So a few weeks ago TSN ran a piece about how James Franklin had only thrown 1 interception in his CFL career. Since then he's thrown 6 & only 2 TD.
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So a few weeks ago TSN ran a piece about how James Franklin had only thrown 1 interception in his CFL career. Since then he's thrown 6 & only 2 TD.
Growing pains for sure.
He's been in the league awhile I guess, just his first time as a full-time starter.
Franklin isn't the first and won't be the last QB travelling a bumpy road in transitioning from backup to starting.
If Franklin continues to be the starter, then Trestman needs to call plays the moves around the pocket, and let's Franklin run the ball. In either case, I'd sit Franklin, not that I think lead foot is better, but I think the longer Franklin's been out there; the worse his decisions have been getting. May end up getting into his own head.
I would not be surprised to see Bethel Thompson out there next game though, whether a starter or not. I'm actually shocked that Trestman didn't go to him sooner, Trestman continually brings up that Thompson is just as good.......... So let's see.
Ricky Ray didn't look very good before his injury, and got killed every game the past 2 seasons. So I don't think its entirely on Franklin. There isn't much around him. Line and receivers aren't exactly playing superbly.
Yeah Ray didn't look good out there either. The Offensive line isn't helping and neither are the receivers. Edwards and Green were sure handed last season, and now they can't catch a cold. Every CDN receiver not named Coombs has been inconsistent at best. I think Smith looked okay again though. In saying that, IMO we've got nothing, maybe the worst receiving group in the League.
They need something beyond Green, Edwards and Rodney Smith. The return of Coombs would be very helpful. I also think that they need to get another international into the receiving corps. I know that a certain poster on here won't like this but it doesn't appear as though either Levi Noel or Malcolm Williams are ready for primetime. I know that poster will complain that they aren't being targeted but I am guessing that they aren't being targeted because they aren't getting open.
What is Franklin's skillset? Is he really that mobile a QB or much more suited as a pocket passer. Here are some revealing stats that a fan on Twitter put together:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Often hear people refer to James Franklin as an athletic QB, and that “the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argos?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Argos</a> need to use his legs more”. <br><br>James Franklin’s 4.95s 40-yard-dash coming out of the college is the slowest 40 of any starting QB in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFL</a>.</p>— Eric M. (@EricM_CFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricM_CFL/status/1023087447285149697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">40-yard-dash results for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFL</a> QBs coming out of college. <br><br>Franklin: 4.95s<br>Mitchell: 4.93s<br>Nichols: 4.88s<br>Reilly: 4.74s<br>Harris: 4.72s (😳)<br>Lulay: 4.69s<br>Bridge: 4.65s<br>Manziel: 4.63s<br>Masoli: 4.60s</p>— Eric M. (@EricM_CFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricM_CFL/status/1023089520382750720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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We may have to come to the conclusion that the O-line and receivers played above their heads last year. Was last year a final hurrah for SJ? Is Armanti Edwards better as a #3 or 4 option than a #2 option? I'm starting to come to the conclusion, and Paul Woods has pointed this out on more than 1 occasion that Tyler Holmes is not the player we hoped he would be. The left side of the Argos line has been brutal, and Holmes seems to really get pushed back a lot. Also have to say, coaching has been well below par. Beyond me how you can get a nice TD drive in which James Wilder did the bulk of the work to pull to within 13-7, then not give him the ball once on the next 3 possessions.
And to the guys that are just saying that Franklin stinks, get a clue. I'm sure you all wanted Brandon "I can't complete a pass beyond the line of scrimmage" Bridge to be signed. Or maybe in one posters mind, Jerome Messam could be a QB/RB super back all in one. Despite the fact that he's finished as productive back.
Sigh....... I knew someone would post this sooner rather than later.
Ravi I suggest you take a look at who's right behind Franklin on the list. Bo Mitchell is quite possiblly the best pocket QB in the CFL, but when you watch game tape you see how well he moves in the pocket. May not be fast, but he's athletic and fluid. Mike Reilly is not far behind Franklin and Mitchell and yet we all know he can run when need be. I don't recall anyone saying that Franklin was fast, just good on his feet, and has been shown to move the pocket, and scramble for a few yards when needed.
Interesting how Manziel is one of the lower numbers, and yet there's a video on tsn.ca showing the Montreal QB's working on a foot speed drill - guess who was the slowest ?
