07-23-2007, 10:55 AM
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,302
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Packers preview: End result? More disappointment for Franks
Wisconsin State Journal
Quote:
We would appreciate it if you would keep reading, but to understand just how meaningless some of the things coaches say in these position-by-position previews leading up to training camp are, one need look no further than at the Green Bay Packers' tight end position in 2006.
Entering camp, veteran Bubba Franks was convinced the tight ends would be more involved in the team's offense, having seen evidence during the club's offseason minicamp and organized team activity practices of the various ways he and his colleagues would be used.
On top of that, Franks was sure he would rebound from a disappointing 2005, when he missed much of training camp while negotiations lagged on a seven-year, $28 million deal and ended up with then-career lows in receptions (25), yards (207) and touchdowns (one) in 10 injury-plagued games. After all, his former position coach, Jeff Jagodzinski, had returned as the offensive coordinator under new coach Mike McCarthy.
"He's going to be more involved. He will be," said Jagodzinski, who coached Franks to the Pro Bowl in 2001 (36 catches, 322 yards, a career-best nine touchdowns), 2002 (career-high 54 receptions for 442 yards and seven TDs) and in 2003 (30-241-7). "Look at when I was here before. See if he was involved. He'll be involved. He doesn't need to worry."
Beyond that, Jagodzinski vowed to "play to (Franks') strengths" of "short-to-medium passes and the red-zone and goal-line (situations). That's where he excels."
So what happened? Franks (25 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns despite playing all 16 games) had an even worse season - low-lighted by a two-fumble, two-drop performance against Minnesota Dec. 21 - and spent most of his time run-blocking in the new lead-zone scheme and staying in to pass-block in six- and seven-man protection schemes because of a green offensive line. Many times, he was on the bench in goal-line and red-zone situations.
It wasn't just Franks. Now-departed David Martin, who signed with Miami in the offseason, got the coaching staff's hopes up again with 21 catches but only disappointed in the end, and de facto 2007 starter Donald Lee, who worked ahead of Franks in minicamp and OTAs, caught just 10 balls.
As a result, entering this year's camp, the tight end position is the second-most unsettled spot on offense, behind the uncertainty at halfback.
Lee is the starter, but he'll be competing with Franks, young holdovers Tory Humphrey and Zac Alcorn and rookie seventh-round pick Clark Harris once camp opens Saturday.
Nonetheless, McCarthy said during offseason workouts the Packers are "adjusting some things as we move forward with the tight end position." Some of that is personnel, where Franks is no longer guaranteed a starting spot in what McCarthy calls "excellent competition," and part of that is increasing and altering how the tight ends are used in the game-plan as McCarthy vowed to "create more opportunities" for the tight ends to "increase the productivity."
But, as seen last year, McCarthy's intentions may not become reality once the season begins, as circumstances may force him to alter his plans.
So perhaps straight-shooting new offensive coordinator Joe Philbin put it best.
"It all depends," Philbin said. "We're not exactly sure today where we're at at that position.
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Packers preview: End result? More disappointment for Franks
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