Franklin Carries heavy load, but for how long?
One of the more heavily discussed items of business among UCLA message board denizens and commenters after Week 2 was the use of sophomore running back Johnathan Franklin.
Franklin, who led the team in rushing yards last season but battled fumbling issues, appeared to be able to handle a bigger workload after two weeks, gaining 133 yards on 24 carries.
Franklin's role increased, however, when junior Derrick Coleman went down after a vicious hit against Stanford.
But despite a 26-carry, 158-yard, three-touchdown performance against Houston, Neuheisel is still unsure that Franklin can handle so many carries.
"Johnathan Franklin is not your 220-pound back," UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said. "He's 195, 200 pounds. I don't know that he's the kind of guy you give the ball 30 times to. I think he's more of an 18-22 carry guy."
If Malcolm Jones has fumble-itis, then who else is backing up Franklin?
Are you kidding me Rick? So Jones can fumble twice and you still run his ass out there with no worries yet you wonder if Franklin's the guy? Franklin the one who put us on his shoulder and still held on to the freaken ball?
Virtually all teams have a second & sometimes 3rd back to help ease the workload of the #1. Until Coleman returns, Jones should stay as #2 unless the fumbles become a recurring issue. If Coleman's injury is prolonged, one would think Jordan James will get into the mix at some point.
Is he serious?
go back in time and looks at all the runningbacks, Darren Sproles was crazy at KSU and he saw a lot of touches. Reggie Bush played at 200-205 and got alot of touches, not all carries but returned punts, kicks and had receptions. This is college football not the NFL. Javhed Best played at 195-200. Guys can carry the load at 200lbs in college.
Looks like the coaches at Santa Margarita High when they said Franklin was a better back than Darrell Scott
Very good point "BRUINBEATCH', but I wonder why not include J. Allmond, C. Ramirez into the mix for a bit. I would love to seet Allmond smash heads with a few Texas linebackers. At least 3-5 carries to mix it up. If anything, the potential of the F-back needs to make a premier on Saturday.
If it's important to save Jordan James' redshirt, how about moving the versatile Damien Thigpen back to RB?
I'm not sure that Malcom Jones is a reliable backup at this point. Fumbles aside, he did not perform well against Houston. Looked too slow.
GO BRUINS
C'mon Rick, you kidding me? Look at Javhed Best, Reggie Bush, Cory Dillon, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Anthony Davis, Charles White. All in this size range - build the guy up, give him the ball, believe in him and let him show you what he can do. Don't assume until you have seen evidence. He's hot and we need to lean on him to develop some continuity, rhythm, confidence - like you have with - Prince give him a shot
For me, it is Franklin #1, Jones #2, and Thigpen #3 until Coleman comes back. When Coleman comes back he is my short yardage back since he averages about 3ypc. Franklin still carries the ball on first down.
this guy should get 25-30 touches a game until he proves he shouldn't.
I agree with keeping Jones in the mix. His RB coach will work on ball control. Franklin worked very hard on that aspect of his game, and now it's paying dividends. I would also love to see Allmond given a few carries, especially close to the opponent's goal line. Tell him to hold onto the rock with both hands, lower his head, lean forward, and go for it.
Geeeeeez...Most of these comments are terrible!!! "BRUINBEATCH" is trippin. Bench MJ? Crazy..kid had his first rough game as a freshman and RN had confidence to put the kid back out there to get the fumble out of his mind. Good coaching..Franklin 18-20 per game, MJ 8-10, Prince 5-7, other 2-3...that should be the benchmark.
"Kolb" Thigpen is not a RB! MJ is plenty reliable. GPOY. Good size, vision, feet and quicks. Moves the chains with positive gains. This guy needs to be in the rotation.
"TexBruin" Reggie Bush? Averaged 15 carries his final year and only carried more than 20 times twice in his 3-yr career! Jahvid Best??? Averaged 15 - 16 carries during his two most-productive seasons and also only carrying more than 20 times in a game twice. Sproles is a better comparison as he averaged 18 - 22 carries per game during histhree most productive years...isn't that what RN said he wanted from Franklin. He isn't talking about cutting his carries in half, just not 25 - 30 times per game...its a long season and Franklin would havetrouble holding up with that load!!! You can have the periodical 25-30 carry game, but it can't be the standard. And don't bring up total touches, which includes receptions. Getting tackled in space is vastly different from the pounding from the line.
Glawson - Thank you!
Where are people coming up with their info. Don't forget that MJ had good carries his first two games. So much so that these same people were calling for Neu to use him more. He had one bad game! Continue to use him until it becomes a pervasive issue. Until then, his body of work does not warrant him to be removed from the rotation.
Glawson, settle down. We're all Bruins here. And one puncuation mark will suffice. Truly.
I hope you're right about Jones. But I have doubts on three of the four qualities you attribute to him ("vision, feet and quicks"), especially the last, at this point in his college career.
As for Thigpen, your conclusory comment notwithstanding that "Thigpen is not a RB," I never said he was an every down RB. But I think he could be utilized there quite well to mix it up, especially on third downs.
GO BRUINS
Yeah, the dissing CRN on this point probably goes too far. Franklin is clearly the best back right now, and so he should be getting as many carries a game as you can give him without fatigue becoming a factor. But it's also pretty sensible to not want to go over that. Beyond mistakes, you don't want him to get injured because he was fatigued and started losing focus and form while carrying the ball.
"Kolb" you are right we are all Bruins here and, believe me, I wasn't as riled up as you made me out to be! The punctuation is related to the absolute blasphemy that is posted sometimes. The funny thing is you care more about the punctuation and not the content. As far as MJ, he most definitely has good vision, feet and quicks. I sit in the 3rd row so I can see it up real close. Quick doesn’t necessarily mean he has the fastest shuttle time, moreover, he is quick with his decision on where to go and making a move. I think w/ Houston, they strung him out and to the sidelines where he is not as effective. He is a freshman and still learning and growing. It happens. Thigpen – we just disagree. He is a good cover guy, WR, PR/KR, Just not really a good RB IMHO.
@ glawson07- I NEVER said bench Jones i said they should have the same faith or more in Franklin who carried the team as they do for Jones who could barely hold on to the ball.Franklin is THE guy Jones should get some touches too and as much as i like Coleman i dont think he should see the ball as much as he does.