Consider: We were up 24-7 at half. Bad Towles came out after halftime. We swapped TDs and FGs to hold a 33-17 lead. They'd just scored, and we ran the kickoff back to the 36. We went 3 and out, and missed the FG. The defense came right back on the field, gassed. They score, they convert, they kickoff, first play from scrimmage is a Towles INT. And the gassed defense goes right back out and gives up another TD and another conversion. That's more on Towles than it is on the defense. He has to be able to give them time to catch their breath, and tonight, he couldn't. We were very lucky to come away with a W.
The defense, as a whole (save for the DL) wasn't that bad until the time that PT became a liability to the team. Not only could he not lead us to scores, he couldn't even keep the offense on the field for more than 3 plays.
ULL is not a bad team. They're very well-coached and they can play with lower-end and even some decent power 5 conference teams, so the fact that the final score was close isn't really that shocking. We saw what this team can do in the first half when they weren't held back by their own QB. The problem is that more than half the games on our schedule this year would have been a loss with Towles playing the way he did after the half. He cost us several times last year. When the QB is playing like that, opponents can focus on shutting down the run because he can't make them pay.
I was concerned when he was named starter, but I do trust the staff. I can't imagine Barker is less dependable than Towles, and if he is, we're absolutely screwed. I hope they make the move from PT sooner than later. A player that inconsistent can't be trusted to make plays when you need them. Towles can not be allowed to hold the rest of the team back.
The defense, as a whole (save for the DL) wasn't that bad until the time that PT became a liability to the team. Not only could he not lead us to scores, he couldn't even keep the offense on the field for more than 3 plays.
ULL is not a bad team. They're very well-coached and they can play with lower-end and even some decent power 5 conference teams, so the fact that the final score was close isn't really that shocking. We saw what this team can do in the first half when they weren't held back by their own QB. The problem is that more than half the games on our schedule this year would have been a loss with Towles playing the way he did after the half. He cost us several times last year. When the QB is playing like that, opponents can focus on shutting down the run because he can't make them pay.
I was concerned when he was named starter, but I do trust the staff. I can't imagine Barker is less dependable than Towles, and if he is, we're absolutely screwed. I hope they make the move from PT sooner than later. A player that inconsistent can't be trusted to make plays when you need them. Towles can not be allowed to hold the rest of the team back.
