Teachable moment

[Blue Decade]

Missouri is the 2-time defending SEC East champs. Prior to yesterday, Missouri had won 11 straight SEC road games. Playing against the 7th best defense in the whole country, Patrick Towles was 22-27, 249 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions. With his starting left tackle on the bench for most of the game with an injury, Towles put our team on his shoulders and found a way to win. With 20 regular season starts left in his Kentucky career, Towles is already on the verge of cracking the top 10 list for most career passing yards by a Kentucky quarterback, and will finish the 2015 season ranked somewhere around #4-#6 in Kentucky history. If Towles stays healthy, he will finish his Kentucky career in 2016 at least the #2 or #3 career passer on Kentucky's all time list. Although it will be tough, he has a shot at Lorenzen's record. This is Stoops' 1st win EVER over a ranked team. Kentucky went 3-1 in September, which most people must admit is the best situation they hoped for before the season. Unlike other seasons, Kentucky can now reach a bowl game by winning the remaining games in which we will be favored. Where are all the football geniuses who inundated this website a week ago to blast Towles and explain to us why our starting quarterback must be benched, why Shannon Dawson was a bad hire, and why Stoops doesn't have what it takes? Where are the people who said Towles can't throw an accurate pass? Where is the loser who called me a smart ass for pointing out that Florida sacked Towles 6 times? It would be nice to hear them admit they didn't understand what they were watching. This will not be a national championship season for Kentucky, but it is a huge step forward for Stoops' football program. It's time for our fans to get behind our team and our coaches.

 

[Brock28]

All the Towles haters looked like idiots. Most won't admit they are wrong. This board really lacks a lot of football knowledge.

 

[Blue Decade]

Yeah, the Towles haters are probably just reloading and waiting for the next sack.

 

[Perrin75]

The Towles "Haters" are not wrong. He has been wildly inconsistent his whole career. The QB who played against us last night is very similar. Sometimes he looked like a first round NFL pick, the next minute he was throwing what should have been back to back picks. Hopefully Towles has turned a corner. Time will tell. But if his history holds true, we are in for several more inconsistent performances before this season is over. Right now, lets just enjoy a win and we can crow about how right or wrong everyone was after the bowl game.

 

[Blue Decade]

The Towles "Haters" are not wrong. He has been wildly inconsistent his whole career. The QB who played against us last night is very similar. Sometimes he looked like a first round NFL pick, the next minute he was throwing what should have been back to back picks. Hopefully Towles has turned a corner. Time will tell. But if his history holds true, we are in for several more inconsistent performances before this season is over. Right now, lets just enjoy a win and we can crow about how right or wrong everyone was after the bowl game.

Yes, they are wrong, and so are you. Asking our fans to get behind our team and our coaches is not crowing, as you put it. LOL! For you to make that leap says a lot. Football is a team sport. All quarterbacks are inconsistent until their offense becomes consistent around them. Towles was sacked 6 times by Florida. And guess what? It hurt his play. I went back and watched the Florida game again yesterday. You should too. Towles never had a chance. Blaming his protection and the dropped passes on Towles' consistency shows lack of comprehension. For 2 straight years, Towles has been sacked more than any other SEC quarterback. Kentucky is ranked #111 in the nation in quarterback protection this week. Towles got some time in the pocket against Missouri yesterday and beat the #7 defense in the nation. Calling that inconsistency is naive at best.

 

[kats23]

End of the day, there is no denying Towles continues to be inconsistent as a starting QB. He's been up and down all year. I said during the week I was just surprised we hadn't seen a series from the backup with a struggling starting QB and a defense playing well. The thing I saw is they made things easier for Patrick. They gave him more high percentage chances at completions with over the middle throws, quick dump downs, and allowing him to scramble when he thought he needed to. Essentially, it's throwing the ball inside for layups compared to taking three pt jumpshots.

It's amazing what even a few easy completions can do for your confidence. You get in a nice rythm, then all of a sudden you start completing passes down the field. All in all it was a really nice adjustment by the entire staff to put Patrick in a position to make plays. Now the key is to continue that

 

[Bill Derington]

That was Towles first good game since the MSU game last year.

Part of the reason Towles didn't get sacked last night was because he had pocket awareness and got out of the pocket some. That's what I was most disappointed with last week, he would just stand in the pocket instead of rolling out or running.

He played awesome last night, crisp on target passes. He plays like that the rest of the season and UK can beat anyone on the schedule not named UGA, and possibly even them.

