens to the best of the QBs. This does not make an excuse for off target throws when there is little pressure. There is usually not a lot of pressure on the short throws, especially the screen passes. Heck you want to draw pressure on the screens . Another thing is I think how a QB handles pressure defines him. If a QB is being blitzed and is level headed and cool enough to hit the hot reads most of the time that defines him as a potential great one. One more thing is the good ones will chuck it out of bounds if there is little chance of success on that play and play the next play instead of compounding the problem by taking a huge loss. Some call what I am talking about game management.
I want to say however that I hate that rule that allows a QB to chuck the ball out of bounds and think that is unfair to the defense. IMO an attempt should have to be made at a completion or it should be grounding.
Grumpy I think you and some others are getting the wrong Idea about my posts in this thread. I am not advocating either QB over the other one. I am discussing Towles potential weaknesses because he is the UK likely starting QB. Heck I don't know much about Barker. I do know a little about Towles since I watched him QB 12 games for UK last year. IMO that 12 games experience alone gives Towles a big up on Barker and should give him the starting position unless Barker would completely blow the coaching away with his skill in fall camp.
I would however like to see Barker get some meaningful snaps in games this season and not just mop up duty handing the ball of to the running backs. Let me qualify that with a unless he is handing the ball off in victory formation in a lot of games this season with UK with a comfortable lead.
If Patty Ice makes better pre-snap reads, like I think he will, he won't have to go to his second and third receiver choice all that much.
Yeah, I think being calm can be impacted by many things...including getting hurried or laid out. Certainly within Towles abilities to be the guy we all hope he is. And he will have a better chance at realizing potential this year than last due to several factors, including an improved OL.
"So far Towles is a Ky boy with lots of fan and media hype but not a whole lot of production when under the gun against tough competition."
I don't think his production was that bad considering his support system. What numbers did Woodson put up as a RS Soph? How much did Burton, Lyons, Tamme, and Johnson improving his receiving corp have to do with his improvement not to mention Little and the OL. I think this years support will improve just about as much, and it has much greater depth, how much did losing Little for the Florida game after we upset the NC hurt our offense? This year we won't have nearly the dropoff if we have injuries-----and we will.
Towles is on track to have a great junior and senior year, just like Woodson, and has the improved support to help him do it------just like Woodson did.
And if I am a QB coach I would much rather have the problem of teaching my QB how to complete a ten yard pass than try to teach a ragarm how to complete a forty yard pass.
I don't think his production was that bad considering his support system. What numbers did Woodson put up as a RS Soph? How much did Burton, Lyons, Tamme, and Johnson improving his receiving corp have to do with his improvement not to mention Little and the OL. I think this years support will improve just about as much, and it has much greater depth, how much did losing Little for the Florida game after we upset the NC hurt our offense? This year we won't have nearly the dropoff if we have injuries-----and we will.
Towles is on track to have a great junior and senior year, just like Woodson, and has the improved support to help him do it------just like Woodson did.
And if I am a QB coach I would much rather have the problem of teaching my QB how to complete a ten yard pass than try to teach a ragarm how to complete a forty yard pass.
If the talent around him is improved,especially the O line, his accuracy will improve greatly. Getting hit by SEC lB's and DE's isn't a walk in the park. In addition, dropped passes killed drives past season such as misses by Timms. Towles will be improved. Mark it down. The line will be better.
