If Shannon Dawson can teach Towles to throw effective...

[southindycat]

I think you can count on Towles starting, even if it means even less emphasis on the short game than was probable with the change of OC in the first place. To me, Dawson sounds really flexible in his approach to his offensive system. He is going to play the QB who gives us the best chance to win, and you can assume he will make that judgment knowing that he can and will tweak the package to best suit the strengths and avoid the weaknesses of any candidate. Barker is not going to get the nod just because he might throw a better short ball, if that is even the case. It will take a more general display of superiority. Towles has been on the anvil. He is a great athlete, and still developing QB. I think we are about to see the sort of metamorphosis we saw in AW's second year starting.

 

[SanAntonioCat]

Drew Barker is very near the equal of Pat Towled in both ability and readiness to play. There are very close in their ability to run the the offense. That said, Pat will be our starting QB, but Drew is very capable to step in at any time and lead the offense seamlessly.

 

[Get Bucket$]

Drew Barker is very near the equal of Pat Towled in both ability and readiness to play. There are very close in their ability to run the the offense. That said, Pat will be our starting QB, but Drew is very capable to step in at any time and lead the offense seamlessly.

What in the world are you basing this on?

 

[SanAntonioCat]

Experience, coaching, maturity and desire.

 

[C1180]

I would assume he is basing it on statements by the coaching staff who have made such statements.

Towles is most likely going to be the starter but Barker is a very good player. IMO the only thing separating them is Towles playing 12 games last year. That experience will be hard for Barker to overcome.

I will however say this. If Towles has not improved from last season and is inconsistent in the first few games I could see the coaching staff giving Barker his shot.

 

[UKphotoman]

Reading what the coaches say along with knowledgeable observers it's apparent that Barker is very good at running the offense. Close to as good as Towles does. For which we should be grateful in case of an injury to Patrick. But Towles has a big advantage in experience which gives him the nod over Barker. Guess I should say I'm just glad we have two very good QBs.

 

[SanAntonioCat]

I will feel better when Mr. Hoak is on board and we have three outstanding quarterbacks. After Pat graduates we have another outstanding young QB in Mac Jones joining the team. When have ever had a lineup of outstanding quarterbacks at UK?

 

[fromthe25ydline]

Accuracy is affected by where your feet are positioned beneath your shoulders, how the QB grips the ball, the release point in his throwing motion and "follow through". Good mechanics = better accuracy. A coach can fine tune a player's mechanics to improve his accuracy.

 

[JHB4UK]

I'm not advocating a 2-quarterback system, but I'd like to see Towles as the starter but Barker be given a series every game in the 1st half. Maybe first offensive possession of the 2nd quarter, a known time for everyone so it isnt a surprise or Towles is looking over his shoulder wondering when he will get jerked.

A, because by all reports Drew has earned playing time based on his Spring & fall practice performance,
B, because he is only 1 hit away from being the fulltime QB right now so lets get him experienced & seasoned right now when we can afford to do so, and
C, because there is a significant chance we will need a new QB in '16 so lets get someone experienced and tested under fire right now

 

[Levibooty]

This is the first year Barker will be able to get a bit of on-field experience. I expect to see him play a few series of snaps for the betterment of the team this year. You never know how a QB is going to play when he is faced with a college level defense attacking him. To be able to allow Barker some time to get accustomed to the speed of the game is a huge benefit.

 

[railroadkat_1]

Patrick will be the starter. There are 10 other UK players on the field at the same time, so it's not all Pat. Neal brown was afraid to make plays down the field. Pat looking at the sideline waiting for a call on 3rd and 15 and Brown calls for a bubble screen either a 3 yard pick up ,.sack or at the receivers feet. Happened too many times.

Coach Dawson brings in a different mindset . Up tempo with out Patrick watching the sideline for a play to call with .06 on the time clock. Dawson wants to wear the opponents defense out. Pat calling his own plays. Our offense should be lethal. I can't wait for the first 4th and goal and in comes 6'2' 320 lb Number 66 from Manchester Ky Jacob Hyde to bulldoze block anyone in his way, Touchdown K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y !!!

Wear the other defense down and let ours rest. For all you disgruntled fans and arm chair QB's give it a chance. I don't mean to disrespect anyone but I like our team a lot!

 

[RV2]

Sorry but I just have to say this. I know it was only practice and they were in just shorts and helmets but Friday and Saturday the biggest (longest) plays of each day were on a so-called 'bubble' screen. It's a safe play for a 3rd and long if you have inexperienced WR's and guys that have difficulty getting open.

BTW, the actual name of what most folks call 'bubble screen' is actually a tunnel screen. An actual bubble screen is a back or inside WR moving toward the sideline and accepting the pass while the outside WR is blocking upfield against the most immediate threat. O-linemen can't get involved with this play as all movement is toward the sideline.

OTOH the tunnel screen is thrown to the outside WR as he is moving toward the middle of the field coming toward the QB. The reason it is called a tunnel screen is that the fact it is coming in toward the middle of the field from the outside allows the O-line to get involved by coming out and engaging the LB's and Safeties creating a 'tunnel' for the receiver to run through.

 

[Parabolicsecan]

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.

Mel Kiper, really. ..

 

[railroadkat_1]

Sorry but I just have to say this. I know it was only practice and they were in just shorts and helmets but Friday and Saturday the biggest (longest) plays of each day were on a so-called 'bubble' screen. It's a safe play for a 3rd and long if you have inexperienced WR's and guys that have difficulty getting open.

BTW, the actual name of what most folks call 'bubble screen' is actually a tunnel screen. An actual bubble screen is a back or inside WR moving toward the sideline and accepting the pass while the outside WR is blocking upfield against the most immediate threat. O-linemen can't get involved with this play as all movement is toward the sideline.

OTOH the tunnel screen is thrown to the outside WR as he is moving toward the middle of the field coming toward the QB. The reason it is called a tunnel screen is that the fact it is coming in toward the middle of the field from the outside allows the O-line to get involved by coming out and engaging the LB's and Safeties creating a 'tunnel' for the receiver to run through.

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RV thanks for explaining the difference between bubble and tunnel screen. Either way a bad call on 3rd down and 15 in my humble opinion. Love the people who take time to explain and teach Thank you The only thing I disagree with is what percentage of time did this work last year?