 

[GridCats]

Hey man, so many just look for the bad to happen. I have a couple friends that have season tickets and every week they say we're going to lose.

 

[UKCatnNC]

This team is getting better each week. Go Cats!!

 

[jnewc2]

Towles haters are awfully quiet today. Play calling did Towles no favors last week or for much of the season. Dawson mixed up the play calling better than he has all season. He finally called some short, confidence-gaining routes to get our QB in a rhythm and it ended up being the difference in the game. Hopefully Dawson will take a lot away form this game. It's still his first season as a D-1 OC, but he seems to be able to adjust and know what is and isn't working. You can't just run the ball and throw deep balls. I know that's what we begged for all offseason but it's just a recipe for disaster because those long balls are such low percentage throws and it puts your offense in bad positions when you miss them. If passing is going to be much of a contributor you just HAVE to throw some high percentage quick-hitters (that have been non-existent before the Mizzou game).

 

[BlueTick2]

Love your post Blue Decade, but a few paragraphs would make it so much easier to read..

 

[SaguaroCat]

Look through my history. You won't see a negative Towles post. That said..

Let's just let the whole subject die. It doesn't help. It just hardens positions. No need to challenge fans to come back when he does have a bad game. This board is so quick to try to create sides. Legion of doom, tubby lovers, kool aid drinkers, joker doubters, Hartline haters, Towles backers. It just creates a bad vibe all around. Go after a guy in the moment that's unreasonable. But this place would be so much better off we just dropped the told you so's. (And I'm guilty too). Root for good things to happen because it makes UK successful, not because it proves the haters wrong.

Except for all you Petrino-apologists that wanted to hire him after Joker. You guys can suck it.

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Towles played great. The line played great. And the receivers did their jobs. Dorian's one handed grab was huge and the type of play that can be the difference between winning and losing games. In this offense the receivers have to, consistently, week in and week out, catch the ball like they did last night.

 

[fromthe25ydline]

It's not a matter of hating PT, it's more disappointment. He's a fourth year QB and fans expect more poise and moxy from a player with his experience. His mechanics have been criticized over and over, but his athletic ability has never been questioned. Being a critical fan is something everyone plays to certain degrees. Let's drop the melodrama.

 

[Chuckinden]

Love your post Blue Decade, but a few paragraphs would make it so much easier to read..

Thanks!!! I was just getting ready to post that.

I don't read posts all jumbled up like that.

 

[Greasy Creak Mafia]

I'm with you Decade

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Lol at the Towles haters comments...Towles played poorly in game 1, good in game 2, awful in game 3 and excellent in game 4. He is inconsistent and has been for his 16 starts...he had a bad 7-8 game stretch so questioning him last week doesn't make you a hater.

He was great last night and need that the rest of the way and we can have a special season...he had a special game against MSU last year and never followed it up - so the brakes need to be pumped a little, but I'm cautiously optimistic considering they changed his mechanics this week.

But seriously, the same people calling out the Towles haters now thought he would be a 1st round pick early NFL entry and possibly in the Heisman room preseason - so chill, you can't be beating your cheats too much.

I'm happy for him - he needs to continue to bring it!

 

[K_TIME]

That was Towles first good game since the MSU game last year.

Part of the reason Towles didn't get sacked last night was because he had pocket awareness and got out of the pocket some. That's what I was most disappointed with last week, he would just stand in the pocket instead of rolling out or running.

He played awesome last night, crisp on target passes. He plays like that the rest of the season and UK can beat anyone on the schedule not named UGA, and possibly even them.

These are my thoughts to a tee.

I was glad Towles won the starting job this year but after the way he looked vs. UF combined with how he ended the 2014 season...I was doubting him. But to be honest (or eat crow), Towles was simply as good last night vs. a good Mizzou defense as JLO, Woodson, Couch, etc.. have been. Made plays with his feet that the aforementioned QBs could not make, was very accurate, stood in a tough pocket and took some hits while delivering the ball, hit some passes with zip and then some passes with good touch as well.

I hope to see more of Towles as I've always believed letting him grow from where he left off in 2014 would help UK win more games vs. starting over with Barker. The question among fans has...will Towles grow on stagnate. Last night showed he can improve vs. plateau-ing. I am glad to see it.

 

[THE_OAK]

Towles haters are awfully quiet today.

