Stoops should name Towles the starter now

[tammefan]

He has the experience and all the tools to be UK's starting QB. Barker has shown he cant stay out of trouble. Its not his time. Stoops should name him the starter now to show him he has confidence in him. QB situation has not been handled well since Stoops got here. Maybe not all his fault. Lot of those issues involve Brown.

 

[ukalumni00]

Think he wants Barker to continue to compete hard for it but agree he needs to name Pat and be done with it. It's not Drew's time yet and if it takes a QB competition to keep him motivated then he is not going to pan out.

 

[CB3UK]

I'd find it hard to believe there's a single SEC school watching tape on us and preparing for Barker.

 

[jnewc2]

I think this is one of the disadvantages of hiring a guy that's never been a head coach before; he has to learn stuff like this the hard way sometimes.

I'm not saying Stoops is a bad coach, but when you hire a first-time head coach, you have to take some of the lumps and bruises from their growing pains and learning on the job.

This is one of the few areas where I disagree with Stoops' decision making, but it's a semi-significant mistake IMO. If nothing else it would inspire much more confidence in the team in Towles to name him the starter publicly (even if they've already done so behind closed doors) instead of having everyone in the country questioning why if Towles is so good he can't beat out a freshman with no experience. I think it makes a bigger difference than Stoops thinks, but I'm hoping in the end that it makes Towles better this season rather than the opposite.

I could understand not naming the starter if both guys were at the same level, but Towles' play has been noticably better than Barker's--so much so that Stoops has gone out of his way to drop hints about how far ahead Towles is in front of Barker and whose leading the team this year.

I like Barker for the future, but as someone else said, this is Towles' time.

 

[Deeeefense]

I don't think he necessarily needs to name him the starter, but I would like to see Patrick named #1 on the fall depth chart. That's essentially what they do with many other positions, starters often get named the week before the game.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

I think everyone pretty much knows who will start including Towles and Barker.

 

[buckkiller]

Barker will make a push if not start by opening day. Just better all round tools at the QB spot. Its on him to make it happen

 

[CatsFanGG24]

They've already named him the leader of the race. At this point that's fair and all that needs to be done.

 

[TeoJ]

They've already named him the leader of the race. At this point that's fair and all that needs to be done.

Why would they name a starter now?Competition would not be as good.........How many SEC schools have named a starter for next year?

 

[Bigbluediddy63]

I think this is one of the disadvantages of hiring a guy that's never been a head coach before; he has to learn stuff like this the hard way sometimes.

I'm not saying Stoops is a bad coach, but when you hire a first-time head coach, you have to take some of the lumps and bruises from their growing pains and learning on the job.

This is one of the few areas where I disagree with Stoops' decision making, but it's a semi-significant mistake IMO. If nothing else it would inspire much more confidence in the team in Towles to name him the starter publicly (even if they've already done so behind closed doors) instead of having everyone in the country questioning why if Towles is so good he can't beat out a freshman with no experience. I think it makes a bigger difference than Stoops thinks, but I'm hoping in the end that it makes Towles better this season rather than the opposite.

I could understand not naming the starter if both guys were at the same level, but Towles' play has been noticably better than Barker's--so much so that Stoops has gone out of his way to drop hints about how far ahead Towles is in front of Barker and whose leading the team this year.

I like Barker for the future, but as someone else said, this is Towles' time.

I totally agree, but get ready to be roasted by the "this staff or program can never be critisized" fans. You know who they are.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Towles has not proven he can make accurate short passes or see the field well. He has a lot to prove before he's labeled the Second Coming. I don't get all the hype myself.

 

[Brock28]

Barker will make a push if not start by opening day. Just better all round tools at the QB spot. Its on him to make it happen

If you think Barker has better tools than Towles, you obviously don't know much about football. Pro scouts are drooling over Towles. He's got better tools than any QB in the nation. Not a knock on Barker, Towles is just that good!

 

[Lomuti18]

If you think Barker has better tools than Towles, you obviously don't know much about football. Pro scouts are drooling over Towles. He's got better tools than any QB in the nation. Not a knock on Barker, Towles is just that good!

Thats a little much to say he has the best tools in the nation.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Why would they name a starter now?Competition would not be as good.........How many SEC schools have named a starter for next year?

Where did I say they should name a starter?

 

[gsayers]

Barker and Towles know who is starting the first game of the season. The SEC network knows along with most reputable media outlets. The only confusion that exist is among a few on message boards.

 

[BlueTick2]

Newton needs to be named the starter now. He is the future.
Hartline just not a SEC QB...........

We fans know so much more than the HC....

 

[vhcat70]

Barker and Towles know who is starting the first game of the season. The SEC network knows along with most reputable media outlets. The only confusion that exist is among a few on message boards.

Touché !!

 

[ukalum1988]

Don't know what there is to gain from naming Towles the starter right at the beginning of summer. IMO, the coaching should wait until after the first week or so of fall camp, and if Towles is clearly leading at that point, come out and say so then.

