Will Kentucky make a quarterback change?

[Matt Dillon]

ATHENS, Ga. — In addition to my column, three quick notes from Kentucky’s 27-3 loss at Georgia:
1. It would not surprise me if Kentucky starts Drew Barker at quarterback next Saturday at Vanderbilt. I’m not positive that is what’s going to happen, but it wouldn’t come as a shock. After Patrick Towles completed just eight of 21 passes for 96 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns, both head coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson admitted they will be re-evaluating the quarterback position.

http://johnclay.bloginky.com/2015/11/07/will-kentucky-make-a-quarterback-change/

Also some video in the article from Stoops, Dawson and Eliot.

[Uncle Dave]

I think so, and for lots and lots of reasons.

[Lighthouse]

Barker can't be any worse, and a change is warranted.

[TrueblueCATfan]

A time for change at QB but we also need receivers to catch the darn ball and O line to step it up

[Matt Dillon]

A time for change at QB but we also need receivers to catch the darn ball and O line to step it up

I agree with you, 100%, about the oline and receivers, and a change at QB is overdue, in my opinion. I don't know if there's some type of conflict between coach Dawson and Patrick or what, but Patrick's body language just doesn't seem right to me. He doesn't seem to be playing with the same enthusiasm as last season.

[wildcatdon]

I don't like Dawson.. something not right there. Stoops should have hired Lincoln Riley when he had the chance. Dawson too inexperienced to start in the SEC as OC.

[ridgerunner]

I think Dawson is in way over his head, he did not, repeat did not call plays at WV, the head coach did! I cannot see how Stoops could have trust in him at this point. Question is, does he trust him enough to keep him moving forward? If not, no need to wait another year, pull the trigger and lets try again.

[bigblue4life]

I don't like Dawson.. something not right there. Stoops should have hired Lincoln Riley when he had the chance. Dawson too inexperienced to start in the SEC as OC.

I have no way of knowing this, but I would bet Stoops approached Riley about the job. Riley played his cards right and caught on with Oklahoma, which frankly is a better program than we are right now, notwithstanding OU fans' frustrations with Mark's brother Bob. Generally, these types of discussions are done very discreetly, so as to give plausible deniability in case someone turns down the job or doesn't get the job offer in order to protect reputations, prevent hurt feelings etc.

[bigblue4life]

I think Dawson is in way over his head, he did not, repeat did not call plays at WV, the head coach did! I cannot see how Stoops could have trust in him at this point. Question is, does he trust him enough to keep him moving forward? If not, no need to wait another year, pull the trigger and lets try again.

I'm trying really hard to withhold judgment on Dawson, but I am concerned. However, Stoops is in a tough spot here. There is already a lot of coaching turnover in D1 football, and there will be even more as the season winds down. If Stoops were to cut Dawson loose, I have no idea whether he could get an upgrade from Dawson. I really hate saying this, but I couldn't imagine UK would be a very attractive OC position under the circumstances.

Not only that, but running off Dawson would require players to learn a new system, etc. etc. I don't want to repeat the Bill Curry experience where we went through 3 or 4 OCs in about 4 or 5 years.

[SBCatMan]

Back to the original topic. Is Barker better than Towles? Who knows? Towles has repeatedly won whatever competitions have been staged. But, more importantly, IMO, do you really want to go into what is likely the most important game of the Stoops era, against one of the better defenses in the SEC, with a QB who has seen only very limited duty in a couple of very short mop-up appearances?

[Matt Dillon]

Back to the original topic. Is Barker better than Towles? Who knows? Towles has repeatedly won whatever competitions have been staged. But, more importantly, IMO, do you really want to go into what is likely the most important game of the Stoops era, against one of the better defenses in the SEC, with a QB who has seen only very limited duty in a couple of very short mop-up appearances?

I don't know Barker personally, so I could very well be wrong, but from what little I've seen of him, I get the feeling he's the type that loves the big stage and bright lights. If he starts Sat., I think he'll do just fine.

[40bill]

In 're to Patrick, sometimes people need to step back and regroup. towels body language seems to be a guy who is in quicksand. Perhaps he IS the best quarterback in practice but to be honest practicing against guys you know and aren't out to really ruin your day sometimes doesn't translate in actual game conditions. It does concern me that no one else has been good enough to take the job outright....but at this time it's like coach commented...Every other position on the field has been subject to depth chart change. I say give Barker a shot.....at least the Commodores don't have game field on him yet where they know his reads and tells.

[40bill]

I don't know Barker personally, so I could very well be wrong, but from what little I've seen of him, I get the feeling he's the type that loves the big stage and bright lights. If he starts Sat., I think he'll do just fine.

Lol...well...the kid certainlyhasnt shied away from having his name in the papers. maybe this would be a chance to get pub for something good

[Devin]

Guys it isn't Dawson.. Dawson called played at Stephen F. Austin and learned under Mumme. He, like Neal Brown, has been handcuffed from doing what they do... I mean look at it.. The system Neal ran at Texas Tech and at Troy is nothing like what he ran here, same with Dawson... Yea, Dana called the plays at WVU, but to suggest that Dawson had nothing to do with the offense or doesn't know what he is doing, is simply not right.. I think we have a case of a Defensive First Coach, who micro manages his coordinators.

[justford]

Ok say we make a change at quarterback and we see the same play as before: what then?