I'm surprised that this is the first time I've seen something like this. I was thinking to myself last game, is it time to move on from SJ Green? We may not have someone in place to replace him at this point but he's no where close to being where he was last season.
SJ really seems to have lost a step, both running and jumping. Where are those circus catches we saw before? As far as Franklin goes, I think patience is the key. I don't see B-T doing any better, though to put him in to give Franklin a break, here and there, is probably a good idea. Also, use Prukop for short yardage like we used Fajardo last year.
I wonder if some fans where expecting the Franklin that had a huge game against the Argos in the 2016 season finale in Edmonton? If so that would not be realistic. I was expecting better results thus far especially with Trestman and Calvillo coaching him. However, I still feel he will be a solid qb in the league for years to come.
A win over the Rough Riders on Thursday.... Oops, I mean RedBlacks will go a long way to turn those frowns upside down. RedBlacks. I gotta remember that.
Bridge seems to have resorted to a side-arm sort of motion - to play it safe on the short passes he is only allowed to throw by the dumb@$$ Rider coaching staff ?
Bridge is looking tentative and unsure in that wimpy Rider offence; maybe sort of like Franklin is looking at times in a wimpy Argo offence (and both Os have very suspect O-lines and a limited talent receiving corps). Franklin threw 3 picks last game; Bridge did not. The last 2 games as starter - Bridge has the better completion %, has thrown 1 TD to zero interceptions. compared to Franklin's 0 TDs & 4 picks; and Bridge has at least one win.
I believe Franklin can become a very good CFL QB too; but the hype for him being this star starter in waiting was just that and unfounded. Now that i've seen Franklin play some more, Bridge is the better QB talent IMO; but I believe both could be quality starters in the CFL - at least on half way intelligent offences.
I don't really get the somewhat prevalent distaste for young Canuck QB Bridge. He's got youth, size, and a strong arm. He'll be fine, if he isn't already.
As for Franklin, as I've indicated, I've no worries about him either. First and foremost, this new starting QB is tasked with quarterbacking the worst team in the league, whose assembly and direction are sub-standard.
Why these things are so, I'm not sure, however the results and disposition of the team are plain to see.
I wonder if Bridge's passport has anything to do with your thoughts here, because I think you've got this backwards.
Bridge has zero touch on his throws, a simple 5 yard throw he's guns it like it's a 60 yard bomb. Bridge has less picks because he takes less chances - did he even throw one 15+ yarder last game ?
Admittedly Bridge has no OL or play calling help, but Franklin has no help anywhere; that to me is a big difference.
You might have missed Bridge's play-off performance last year against the Argos, but whatever.
Bridge has a rocket for an arm and has already shown he can gun some deep passes in the CFL (on a number of occasions in playing time last season); he is also very big & mobile. As Argo says above - it might be difficult to understand some "prevalent distaste" towards Bridge - by a lot of trained seal CFL "fans"; i get it though. Bridge is being severely hampered by a limited, wimpleton offence (that McAdoo is a joke for an OC), plus ego head HC Jones jerking him around and showing next to no confidence in him; the same ego-clown who laid out big bucks to sign Zac Collaros - who has lost the huge majority of his past CFL starts - and hand him the starting job.
Again - IMO - both Franklin & Bridge are very promising young CFL QB talents; i could see them both doing very well in a smart and diverse offence that takes advantage of their skills.
i agree on bridge bing better than franklin
i cannot that 1/2time interview on tsn during the 1st 'peg game in which he was all smiles and said was 'happy'
all the while he is the starting qb and his team is down by 13
i dont think he has the 'killer instinct' to be a winner
big difference is that bridge is cdn and a local gta boy - marketers dream ! and argos could have had him for ZERO when als released him
sign messam [who took a paycut this yr] and now u have cross and bridge behind the ball - all of them
cdn !!!!
tell me that cant be sold to the fan base ?
and that frees up import spaces on the team !
And now he's available. Hallelujah!
Oh well, his availability didn't last long. Maybe now we can stop hearing about how signing him would have been the answer to all of our prayers.
With today's announcement of B-T starting, I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.
In starting him, I hope the dink and dunk stuff goes out with Franklin.
We have to attack vertical.
As for the crowd on Thursday, all bets are off and I suspect a new low bench mark of under 10K may be involved?
I noticed a weaker arm than I expected. I had heard he wasn't strong armed, but he had too many routes coming back on long shots and some of our receivers aren't experienced enough to deal with that adjustment properly, yet.