 

[Parabolicsecan]

What do you accomplish by naming a starting qb today? It may qualm some anxiety with fans who believe there was a qb battle to begin with (I don't think there ever was, Towles is a NFL caliber qb who can make all the throws when a pocket isn't collapsing and mobile enough to turn potentially negative plays to positive gains). What do you lose? competition. Players are just starting workouts headed into summer camp, players could care less if it is Towles, Barker, Phillips or a walk-on, they trust that CS would put the best qb that gives them a chance to win on the field.

 

[dreadpirate]

I think this is one of the disadvantages of hiring a guy that's never been a head coach before; he has to learn stuff like this the hard way sometimes.

How long had you been a head coach before you figured it out?

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

If you think Barker has better tools than Towles, you obviously don't know much about football. Pro scouts are drooling over Towles. He's got better tools than any QB in the nation. Not a knock on Barker, Towles is just that good!

OK, the hype on Towles is officially out of control. Towles hasn't even come close to accomplishing what Woodson did at UK and some of you act like Towles is the Second Coming. Seriously, give me a break.

 

[RR30]

How long had you been a head coach before you figured it out?

2 years on NCAA 14.

 

[CatDaddy4daWin]

OK, the hype on Towles is officially out of control. Towles hasn't even come close to accomplishing what Woodson did at UK and some of you act like Towles is the Second Coming. Seriously, give me a break.

Sorry to hurt the little trolls feelings. Woodson broke out his junior year, so I'm sure their were knucklehead posers like yourself saying the same thing about Woodson before his epic run.

I kinda chuckle at those fans who think they know more than these coaches do. Stoops is not responsible for naming a QB, the offensive coordinator is. Now obviously he would have the final say if he wanted a different QB, but theres a reason you have an OC on staff.

Towles was a first year QB last year and like most first year QBs, he had an up and down season. I can't wait to put the haters on blast after Towles makes you all eat those words.

 

[BlueRaider22]

What do you accomplish by naming a starting qb today? It may qualm some anxiety with fans who believe there was a qb battle to begin with (I don't think there ever was, Towles is a NFL caliber qb who can make all the throws when a pocket isn't collapsing and mobile enough to turn potentially negative plays to positive gains). What do you lose? competition. Players are just starting workouts headed into summer camp, players could care less if it is Towles, Barker, Phillips or a walk-on, they trust that CS would put the best qb that gives them a chance to win on the field.

This is the post of the thread.......and it really should end here.

If Towles set the world on fire last yr, then go ahead and name him starter. But he didn't....he played well given the circumstances and certainly has all the tools you could want in a QB but he hasn't locked up the position by any means.

If Towles has a Woodson-esque junior year breakout.......and we are talking about this same topic this time next yr, then the OP (or jnewc) may have point. But as of right now, it does little to name a guy at this time.

 

[C1180]

I agree that Towles should be the front runner but some of the post in this thread are ridiculous. Towles needs to show a lot of improvement from last year especially in his accuracy, his touch on the short throws, and his reads of the defense before anyone even thinks of anointing him the best QB in the country. He has a big arm and is mobile but his accuracy last year was suspect. I haven't seen either QB yet this season but I watched every game Towles played last year. There is huge room for improvement. There is a lot more to being a good QB than being able to wing it 60 yards or more down field. Especially if that 60 yard throw is not on the money.

 

[WildCard]

"Now" serves no purpose but, from a practice standpoint, it should be done by the end of the first week of practice. If "legitimate" QB auditions extend much beyond that, IMO, that is not a good sign.

Peace

 

[Poetax]

He has the experience and all the tools to be UK's starting QB. Barker has shown he cant stay out of trouble. Its not his time. Stoops should name him the starter now to show him he has confidence in him. QB situation has not been handled well since Stoops got here. Maybe not all his fault. Lot of those issues involve Brown.

Towles has shown more to date but it needs to stay as a competition into fall camp. Things change during the summer for players so it would be premature. Plus using the trouble excuse is silly, we would all love to say that the "trouble" that Drew has experienced would be the only trouble that our own kids would get in we would be tickled to death.

 

[rye48]

If you think Barker has better tools than Towles, you obviously don't know much about football. Pro scouts are drooling over Towles. He's got better tools than any QB in the nation. Not a knock on Barker, Towles is just that good!

ya thats why we lost the last 6 ,, he should of been pulled after the third loss in a row !! !! How long did you play Football ?

 

[BlueRaider22]

ya thats why we lost the last 6 ,, he should of been pulled after the third loss in a row !! !! How long did you play Football ?

Ummmm, no. If Towles "needed to be pulled", then so did about 80% of the starting 22.......and many of their backups. We didn't lose 6 in a row due strictly to QB play. If it was only the QB, then pulling him would've been a wise course of action.

 

[TeoJ]

Where did I say they should name a starter?

I just replied to your post,but the thread says they should name a starter........that's where i got it.

 

[Poetax]

ya thats why we lost the last 6 ,, he should of been pulled after the third loss in a row !! !! How long did you play Football ?

