Question for Towles supporters. Not sarcastic at all.

[CHAMPCAT11]

Almost every thread somehow ends up with some type of debate about PT. They range from total PT supporters to total PT haters. I fall in he middle because I want him to succeed but I'm having a hard time seeing any progress from him whatsoever. I keep seeing comments about him 'bouncing back'. Not being sarcastic but what is he 'bouncing back' to ? I think he had a really good game last year against Miss St and I believe he may have had a good game at Florida ? I really don't want this thread to be a fight back and forth between supporters and non supporters but he's been playing this game a long time so why do you think he will be able to become an accurate passer and be able to lead this team ?

 

[Tskware]

He makes some beautiful throws, mainly long passes, that are NFL caliber. He can also run a lot better than you would think looking at him.

But . . . he can miss a lot as well, and his last nine games have not resulted in really good QB stats, and we have a highly touted QB on the bench, that in view of all the above, I believe deserves a chance to see what he can do in a game situation.

 

[Uptown Catfan]

He's a terrible fit for an "Air Raid" type offense. He struggles the most with shorter passes - particularly crosses and slants - as he cannot judge the proper amount of distance to lead a receiver. Other times he steps into a throw but gets under the ball and it sails on him. I've got to believe that it affects play calling.

 

[ram1955]

Almost every thread somehow ends up with some type of debate about PT. They range from total PT supporters to total PT haters. I fall in he middle because I want him to succeed but I'm having a hard time seeing any progress from him whatsoever. I keep seeing comments about him 'bouncing back'. Not being sarcastic but what is he 'bouncing back' to ? I think he had a really good game last year against Miss St and I believe he may have had a good game at Florida ? I really don't want this thread to be a fight back and forth between supporters and non supporters but he's been playing this game a long time so why do you think he will be able to become an accurate passer and be able to lead this team ?

To be honest, I don't care who the qb is as long as we win. To be fair to Towles, you said "he's been playing this game a long time". Reality is that he's only been a starting qb for 14 games. If, theoretically, he had three years to serve as a starter, that would be 36 reg season games. He's not even half way through his term as a starter yet. He's still learning.
Though I didn't have confidence in JP's coaches, I do believe Stoops has no personal interest in who starts and plays qb. IMO, he's focused on the bottom line. If he thought a walk-on would give him the best chance of winning, the walk-on would be playing. That said, I believe he and the coaches believe PT is their best option. I trust the coaches.
PT did not have even a decent game last night. He was off; his receivers dropped balls; he was not given sufficient opportunity to run with the ball; the o line was porous. There's lots of stuff that needs to be fixed before determining that PT is the problem.

 

[kats23]

Here's the problem. Thanks to Mel Kiper, Matt Jones, and Jesse Palmer people have really gotten too high on him. Look back at the summer threads. They look at his size, what a few experts, that haven't watched more than a handful of snaps, and they look at the recruiting prowess of Stoops and say Towles is the man. I've heard nothing but excuses for 2 years from his supporters. Some are legitimate but I said in the summer it's time for the excuses to stop. Sure, bad OL play doesn't help, bad receivers and 3 different OC's will make a lot of guys look bad. But the WR Corp has improved, his OL is better and you just have to suck it up, show some leadership and play ball.

I look at Towles and I see inconsistency. Not just game to game but half to half. I said in another thread I think the coaches have little faith in the QB position right now. Not just Towles but every QB on the roster. There's no way you don't run out at least Reece Philips for one series last night when Towles was really struggling unless you just think Patrick is the best shot. Lack of faith from coaches will trickle down to the rest of the team. If you have no faith the QB will get it done, it can make your play worse. It's def contagious.

 

[irishcat1965]

If the coaching staff thinks Patrick is the best option, so be it. But I see nothing with giving Barker a series to see what he can do. Maybe he can provide the offense a spark.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

As long as Towles is the QB I will support him. Then I will support the next guy. They're kids playing a game for my enjoyment.

 

[ulismyman]

I start Barker next week ig for nothing else to give Mizzou different look and to light a fire under Pats ass

 

[UPSCat4080]

Didn't bother reading your post after you used the phrase "Towles supporters". If you don't support our starting QB or any other player that the coaches have placed in their positions on the team then you need to GTFO and go root for someone else.

