I think fans in Knoxville should be more worried about their defense than fans in Lexington

 

I don't.

It's really hard for me to get too worked up about this game either way. It's the first game of the season and you just never know. it definitely showed them some things to work on but I'm not going to write the season off on one game. Towles has got to improve his accuracy or they will have to make a change.

Here is a question for those suggesting a QB change is in order... if the UK coaching staff had the entire offseason/summer to evaluate the QB situation and decided to go with Towles, then why would any reasonable person think that the back-up will produce better results than the starter? If Towles is benched and the back up comes in and ends up playing demonstrably better, then the entire UK coaching staff should probably be fired for gross incompetence in evaluating the most important position in all of American sports (the QB position).

Here is a question for those suggesting a QB change is in order... if the UK coaching staff had the entire offseason/summer to evaluate the QB situation and decided to go with Towles, then why would any reasonable person think that the back-up will produce better results than the starter? If Towles is benched and the back up comes in and ends up playing demonstrably better, then the entire UK coaching staff should probably be fired for gross incompetence in evaluating the most important position in all of American sports (the QB position).

 

Towles is the starter. That being said, he must play more consistent. Otherwise, you know what you have in him.

 

I haven't seen Barker play with the lights on. My thing is- if I know Towles isn't going to be consistent, why not give Barker a shot? Drew was highly touted and he has some tools to work with. Drew could come in a stink up the place, but at least we tried something different.

 

I don't think the greatest sin in evaluation is missing on a young guy for an older guy. I think the greatest sin is sticking with your evaluation without giving the other guy a legitimate chance- especially when the other guy is supposed to be a player. JMO.

How does that ancient Chinese proverb go? He who gives up 479 yards to Sun Belt team really struggle in SEC...

 

:lol2::lol2:

Best position in the history of sports is the backup QB.

 

How'd the stadium look, Clizzers?

How does that ancient Chinese proverb go? He who gives up 479 yards to Sun Belt team really struggle in SEC...

 

"SEC Team that bad on D, will be in deep :poop:"

I think I can give PT a pass on the first game of the year, he got in a groove in the 1st half and tore it up. But after half time he was off. If he struggles next game I'd say get Barker in there. But I think he deserves another game for there truly to be a QB controversy.

 

I get what you are saying. The only problem is that this was the same problem Towles had last year, and that was being inconsistent. So far after one game against one of the weaker teams they will play this year, he showed more of the same as last year.

Patrick Towles takes the blame for the offense?s second half collapse | Kentucky Sports Radio

 

[video=youtube_share;bmTUEvAj65I]

Here is a question for those suggesting a QB change is in order... if the UK coaching staff had the entire offseason/summer to evaluate the QB situation and decided to go with Towles, then why would any reasonable person think that the back-up will produce better results than the starter? If Towles is benched and the back up comes in and ends up playing demonstrably better, then the entire UK coaching staff should probably be fired for gross incompetence in evaluating the most important position in all of American sports (the QB position).

 

It happens plenty of times in sports. Sometimes you don't know what you have until they are in a game situation. Same reason why a person like Kurt Warner needed an injury to the starting QB before he ever got a chance. Sometimes it takes true game situations to really see what you have at QB. Just like I am sure if Barker and Towles were pretty even in practice, that most coaches would go with the guy with experience to start the season. It doesn't mean if Barker eventually plays and shows that he should have been the starter, that the coaches evaluated wrong. It just means it took Barker getting a chance to play in a game to show he should have started.

 

I honestly think Barker was going to play in this game. However with the game in doubt at the end, I doubt they wanted to make his first college experience be with the game on the line.

Patrick Towles takes the blame for the offense?s second half collapse | Kentucky Sports Radio

 

[video=youtube_share;bmTUEvAj65I]

 

Towles is a great leader. UK is fortunate to have two very good QB's IMO.

Here is a question for those suggesting a QB change is in order... if the UK coaching staff had the entire offseason/summer to evaluate the QB situation and decided to go with Towles, then why would any reasonable person think that the back-up will produce better results than the starter? If Towles is benched and the back up comes in and ends up playing demonstrably better, then the entire UK coaching staff should probably be fired for gross incompetence in evaluating the most important position in all of American sports (the QB position).

 

So UL should fire their whole coaching staff? Lafayette should fire their coaching staff? Both teams lost yesterday but both team's offense improved dramatically when they stuck their backup QBs in the game.

Maybe everyone is not giving Louisiana-Lafayette enough credit. They're not a slouch of a team by no means. Four straight 9 win seasons, four straight bowl wins. I realize they're not in the SEC but that's still impressive.

First, take a win any way you can get it. That's most important. This would have been a devastating loss but they found a way to win.

 

But...the defense and QB play must improve and be more consistent or it's going to be yet another waste of a season.

What am I missing about the QB playing time?

 

Stoops said both were going to play.

 

He didn't say both would play only if Towles performed poorly. He didn't say both would play if the score was lopsided or the game was not in doubt. Plenty of series for Barker to show what he could do in the second, third or even fourth quarter.

 

I am confused based on the statements made by the head coach.

Also it looked like the play calling on both sides of the ball for UK was very vanilla. I think I can count on one hand the amount of times UK rushed 5 or more. And they seemed to call basic offensive plays and didn't really try to confuse and keep the D off balance. Maybe they weren't trying to show USC much.