Maybe the same question could be asked of you? The oline fell apart, injuries were taking a toll, and young receivers were not handling SEC defenses very well. Plus Brown become very conservative with play calls because of this. I don't think Towles called all of those keeper plays.

 

[C1180]

Ummmm, no. If Towles "needed to be pulled", then so did about 80% of the starting 22.......and many of their backups. We didn't lose 6 in a row due strictly to QB play. If it was only the QB, then pulling him would've been a wise course of action.

Towles was not the only cause for those final 6 losses but lets not pretend that he wasn't a big contributor in those losses. Even average QB play by him in the UofL game and UK would have had an easy win with them putting the ball on the ground and getting the ball intercepted so many times. I believe that Brown said that he kept the ball on the ground in the final series or two because he had lost confidence in Towles' passing ability. Heck I am a big fan of Towles but I am also realistic about his play last year. He ran hot and cold the entire season. Did UK have problems other than the QB? You Betcha but Towles contributed his share to the losses.

I will say however that Brown must to have had little confidence in Phillips or he would have at least pulled Towles after losing confidence in his passing and given Phillips a shot.

 

[tammefan]

Good discussion. My point is that Towles has earned the starting job. His record may not indicate it but he has. The QB situation has been a mess since Hartline graduated. Just would like to see a starter named and go with it. Give him some confidence. I dont think Brown had that in Towles all last year. Based on conversations and quotes Ive heard it looks like Towles is a lot more happy and connects with Dawson more than Brown. Towles was running for his life most of last year. Didnt have a wr or TE who could catch the ball. Barker is talented but he doesnt have a whole season of SEC starting experience. Towles stuck with this program when he could have left. Its his time and he will prove his doubters wrong.

 

[C1180]

I hope that the posters that are so high on Towles are right and he is one of the best QBs in the SEC and college football. He is going to however need to make a great leap forward from last season to be either of those two. Heck I am going to be very excited if he can lead the Cats to 6 to 8 wins this season. Yes I know that eight would mean a huge improvement by both Towles and the rest of the Cats team. It would however only be three more wins and last year the team had 3 more wins than it did the year before. Yes I do know the 3 more wins would be much harder to come by than the three more wins last season but hey it would be great and the sleeping giant could open another eye and start to move. Heck if a few more breaks had gone UKs way they could have won 7 or 8 last season and some seem to think we will have the best QB in the SEC leading the Cats next year according to some of our posters. I think that the Cats will be improved at almost every position including QB no matter which of Towles or Barker that they name the starter.

 

[ctroberts1024]

Towles is the starter. I expect him to have a huge year. This offensive philosophy is absolutely perfect for him. That said, the first four games will determine whether Towles keeps his job or is replaced by Barker.

 

[Blueaz]

If you think Barker has better tools than Towles, you obviously don't know much about football. Pro scouts are drooling over Towles. He's got better tools than any QB in the nation. Not a knock on Barker, Towles is just that good!

Whaaaat? is this sarcasm?

 

[Blue Decade]

Think he wants Barker to continue to compete hard for it but agree he needs to name Pat and be done with it. It's not Drew's time yet and if it takes a QB competition to keep him motivated then he is not going to pan out.

Right. Everyone with a clue knows Towles is the starter. But Stoops wants Barker to stay engaged and sharp. Barker is a big talent who will have to stay mentally plugged in until his starting opportunity comes in 2017. 2017 may seem like a long way off to a teenager. The coaches want Barker to stay mentally invested in the job. This is smart coaching.

 

[Oldtrainer]

Liked what I watched in Spring game/scrimmage across the board from offensive. Patrick under a new o.c. looked very good! Given our 2015 schedule I think 7 wins is very doable. Patrick is #1 on depth chart and should be till fall practice.

 

[Brock28]

Whaaaat? is this sarcasm?

List me the QB's who are better than him. Check out what NFL scouts are saying about him. Do your homework guys. He's got NFL starter written all over him. He'll be the most successful pro QB to ever come from UK. Mark it down! Kid is special.

 

[Rhavicc]

As it pertains to the tools that Patrick Towles has to work with, you won't find better. That much I agree with. 6'5, 240#, 4.6 forty, has a cannon for an arm and makes NFL passes with it. That said, that doesn't always translate to being the best QB in the NCAA. It means that he COULD be the best if it all comes together. The football IQ has to work with the composure, the composure has to work with the mechanics, the mechanics have to remain smooth while calmly being evasive and quick on your feet, and so on. He has all the tools to be a great QB in college as well as the NFL. He's lacked a key component in his mechanics in years past, although he's shown that he is always improving those mechanics and becoming a better QB for it. I think mentally, Towles will be golden now that Dawson (a well known QB guru, and somebody that Towles admittedly says is a calming presence) is on the sidelines. As far as what Towles has to work with, with his speed, elusiveness, arm talent, and size? Yeah, I would agree that he has the best tools in the country. Time will tell if he becomes the best QB, but the potential is there.