Pathetic.

 

[ulismyman]

I don't think he meant he didn't support Pat

 

[Xception]

He is not going to suddenly become more accurate, at least not with any consistency. There will be some games to where he gets in rhythm like say South Carolina but we are going to see just as much if not more of Florida type games . Bottom line, his accuracy is what it is at this point . Being able to hit someone in stride is an innate ability that you can't teach , much like you can't teach a rb vision to see where the opening is .

Our success is directly tied to his ability to pass , so our results will likely be inconsistent as well . We can still get to a bowl which is a necessary progress imo or you risk becoming stale . The biggest concern about this issue is wearing our defense down for the year and accumulating injuries because we can't move the ball or generate first downs .

 

[Jared1985]

I want Patrick to succeed as much as anyone. He bleeds blue.

So did Will Fidler.......

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Coaches want Pat to be something he never will be. That is the issue. Square peg in a round hole.

 

[BBBLazing]

Didn't bother reading your post after you used the phrase "Towles supporters". If you don't support our starting QB or any other player that the coaches have placed in their positions on the team then you need to GTFO and go root for someone else.

Pathetic.

This is the type of fan that needs to stay off of discussion boards. If everyone just blindly agrees that all of our players are great and no one, including coaches ,makes mistakes, there is nothing to discuss.

 

[Jared1985]

This is the type of fan that needs to stay off of discussion boards. If everyone just blindly agrees that all of our players are great and no one, including coaches ,makes mistakes, there is nothing to discuss.

Was just arguing this with someone else on another thread.

What are we supposed to do on a discussion board? Hold hands and agree on how great and perfect everything is?

Please.

 

[miracle7s]

If you made the NFL based solely on physical measurements Pat would be Tom Brady, unfortunately you don't and he isn't. The guy can not throw the ball accurately and has less than zero pocket presence. I'm not really here to argue if Barker should play or Reese or anyone else because we never seen them and maybe they're worse. I'm just here to state the the fact that Towles isn't a very good QB and we won't be teams that are mediocre or better with him.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

I don't think he meant he didn't support Pat

Thanks ulismyman. I most certainly didn't mean that at all. If Mr. Personality aka UPSCat knew how to read he would have seen that I said I wanted PT to succeed but he had to be that jerk that I specifically said I wasn't trying to address in my post. Then calls me pathetic ? I hate when people use the term moron but he wears that moniker well.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

I have plenty of discussions on here and I never bad mouth players or coaches.

 

[Jared1985]

Players and coaches will always be badmouthed. They are public figures.

If they don't like it, they should find something else to do.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Players and coaches will always be badmouthed. They are public figures.

If they don't like it, they should find something else to do.

Obviously they know it comes with the territory and they are equipped to handle it. I just choose not to bad mouth the players and coaches of my team. I may disagree with a call or be disappointed with the play of a player, I just don't publicly bash them.

 

[footballfanatic77]

I would fall into the category of people that think PT should continue to start. My reasoning: nobody could really succeed behind that O-line, but a mobile QB has the best chance. A pocket passer would have almost no chance. Barker is a pocket passer (granted he may be more mobile than his listing suggests). I don't think Towles is the guy, I don't think he's an elite QB, but I think he's the best considering the personnel.

The coach should still give PT some in-game reps. After all, he's presumably going to be the starter eventually.

 

[ulismyman]

Offensive line is a supposed strength

 

[gobigblue812]

I find it comical to hear people say maybe Barker just doesn't practice well. Maybe he's a gamer.
Most people who don't practice well typically don't play very well in games. Anybody that has competed at a high level knows that's true.


I was at many practices and closed scrimmages several years ago when people were screaming to let Towles play. There was a reason he wasnt playing. I saw first hand he wasn't ready but fans were saying the same thing as they are now about Barker. I'm not saying Barker isn't good. He could become the greatest UK QB in the future for all I know. If the coaches think Towles gives us the best chance to win I'm good with it. .

 

[footballfanatic77]

Offensive line is a supposed strength

Of who??

