Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
WLEX’s wonderful Mary Jo Perino talked with Joker Phillips yesterday about the planned starting QB for the Music City Bowl. Joker is planning on starting Freshmen Morgan Newton over Junior (and still recovering from surgery) Mike Hartline:
Mike Hartline has been back at practice, still experiencing a little soreness in his knee. He is dying to get back on the field and perhaps relive some of his Liberty Bowl heroics. While Joker hopes he’s on the mend, he doesn’t see anyone starting on December 27th in Nashville other than Morgan Newton.
“I hope he’s able to play but all these snaps that the young guy is getting, he’s getting better and better and the thing we’ve been focusing on is throwing the ball and he’s doing a good job of throwing the football.”
…
You could tell he was beaming like a proud papa when talking about Newton.
“We have a freshman quarterback who was 5-2. You look across the country at true freshman quarterbacks. Michigan 5-7. Southern Cal 8-4, which is not Southern Cal. That is what you usually get from a freshman quarterback and ours was 5-2.”
Despite Joker’s confidence, Newton’s on-field goodness has not impressed the media. CBS Sports’ Sports Xchange report seems to favor the return of Hartline:
Kentucky could have a viable passing-game option when it meets Clemson in the Music City Bowl.
Quarterback Mike Hartline was on the field when the Wildcats began their bowl practice sessions on Dec. 12. Kentucky has lacked a downfield passing attack since Hartline injured his left knee against South Carolina on Oct. 10.
…
Freshman Morgan Newton passed for just 608 yards in seven starts after Hartline’s injury, so the possibility of having Hartline available for at least spot duty is intriguing — particularly against a Clemson secondary that features DeAndre McDaniel (eight interceptions) and Rashard Hall (six).
[powered by WordPress.]
Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
29 queries. 0.681 seconds
December 16th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I’m for Newton getting the start. I like Hartline and all but let’s keep building for next year.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Has to be Newton. It’s nothing personal against Hartline, but jeez, can we move on from him already? Newton gives us the best chance to win, especially looking to the future. Games like this do nothing but help that. Hartline just isn’t a SEC quarterback. Never has been, never will be.
December 16th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Newton is definitely a winner. Stick with him and bring Hartline in on some passing situations.
December 17th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Newton must get much stronger, faster and more knowledgable
of defensive schemes if he wants to be an sec qb. He has the tools
but does the have the drive and dedication? He was a liability in
the UT game. 600+ yards passing in 7 games just isnt going to get
it done. He has got to get much better in order to win in the sec.
December 17th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Since when did Hartline ever give UK a downfield passing attack?
December 17th, 2009 at 6:29 am
5 I’m with you. Completing 1 or 2 long passes over 2 seasons does not relate to “having a downfield passing attack”. We haven’t had that since Andre Woodson.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Two things I take from this. Joker, not Brooks, is the spokesman. I believe this Music City Bowl is Brooks’ swan song, and it should be. Second, I believe that Joker is solidly behind Newton and that Brooks favors Hartline, which is inexplicable IMO. Hartline is not a winner. Reminds me of Brooks’ undying loyalty to Lonas Sieber. I know, Sieber is the all-time UK socoring leader. But I’ve seen just about every kick Sieber has attempted and the guy leaves a lot to be desired. Go Joker, go Newton, gook luck to Locke in the NFL, and go Cats! It’s time for the program to move on.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Just get the WIN!!!!!!! GO CATS!!!!!
December 17th, 2009 at 9:47 am
7.. Locke is, at this point, only getting feedback from the NFL. If the feedback is that he may or may not get drafted and needs to work on x and y, then he will return to UK for our 5th straight bowl winning season. If feedback is positive and he’ll assuredly be drafted, then, yes, good luck in the NFL my friend.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
9 - I’m not sure what more Locke can do in college to improve his NFL draft status. NFL teams will judge him on the combines, not what he does his senior year at UK. Also, he doesn’t need to risk injury. IMO, he’s 95% leaving school this year.