Vaught's Views: UK's Phillips unsure of QB

[ImForKy]

By LARRY VAUGHT
larry@amnews.com

Remember the time not long ago when it didn't seem like there was that much college football talk in Kentucky during the offseason?


That certainly has changed, whether it is speculating on who will win the Kentucky-Louisville game, recruiting or debating the returning talent for a particular team.


Kentucky offensive coordinator Joker Phillips likes the change, even if he did create a mini-controversy with some of his comments about the UK quarterback battle between Curtis Pulley and Mike Hartline.


"I never thought it would get to the day in Kentucky when there was as much offseason football talk as there is basketball talk," said Phillips. "I always thought it would mainly be all basketball.

"The class (of players) that just left created all of this talk," Phillips said. "Those guys ought to be proud of what they started and what they did. Just watching them come in and watching how confident they became was special. Fans could sense that and it got people excited about this program. Now our job is to make sure that excitement continues." :thumbup::thumbup:

http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=42445&format=html

[johnkyblue]

In another thread Pulley got real beat for going to class instead of spending the summer organizing workouts. I hope Joker's clarification helps everyone be more comfortable with the idea he wins the job anyway.

[SevenTimeChamps]

I have a feeling that Joker is leaning toward Curtis for the QB job.

[WildcatRick]

If things I hear about Hartline's improvement are true it may go down to the wire. Before that I felt Pulley was almost a lock. Either way, its a nice problem to have. Gotta have a capable backup in the SEC.

[johnkyblue]

If things I hear about Hartline's improvement are true it may go down to the wire. Before that I felt Pulley was almost a lock. Either way, its a nice problem to have. Gotta have a capable backup in the SEC.Spot on.

[Redlegs]

If things I hear about Hartline's improvement are true it may go down to the wire. Before that I felt Pulley was almost a lock. Either way, its a nice problem to have. Gotta have a capable backup in the SEC.I couldn't disagree more. This is not a nice problem to have. We need one of these guys to step up and take the lead and be the man to run this offense. That doesn't appear to be the case to me, as of now. The fact Hartline can't pull away from Pulley is of concern to me and should be to all Cats fans.

[Blue Heaven]

I couldn't disagree more. This is not a nice problem to have. We need one of these guys to step up and take the lead and be the man to run this offense. That doesn't appear to be the case to me, as of now. The fact Hartline can't pull away from Pulley is of concern to me and should be to all Cats fans.
Yea but if Hartline has improved and he can't pull away from Pulley, that's got to be a good thing. I'm a glass half full kind of fan.

[Redlegs]

Yea but if Hartline has improved and he can't pull away from Pulley, that's got to be a good thing. I'm a glass half full kind of fan.
I really hope you're right.

[BigBlue75]

I couldn't disagree more. This is not a nice problem to have. We need one of these guys to step up and take the lead and be the man to run this offense. That doesn't appear to be the case to me, as of now. The fact Hartline can't pull away from Pulley is of concern to me and should be to all Cats fans.

I think I understand the point you're trying to make, but like Rick said, why is having two SEC capable quarterbacks a problem? I would be a bit more inclined to agree with you if we were two weeks away from the start of the season, but that's not the case.

[UKFBFAN]

Anybody who has been around a while has seen Curtis Pulley on the field. He is a very exciting quarterback. He drops back to pass and can change plans and make it fun. Mike Hartline hasn't been on the field enough to give us an idea of his talents. I expect the coaches will make a good decision with the thought that help is on the sideline.

I went back to look at the recruiting class of 2006. There is some nice footage on Rivals showing Will Fidler in action. He looked pretty good in high school. I haven't given on yet on Will. He may figure in all this. Enjoy it!!

[johnkyblue]

I couldn't disagree more. This is not a nice problem to have. We need one of these guys to step up and take the lead and be the man to run this offense. That doesn't appear to be the case to me, as of now. The fact Hartline can't pull away from Pulley is of concern to me and should be to all Cats fans.Pulley can't pull away because he's in class. I know, it's the third time I've mentioned it recently, but I don't think it has taken in some folks minds that the man is in class. GOOD!

[poodoo]

Pulley can't pull away because he's in class. I know, it's the third time I've mentioned it recently, but I don't think it has taken in some folks minds that the man is in class. GOOD!