 

[CatsFanGG24]

I would fall into the category of people that think PT should continue to start. My reasoning: nobody could really succeed behind that O-line, but a mobile QB has the best chance. A pocket passer would have almost no chance. Barker is a pocket passer (granted he may be more mobile than his listing suggests). I don't think Towles is the guy, I don't think he's an elite QB, but I think he's the best considering the personnel.

The coach should still give PT some in-game reps. After all, he's presumably going to be the starter eventually.

Barker is a pretty mobile QB. Ran read option in high school and cannot have any worse pocket presence than Towles. They are similar in athletic ability...this isn't a situation like Louisville has where there are huge style differences between the QBs.

 

[footballfanatic77]

Barker is a pretty mobile QB. Ran read option in high school and cannot have any worse pocket presence than Towles. They are similar in athletic ability...this isn't a situation like Louisville has where there are huge style differences between the QBs.

Interesting. If Barker is fairly mobile I don't understand why he isn't going into games to get reps unless the coaches were planning on putting him in when the games are well in hand and that hasn't really been the case in any game this season. If the pressure continues, they are going to have to give him a shot.

 

[UKwannabe]

You can't fix accuracy. It's a natural feel kind of thing. Either have it or you dont. You can get better timing etc etc but as far as on the fly accuracy, you are what you are.

Towles is a perfect example of KY High School football. Growing up was one of the bigger kids and could throw it far and had tell name recognition so he was always the Quarterback/Pitcher. Would have had a helluva career as a Jason Witten type tight end but instead is stuck playing QB because he's 6'5 240 that can throw far and run a hair.

Add to it that he changed his throwing motion his sophomore year and you're asking for trouble. Similar to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Is never going to be a good shooter no matter how he changes his shot. You just hope the rest of the intangibles out weigh the bad shot.

 

[vhcat70]

One of the most reasonable threads on this site in a long time. Most everyone agrees they want PT to succeed but that he needs to improve (Drastically?) but doesn't appear to be doing so after 15 starts - he's not inexperienced at this point imo. Being the slight betting favorite against MO, if a) UK doesn't win and b) PT doesn't have a big game such loss, then EKU sets up as a perfect game to give someone else a shot.

 

[stenchymouse]

Coaches should have given them both a look against real competition...

If they had done this, it would have served two purposes.

It would have shut up the fans and it also would have given us TWO QB's with game experience.

Now it has become such a big deal that it's almost a distraction to the team.

Big mistake by the coaches IMO...

 

[Dreklie]

Nothing really needs to be said, PTs play has shown me everything I need to know about him. In his last seven starts he is 107 for 207 with 9 INTs and 5 TDs. It's time for a change.

 

[Blueaz]

Didn't bother reading your post after you used the phrase "Towles supporters". If you don't support our starting QB or any other player that the coaches have placed in their positions on the team then you need to GTFO and go root for someone else.

Pathetic.

It is great that some think THEY know what is best for everyone else.

 

[GridCats]

He's made some great passes, and as we all know some very poor one's too. Seems to me he needs to set and have time to make good one's. As someone said, he's not good on quick deliveries if he has to rush, and you have to do that when the pressure is coming. He needs to drop back quickly and hit a receiver before the defense can react. I don't think he can do that.

 

[BlueRaider22]

1st off, Towles is accurate. You can see that he possesses the ability to make some very beautiful throws.
2nd, Towles is inconsistent. As we all can see he doesn't always throw a good pass.

So, how do you improve on inconsistency? By practicing and playing, of course. With this being the start of Towles second yr of playing, he hasn't played a ton yet. Now, imagine that he's trying to improve his consistency surrounded by a supporting cast that is trying to do the same thing?
-the WRs have been inconsistent on where they're supposed to be.
-the o-line (specifically the RT >> LT) has been inconsistent in blocking
-the RBs have been inconsistent with hitting holes and pass pro
-Dawson is new and although his offense is similar to Brown's there is some differences in the plays and play calling.

When you see a young QB excelling, they are usually doing so with a veteran supporting cast. An example of his is Kyle Bolin from last yrs UK/UL game. He had a veteran o-line and several really good WRs......one a sure-fire 1st rd draft pick.

3rd, it is likely that Barker isn't the answer. With all I said above, why would a freshman be the answer? Most of the time a freshman who has never played before is not the best choice between a junior with a yr of starting experience. Most of the time it's worse b/c you are likely adding more inexperience and more inconsistency to the soup.