It's funny how last year it was all the players faults and not Browns, this season it's all Dawson's fault... We all get it you love Brown, but he doesn't coach here anymore so get over it. And yes people who were "hating" on Towles were owning up to it after the game.
http://kentucky.forums.rivals.com/t...e-me-hanging-a-lot-of-yall-did-it-too.117854/

 

[bigbluemist]

Dawson said before the season his QBs don't have many designed runs. Patrick seems to relax more IMO he can run early and take a hit. It seems to let him settle in

 

[SlykkteeHMail]

Look through my history. You won't see a negative Towles post. That said..

Let's just let the whole subject die. It doesn't help. It just hardens positions. No need to challenge fans to come back when he does have a bad game. This board is so quick to try to create sides. Legion of doom, tubby lovers, kool aid drinkers, joker doubters, Hartline haters, Towles backers. It just creates a bad vibe all around. Go after a guy in the moment that's unreasonable. But this place would be so much better off we just dropped the told you so's. (And I'm guilty too). Root for good things to happen because it makes UK successful, not because it proves the haters wrong.

Except for all you Petrino-apologists that wanted to hire him after Joker. You guys can suck it.

+1

 

[DaBossIsBack]

Towles is going to be a fine QB when it's all said and done. He is still a work in progress. I think a lot of fans expected him to have the same evolution as Woodson and that's unfair to Towles. Woodson was a great QB and perfect for the offense we ran at the time. Towles may end up being as good or better than Woodson, but it's taking a little longer for it to click like it did for Andre. And that is ok. Not everyone improves at the same rate. Asking a fan base to be patient is like asking a toddler to be patient. It's point less. But Towles will be fine and this team will be fine. It's a process.

 

[rudd1]

-the key to happiness is managing expectatiins. Measured reasoning is imperative.

-criticism is fine. Reactionary "hate" is not. PT isnt awful and he isnt AA. He is inconsistent...as are most college qb's. Will he get better as time goes on...I think that is likely. Also, a qb is only as good as his supporting cast. UK is on the right track (i beleive).

-Bottom line: UF game didnt make PT=M. Newton and Mizzou game doesnt make PT=Tim Couch. Slow down and breath. Patience is a virtue.

 

[cats2010]

Good lord OP---were you not the same one following the first half of SC calling everyone out about PT....then he had 6 straight abysmal quarters. He has been wildly inconsistent. Look that word up if you don't know what it means. Wondering if he has the ability to be an SEC QB to take us to the next level does not make anyone a hater. He played poorly last week, so did a lot of others, and Dawson called a piss poor game. All that and we still were within one score.

I hope you continue to post these because that means PT is playing well. All UK fans want him to do well, this hater garbage is just that, garbage.

 

[Blue Decade]

Look through my history. You won't see a negative Towles post. That said..

Let's just let the whole subject die. It doesn't help. It just hardens positions. No need to challenge fans to come back when he does have a bad game. This board is so quick to try to create sides. Legion of doom, tubby lovers, kool aid drinkers, joker doubters, Hartline haters, Towles backers. It just creates a bad vibe all around. Go after a guy in the moment that's unreasonable. But this place would be so much better off we just dropped the told you so's. (And I'm guilty too). Root for good things to happen because it makes UK successful, not because it proves the haters wrong.

Except for all you Petrino-apologists that wanted to hire him after Joker. You guys can suck it.

Clarity. I am not asking for something unreasonable. I am challenging our fans to get behind our team and our coaches. Wow! Football is a team sport. Kentucky is 111th in the nation, and last in the SEC, in protecting the quarterback. Towles has been sacked more than any other SEC quarterback in 2015. He was sacked more than any other SEC quarterback in 2014. Our fans call that inconsistency. But yesterday, Towles beat a ranked team with the nation's #7 defense. Towles is on pace to become 1 of Kentucky's 2 or 3 best quarterbacks. Ever. But some fans are still bashing him. Some are misidentifying a correct statement of these facts as crowing. Our fans should get behind our team and our coaches. And I agree with you about Petrino.

 

[Blue Decade]

Good lord OP---were you not the same one following the first half of SC calling everyone out about PT....then he had 6 straight abysmal quarters. He has been wildly inconsistent. Look that word up if you don't know what it means. Wondering if he has the ability to be an SEC QB to take us to the next level does not make anyone a hater. He played poorly last week, so did a lot of others, and Dawson called a piss poor game. All that and we still were within one score.

