stoops the eternal pimp
9/21/2011, 01:40 PM
James Franklin
6'2 225 lb Sophmore
James Franklin is a different kind of quarterback. He isn't Blaine Gabbert for sure, who left for some top 10 money in the NFL. I had said Gabbert graduated high school with more NFL ability than Chase Daniel and would go very high before he started his first game..But he's gone now.
Enter Franklin. Not exactly Brad Smith, Not exactly Chase Daniel, but maybe a little of both. Franklin's ability to run with the ball is a little different in that most of the time, he isn't looking to shake a defender, he wants to run over them. I'm sure Pinkel is doing what he can to get him to use the sidelines more, but it's hard to fight against the natural style of running. He is a good enough athlete that OU recruited him as an athlete and not quarterback. He will be a handful as Mizzou has added some quarterback power run plays and it was really evident in the ASU game..27 carries in that game alone.
Franklin's arm strength is average at best. Once again, not Gabbert league, but probably close to Daniel league. He has improved his delivery a lot since last year and played pretty well against Arizona State with the ball in the air.
The problem for Franklin is that he doesn't appear to be able to make the Mizzou offense throws. The in-the-middle-of-the-field throws that usually drop down behing the linebackers and in front of the safeties. Those throws require more accuracy and arm strength than what he has right now. Watching the ASU game, I noticed he did make some nice throws, but a better defensive backfield would have ate up some of the soft balls he threw. He hasn't turned the ball over much yet, but I think he will struggle much Saturday against a faster, more aggressive group of DBs.
I think a good comparison for Franklin in a quarterback this team has seen in EJ Manuel from FSU..Very similar in every way except running style...About the same accuracy issues, with Manuel possessing the stronger arm.
So, what's going to happen? whoever is going to be in the middle of the field will have certain pick off opportunity. Wort or Lewis should pick off 1 as well as Harris. The LB's will have to be solid in the gaps and getting off of blocks to tackle him. I think good DT play is more important this game than the FSU one. The Tigers are also excellent at the TE position and the LBs/DBs will definitely have to protect the middle againt Egnew.
This game could be tight at the end of 1-1/2 quarters as the D gets acquainted with Franklin. The mizzou DB's are awful, so there should be no problem scoring for OU..
Any way you slice it, it should be another 17+point win for the good guys.
6'2 225 lb Sophmore
James Franklin is a different kind of quarterback. He isn't Blaine Gabbert for sure, who left for some top 10 money in the NFL. I had said Gabbert graduated high school with more NFL ability than Chase Daniel and would go very high before he started his first game..But he's gone now.
Enter Franklin. Not exactly Brad Smith, Not exactly Chase Daniel, but maybe a little of both. Franklin's ability to run with the ball is a little different in that most of the time, he isn't looking to shake a defender, he wants to run over them. I'm sure Pinkel is doing what he can to get him to use the sidelines more, but it's hard to fight against the natural style of running. He is a good enough athlete that OU recruited him as an athlete and not quarterback. He will be a handful as Mizzou has added some quarterback power run plays and it was really evident in the ASU game..27 carries in that game alone.
Franklin's arm strength is average at best. Once again, not Gabbert league, but probably close to Daniel league. He has improved his delivery a lot since last year and played pretty well against Arizona State with the ball in the air.
The problem for Franklin is that he doesn't appear to be able to make the Mizzou offense throws. The in-the-middle-of-the-field throws that usually drop down behing the linebackers and in front of the safeties. Those throws require more accuracy and arm strength than what he has right now. Watching the ASU game, I noticed he did make some nice throws, but a better defensive backfield would have ate up some of the soft balls he threw. He hasn't turned the ball over much yet, but I think he will struggle much Saturday against a faster, more aggressive group of DBs.
I think a good comparison for Franklin in a quarterback this team has seen in EJ Manuel from FSU..Very similar in every way except running style...About the same accuracy issues, with Manuel possessing the stronger arm.
So, what's going to happen? whoever is going to be in the middle of the field will have certain pick off opportunity. Wort or Lewis should pick off 1 as well as Harris. The LB's will have to be solid in the gaps and getting off of blocks to tackle him. I think good DT play is more important this game than the FSU one. The Tigers are also excellent at the TE position and the LBs/DBs will definitely have to protect the middle againt Egnew.
This game could be tight at the end of 1-1/2 quarters as the D gets acquainted with Franklin. The mizzou DB's are awful, so there should be no problem scoring for OU..
Any way you slice it, it should be another 17+point win for the good guys.