Photo by David Perry.
Just back from Rich Brooks press luncheon, where the Kentucky head coach named freshman Randall Cobb as the team’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s game at Mississippi State.
I’ve been a supporter of Mike Hartline, or of the coaching staff’s willingness to stick with Hartline, but Brooks had no choice but to go with Cobb.
When asked the reason for the change, the coach said simply, “Production.”
Saturday at Florida, Cobb produced and Hartline did not. Let’s not go crazy here. Cobb didn’t get Kentucky into the end zone. And the Cats did lose by 58 points in The Swamp. The quarterback did not lose the football game. But Cobb moved the team, and Hartline did not. The Cats began the game with five consecutive three-and-outs. Hartline was the quarterback for the first four series, Cobb the fifth.
But after that, Cobb did lead a six-play, 23-yard possession and a 14-play, 76-yard possession which ended with a field goal in the second quarter. The surprise was that Brooks went back to Hartline to start the second half. The result: First play a bad, bad Hartline throw was picked off and returned for a Gator touchdown.
When Cobb returned in the fourth quarter, he engineered a 12-play, 55-yard possession that ended on downs at the Florida five. In fact, after the game, Cobb lamented that the team couldn’t did not perform well in the end zone.
Brooks indicated that both quarterbacks will play Saturday, that the likely scenario will be to flip the rotation previously used. And Cobb has his work cut out for him. The loss of Derrick Locke and Dicky Lyons will be felt the rest of the season, unless some of the skill players start performing at a higher level.
But based on last Saturday, Cobb at quarterback at least gives the Cats a shot in Starkville. He’s getting the nod not because he earned it.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at jclay@herald-leader.com.
“He’s getting the nod not because he earned it.”
I’m confused. If he is getting the job because he produced and Hartline didn’t, how is that different than earning it?
Typo. He got the job because he did earn it.
I’m glad to see everyone rallying around Cobb here. I’ve been posting since the Norfolk game that he had an ability to produce unlike Hartline. Honestly, I was angered by the decision to continually award Hartline the starting role when he simply wasnt producing CONSISTENTLY. Also, I didn’t buy into the early argument by the UK coaches that Hartline was so far advanced in reading defenses. If he indeed has that knowledge, it hasn’t give him any advantage whatsoever on not throwing interceptions, making proficient passes, or simply moving the ball.
Simply put, I don’t see Hartline as an effective leader. I keep hearing how confident he is, but he certainly doesn’t exude that to me. Cobb on the other hand does…and not only to me but the UK fans and even the neutral announcers (save Dave Baker..we know he is Blue) that were commentating last weeks blow out at FL.
Nice job making this decision Brooks and good job backing him John. I believe we will see its dividends next week and throughout the rest of this critical final stretch of games.
Good decision Coach Brooks, and not a moment too soon either. Brooks knew that these last 4 games are going to make or brake our season and we need production now. Sitting around hoping that Hartline would eventually produce and get better was never the best plan. In my opinion it was a simple decision that should have been made weeks ago. You have two quarterbacks… one of which is better than the other, so play the better one…
I just hope that we Kentucky fans realize that Cobb is a true freshman.
There seem to be too many holes team wide right now. I hope people aren’t expecting miracles with this change. Special teams play is deteriorating by the week, the Defense is depleted with injuries, and the offense is down major skill players with a still underperforming O-line. A true freshman can fix all that.
Why not try Hartline as a reciever. I mean its obvious that the guy has some level of talent/athleticsm or he would not be playing in the SEC. He shouldn’t have any trouble with routes or reading defenses.
The only problem I have with this decision is that Coach Brooks says that Hartline will still see time at quarterback. Why would we want to waste those possesions, when the play clock has limited the number of plays each team gets? I’m sure Hartline is a great kid, but he hasn’t produced. Make the change and be done with it.
Cobb should have been at QB this whole time! They call him a freshman??? Well look at his past, 4 state championships where he was the QB of a team that beat even the better 4 and 5A teams in the state. He knows how to win. He hates to loose! I think that his attitude will start to rub off on some of the other Cats. I still hope that Newton comes to town.