4th, what did you expect? The vast majority of us thought UK would be a 5-7 win team this yr.....which means we were going to be improved from last yr but we were going to lose some games. Which means that at times we'd play well and at times we wouldn't. And right now, we are right where most of us thought we'd be. We're 2-1.....folks in the media are talking about how improved we are.....they are predicting bowl games for us....they are praising Stoops, etc. We likely are going to be favored against Vandy, EKU, and Charlotte.....and we have 6 more home games where anything can happen.

So, if you were expecting more...why? We're your expectations unreasonable? Is your knowledge of football lacking?

 

[crestcat]

If the qb competition lasted as long as we were led to believe, there is not a great deal of separation between our qbs. Therefore, I see no reason for Towles to get all of the snaps.

 

[Oldtrainer]

Florida had very, very good d. backs probably the best as a unit we will face this season. One of the reasons Patrick was rushed and sacked their d. backs had our receivers blanketed! Both our tackles had their hands more than full even slowing down Gators ends. They need help! Put t. ends on the line and have them at lease delivery one lick on d. ends before releasing. Guarantee that will help tackles square up and slow down the rush. I'm not giving Patrick a pass, his would have been a t.d. pass to Blake Bone was too high! Imo Blake was interfered with. Patrick needs to scramble, don't know what's going on there! Watched some of Mizzou game Saturday and i.m.o. their defense is bigger and more physical than the Gators! Do think our defense can dominate their offense! Looking forward to be part a sold out crowd at new and beautiful CWS Saturday night---GO CATS!

 

[BlueRaider22]

^Follow football much, crestcat? Every yr there are coaches who hype a QB competition while holding "closed" practices....then, in the end most go with the veteran guy. If you "led to believe" something then consider this an education. Any misleading probably came from media and fans who really didn't know either.

 

[qwesley]

QBs, like PGs, either have a feel for the game or they don't. Repetition can help but I think it is mostly innate. PT's inaccuracies stem from this more than lack of throwing talent.

 

[Deeeefense]

This is the type of fan that needs to stay off of discussion boards. If everyone just blindly agrees that all of our players are great and no one, including coaches ,makes mistakes, there is nothing to discuss.

There's a distinction between criticism and support. We can criticize players on their effort, ability etc. but still support them. I think that's what he was referring to.

 

[Levibooty]

I find it comical to hear people say maybe Barker just doesn't practice well. Maybe he's a gamer.
Most people who don't practice well typically don't play very well in games. Anybody that has competed at a high level knows that's true.


I was at many practices and closed scrimmages several years ago when people were screaming to let Towles play. There was a reason he wasnt playing. I saw first hand he wasn't ready but fans were saying the same thing as they are now about Barker. I'm not saying Barker isn't good. He could become the greatest UK QB in the future for all I know. If the coaches think Towles gives us the best chance to win I'm good with it. .

Did you ever hear of a guy named Mark Higgs?

 

[Soupbean]

He's a terrible fit for an "Air Raid" type offense. He struggles the most with shorter passes - particularly crosses and slants - as he cannot judge the proper amount of distance to lead a receiver. Other times he steps into a throw but gets under the ball and it sails on him. I've got to believe that it affects play calling.

I'm with Uptown on this, Patrick does struggle with touch and feel for the short passing game and I think it may affect the play calling. You get the feeling we pretty much abandoned the screen game after watching PT try to line drive it through defenders over and over again. So no he's not Tim Couch who had a natural feel for all of that and could figure out how to drop short passes in tight spaces and use the short pass as a running game.

I think it 's a frustrating for the coaches as it is us to see because PT has all the other ingredients to be really good. And this is why the national media has been on him since last year too, they see potential. The question is, can this be fixed or is it a case of him either having it in his head or not. It' s not a physical problem it's a decision making and timing problem.

That's why again I say you start by keeping it simple for him. Call set patterns where he has to throw to a spot on time, 10 yard outs, slants, anything where he doesn't have to pick out his target but just throws. He is pretty good doing this and it will help his confidence. And continue to work on his dumps and touch passes, because we have to have that part of our game plan or we are wasting 50% of our potential with our WR corp.