I hope you continue to post these because that means PT is playing well. All UK fans want him to do well, this hater garbage is just that, garbage.

Facts are facts, and my English is fine. Apparently you don't understand what you are watching. When quarterbacks get sacked and hurried a lot, they appear inconsistent. You should try throwing a football while a 250 pound defensive end runs into you. Towles just played an error free game and beat a ranked team featuring the #7 defense in the nation. You can wonder all you want. There are plenty of haters, but you must be just catching up. Despite being sacked and hurried more than any other SEC quarterback in 2014 AND again in 2015, Towles is leading our team to a winning season and a bowl.

 

[domino79]

The criticism over Towles' consistency is warranted. There is no in between for him. But last night he played spectacular.

I think it also helped that he ran. Opens up our playbook and keeps defenses honest. He's a fast, strong, mobile qb. Why not us him? More pitches and screens, too.

Good win last night. Sports are a lot more enjoyable when you keep it in perspective. Calling out other fans after a win seems weird.

 

[TotesMcGotes]

A teachable moment towards the staff would have been when we got the ball back after a score and run it 3 times to punt... patty ice throwing it like aaron rodgers the drivr before and they decide to take the ball out of his hands...

 

[Oldtrainer]

Watched Towles spring game and he was outstanding. Last night he was outstanding!
Last three games CATS defense has been outstanding! They are playing like a SEC very good SEC defense, outstanding!

 

[ktbug]

We had some experts calling for Ellitott's head and I said nothing, we had some experts calling for Dawson's and I said nothing. Then we had some calling for Towles and I said nothing. What about when they come for me?????

 

[catben]

IMHO, Coach Dawson is still learning what plays best suit Patricks skill set. Last night Coach Dawson allowed Patrick to use the entire field. Those crossing pattern passes to Garret against the cover 2 was something we haven't seen all year. Also using the play action in a running formation to freeze the safeties when the LB's were coming then hitting CJ on the seam route was another play we hadn't seen. They all worked beautifully!!

Patrick also did some things he hadn't until last night. Stepping up into the pocket, moving around instead of out of the pocket and using his athleticism to make something out of nothing running. The TD run was one of the best plays of the season.

It's a process for both parties.

However, to call fans out on a "message board" for analyzing and critiquing the aspects of this team, is deserving of a "teachable moment" for the OP also.

 

[BobbyK49]

All the Towles haters looked like idiots. Most won't admit they are wrong. This board really lacks a lot of football knowledge.

I know there were a number of posters questioning PT but I think it's way over-stating it say that people were "hating" on Towles. "Old sayings" get to be old because there's truth to them and as the old saying goes, "The most popular player on a football team is the back-up QB."

 

[yoshukai]

Missouri is the 2-time defending SEC East champs. Prior to yesterday, Missouri had won 11 straight SEC road games. Playing against the 7th best defense in the whole country, Patrick Towles was 22-27, 249 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions. With his starting left tackle on the bench for most of the game with an injury, Towles put our team on his shoulders and found a way to win. With 20 regular season starts left in his Kentucky career, Towles is already on the verge of cracking the top 10 list for most career passing yards by a Kentucky quarterback, and will finish the 2015 season ranked somewhere around #4-#6 in Kentucky history. If Towles stays healthy, he will finish his Kentucky career in 2016 at least the #2 or #3 career passer on Kentucky's all time list. Although it will be tough, he has a shot at Lorenzen's record. This is Stoops' 1st win EVER over a ranked team. Kentucky went 3-1 in September, which most people must admit is the best situation they hoped for before the season. Unlike other seasons, Kentucky can now reach a bowl game by winning the remaining games in which we will be favored. Where are all the football geniuses who inundated this website a week ago to blast Towles and explain to us why our starting quarterback must be benched, why Shannon Dawson was a bad hire, and why Stoops doesn't have what it takes? Where are the people who said Towles can't throw an accurate pass? Where is the loser who called me a smart ass for pointing out that Florida sacked Towles 6 times? It would be nice to hear them admit they didn't understand what they were watching. This will not be a national championship season for Kentucky, but it is a huge step forward for Stoops' football program. It's time for our fans to get behind our team and our coaches.

this post = fail. Last night there was at least 2 threads called " eating crow " or " I love crow " where people were were praising Towles . There were dozens of people on there saying they were so happy Towles proved them wrong. So don't act like they are somewhere sad and hiding . You are just a $hit stirrer and divider .