Wel, I hear you, johnkyblue, and I LIKE that Curtis is taking care of his academics. In regard to the race for the starting position, I simply trust the coaches and will pull with all my heart for whoever is selected. Still again, I say that we do NOT need a quarterback controversy among us fans. THAT has been, and is, my concern. I saw that with Jared Lorenzen and Shane Boyd, and I NEVER AGAIN want to see that or, particularly, hear any boos for either Curtis Pulley or Michael Hartline. GO CATS!!!

[Redlegs]

I think I understand the point you're trying to make, but like Rick said, why is having two SEC capable quarterbacks a problem? If both of these guys are quality and capable quarterbacks, then there is no problem. Key word is capable. Huge question mark at this point. The season may not be two weeks away, but we aren't far from it.

Go Cats.

[BigblueDrew]

If Pulley hasn't improved his accuracy DRAMATICALLY he will not keep the job even if he wins it. I'm not convinced he is an SEC calibre quarterback, hope I'm proved wrong on this one.

[gerntz]

If Pulley hasn't improved his accuracy DRAMATICALLY he will not keep the job even if he wins it. I'm not convinced he is an SEC calibre quarterback, hope I'm proved wrong on this one.

If you're right, we're not going to have a very good QB since the competition is very close & thus the winner over CP couldn't be that much better.

But then I don't agree that CP may not be up to snuff.

[Redlegs]

If Pulley hasn't improved his accuracy DRAMATICALLY he will not keep the job even if he wins it. I'm not convinced he is an SEC calibre quarterback, hope I'm proved wrong on this one.
I agree completely. That's the point I've been trying to get across. I hope we're both proved wrong.

[Dwight Schrute]

I heard John Madden say once that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback. I think there's some truth that.

FWIW.

[bellbrass]

I do think that Joker and Coach Brooks will pick a starter and stick with him unless he really does something to lose the job. The thing I worry about is if Hartline wins the job. I really don't think they'll want to just switch Pulley to WR. They will have him on the bench, taking snaps in practice, like a backup QB should be doing. However, I could see Pulley not liking this at all and wanting to leave UK, should he lose yet another starting spot and get the bench again.
Another possibility would be Hartline getting the nod, and Fidler being #2, with Pulley at WR. I'd rather have Pulley as a reliable #2. Almost every caller I hear on the sports talk shows says the same thing: "Well, why don't we move Pulley to wide receiver? I mean, he's a good athlete, and we don't want to sit him on the bench." Wrong! Every great football team has great athletes that are in second-string positions. We need to get used to this.

[Matt Dillon]

Pulley's already used a rs year, therefore I'm not sure he would be interested in transferring and sitting out another year.

[bellbrass]

Pulley's already used a rs year, therefore I'm not sure he would be interested in transferring and sitting out another year.

If he goes to a 1-AA school, he could play right away, if I'm not mistaken. Remember what Billy Jack Haskins did after Couch was named starter.

[Redlegs]

I heard John Madden say once that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterback. I think there's some truth that.

FWIW.I couldn't remember who had said that, but that statement's been running through my head the entire time. Hopefully someone will emerge very soon.

[Redlegs]

If he goes to a 1-AA school, he could play right away, if I'm not mistaken. Remember what Billy Jack Haskins did after Couch was named starter.
Billy Jack transferred to Rhode Island after Mumme came in and named Couch the starter. A similar fate happened to Dusty Bonner after Jared Lorenzen was named the starter a few years later. Bonner transferred to Valdosta State.

[Matt Dillon]

If he goes to a 1-AA school, he could play right away, if I'm not mistaken. Remember what Billy Jack Haskins did after Couch was named starter.

You're correct about that. I'm just wondering if, perhaps, Pulley wouldn't rather be a SEC receiver than a 1-AA qb.

[johnkyblue]

Since both can run both are gonna take hits and I'd rather have three of them instead of two.

I don't like this talk at all about people transferring or whatever, it's just plain wrong. YOU NEED AT LEAST TWO - especially with the style. I understand a little bit, we have been spoiled by no major injuries at the position in a long time. SPOILED ROTTEN.

[Redlegs]

I understand a little bit, we have been spoiled by no major injuries at the position in a long time. SPOILED ROTTEN.How in the world can you say Kentucky FOOTBALL fans have been spoiled? About anything? They have supported this program through thick and thin. Mostly thin. They/We are not spoiled.

[johnkyblue]

Purely about the lack of QBs getting injured.

Both are gonna take off more often than all of them but Boyd. They will take hits. Hits take their toll. Any consideration of anyone transferring is just plain wrong. Barely any consideration of a move to WR is within the realm of reality.

[Redlegs]

Purely about the lack of QBs getting injured.

