While most of the talk on Day 8 was about the wide receivers, Patrick Towles and Drew Baker know Saturday’s scrimmage is not just another practice on the schedule. With all signs seemingly pointing to a starting quarterback being named soon, it is the first opportunity of fall camp for coaches to see the pair in a game-like setting.
While Towles seems the odds-on-favorite, he says Barker is playing at a high level and maintains it is a competition until coaches say otherwise. He acknowledges the stakes are a little higher and there is pressure to perform well in the scrimmage.
Towles gives a convincing case for winning the starting position, “Having a year under my belt, I’ve been through it all. I’ve seen everything. I’ve been to three overtimes in the Swamp. I’ve been going toe-to-toe with the number two in the country. I’ve been there and nothing is going to surprise me.”
Coach Shannon Dawson urged Drew Barker to work on his consistency following spring drills. Barker feels has has done that. “I feel like that is the place I have really stepped up so far,” he said. Barker agreed the scrimmage adds a little more pressure and holds more weight than a regular practice, “That is as close to a game situation as coaches can put us in.”
Dawson on his quarterbacks, “I feel comfortable right now with either one of those guys. Proud of both of them. They’re doing a good job as far as progressing along with the offense, being good leaders, having a great attitude out there… even demeanor. Couldn’t ask anything more from those guys.”
Hear more from the quarterbacks along with Shannon Dawson, Chad Scott, and Garrett Johnson below.
Read the full practice report: Receiver depth bears fruit at Friday practice