Both are gonna take off more often than all of them but Boyd. They will take hits. Hits take their toll. Any consideration of anyone transferring is just plain wrong. Barely any consideration of a move to WR is within the realm of reality.Fair enough. I will say, however, Curtis Pulley is a huge question mark. He lost his job once, and he's lost his edge over Hartline already. You cannot blame fans for being concerned. People say we have two good QB's, and they say this is a nice problem to have, etc. That's a bunch of bull. We have an unknown in Hartline, and a guy that has been questioned in a round about way by his offensive coordinator. That ain't good.

[BLUE-K]

Fair enough. I will say, however, Curtis Pulley is a huge question mark. He lost his job once, and he's lost his edge over Hartline already. You cannot blame fans for being concerned. People say we have two good QB's, and they say this is a nice problem to have, etc. That's a bunch of bull. We have an unknown in Hartline, and a guy that has been questioned in a round about way by his offensive coordinator. That ain't good.

Yep. I'm tired of waiting for Pulley to lead. All the potential in the world means nothing if you can't tap into it. I say put him at WR where we need the numbers/speed/experience and let the Ohio fella take the wheel.

I really wanted Curtis to step in and become THE man of steel, but he seems to not realize what size sacrifice it takes. It seems anyway...I still want him there, but Hartline is filling the bill at this point. Coury anyone?

[Captain Morgan]

If it is still a dead heat at crunch time, does Joker take into consideraion that pulley could be an all sec caliber receiver? Regardless who is at qb, it makes since to put the best 11 on the field. Given our unproven wide out situation(Lyons excluded), I see pulley as instant impact. IMHO, I think it gives him the best chance of playing on sundays.

[BLUE-K]

Ayyyy, Captain, I think so. Pulley's time is getting away from him. He needs to do something, and I think WR is the def choice -- especially if he wants to go further in f-ball.

Hartline looks to be a good control QB with pretty good out-of-pocket speed whereas Pulley is still grappling with leadership and possible passing deficiencies. Leadership is the deciding factor as I see it.

[johnkyblue]

You know he's in class right?

[BLUE-K]

At this moment? :shrug1: Waddaya mean?

[DCWildcat]

Being in class does not completely prevent one from making any kind of progress on the field.

I think Phillips would have to consider Pulley's ability as a receiver. If Fidler is a viable 2nd option and Pulley is only marginally better than Hartline at QB, we may be better set with a large boost at WR with a small sacrifice at QB.

However, as JohnKy pointed out, some QB depth is also important.

[johnkyblue]

At this moment? :shrug1: Waddaya mean?Yeah. Until the end of the month. Look for Pulley to do a lot more starting the first of August.

[BLUE-K]

Gotcha. I see now...

Well, I hope he pulls the grades. I've been pulling for Pulley a while!

[bellbrass]

From what I remember, Pulley, while faster than Woodson or Hartline, does not have burner-type speed. I'm not so sure he'd be an outstanding choice at WR. Flanker, maybe. I think he's a 4.7-4.6 in the 40 yard-dash. Fast for a QB for sure, but maybe not so fast for a WR. Does anybody have accurate sprint times for Pulley?

[Redlegs]

You know he's in class right?
I'm sure Pulley intends on going to class all season long. Wouldn't you say? :shock:

[Redlegs]

From what I remember, Pulley, while faster than Woodson or Hartline, does not have burner-type speed. I'm not so sure he'd be an outstanding choice at WR. Flanker, maybe. I think he's a 4.7-4.6 in the 40 yard-dash. Fast for a QB for sure, but maybe not so fast for a WR. Does anybody have accurate sprint times for Pulley?Here's a problem I have with the whole "running quarterback" thing. The recent successes at Kentucky has been a result of quality pocket passing quarterbacks in Tim Couch and Andre Woodson. I think Kentucky needs to stay the course and develop pocket passers in an effort to land the best recruits. If you have a pro style or passing type offense, quality QB and WR's will be more willing to come to Lexington in the future. If you take a step back, it can set the program back. While I realize inexperience at WR can cause problems, I'm of the opinion you stick with the blueprint. I think it's the best way to move forward.

I'll say it again, if Curtis Pulley wins the job, God bless him. I'll be pulling for him. I'm just not convinced nor sold on the fact Curtis Pulley is an SEC calibar quarterback or the best man to lead this program forward. I will further admit I know nothing about Hartline other than the fact he chose Kentucky over Michigan State, Illinois, and Purdue.