Will Miles defends Felipe Franks

[SeabeeGator]

I still won the message board poll for who you would most like to have a beer with!

Probably to get you in the same room so they could punch you in the face.

 

[oxrageous]

The best part for us as fans, all these haters are lighting a fire under Franks' a$$. He is going to play like a man possessed, like he did to end last year.

Oh please. He's much more likely to light a fire under the asses of the defenders we face with his crotch-grabbing juvenile nonsense. He's the Marshall Henderson of QB's.

 

[Sec14Gator]

Newoh good freaking lord. everyone taking one side or the other on this issue is being dumb, and that includes you 14.

"espn" doesnt hate anybody. espn commentators and analysts have preferences and biases just like anyone else. espn is nothing more than a bunch of ppl with differing positions, likes, and dislikes.

This is Gatorchatter, aggressive agreement around every turn. Yeah we agree. As for Herbatreit, on that single individual, I personally don’t think he hates us. Kanell (formerly of ESPN), that dickwad obviously does. McElroy, yeah, probably him too being upset about his Ol’boy sharkfcker.

 

[NOLAGATOR]

Whether ESPN hates us or not...I'm not an ESPN Fan. I like the SECN.

ESPN besides being biased...they have gotten political and worse PC.

BUT I'll put up with them if it means I can watch the GATORS every week.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Probably to get you in the same room so they could punch you in the face.

you're welcome anytime squid

 

[Gator By Marriage]

But I don't drink.

You live in Louisiana and you don’t drink? So you’re the one.

 

[SeabeeGator]

you're welcome anytime squid

I’ll let @NOLAGATOR take his shot first next time y’all meet up off I-10.

 

[rogdochar]

But I don't drink.

... then you'll have to sit with Durty's toe.

 

[rogdochar]

Y'all have little idea how little I know about this. So here's my add:

1) What you see from Franks comes from his vacillating self-confidence. A good play and his own surprise-pride bursts out.
2) We can look forward to Franks' silliness disappearing once he routinely produces good plays.
3) Best if Coach Mullen "on-the-sly" tells relevant players to immediately get to Franks and "hug him up" to prevent his personal celebrating.:cool:
4) There is no choice, Franks has to become a top-3 SEC QB for GatorNation to be happy with him, as a player and as a personality.
5) All this hinges on having 3x the fun as the stress. That result rests on the HC and his staff and applies to the whole team reveling in it.

So in the "step-back panoramic view", we've got to see play-outcomes that reveal a pass-run-fun Offense to match our ever-progressing defensive domination. I really think such development is coming. Development awaits - then boom there it is. Development bursts forth in different player groups in different times (games) of the season. Let's watch for the conglomerates of development to appear, here-there.
I think Zuniga & Greenard will lead the DL gel. Who will lead the DB gel ?. the LB gel ?.. FF has to lead the O gelling ... better have fiery Toney help, with RB stable help. Go Gators ... we're waiting.

 

[NavetG8r]

Franks is the best QB we've had in over a decade. People could try supporting the guy. Or not I guess...

 

[Oscar the G]

Franks is the best QB we've had in over a decade. People could try supporting the guy. Or not I guess...

We only support Heisman winners.

 

[Gator Fever]

Franks is the best QB we've had in over a decade. People could try supporting the guy. Or not I guess...

I have no problem with people who do but I want to see him have at least an average passing ability before I am not thinking I would rather give Jones a chance. I think we have had a few QBs that didn't get to play much before they transferred that had much more ability passing than Franks.

 

[SeabeeGator]

Franks is the best QB we've had in over a decade. People could try supporting the guy. Or not I guess...

True. He could also try acting like a mature starting QB too. Might win him some fans, especially when he goes full Driskel.

 

[Tunaboat]

Franks is the best QB we've had in over a decade. People could try supporting the guy. Or not I guess...

What? It took Franks 3 years to learn the damn playbook. He is just now in year 4 beginning to think at game speed. The only thing Franks has over his backups is the big arm, matched with his equally big head. If his mommy or the fan base has to make excuses for his stupid behavior on the side lines, or shushing his own fans, or lack of attention to his QB responsibility for in-game team leadership on the sidelines then he falls far short of your ridiculous statement.

 

[Marine1]

What? It took Franks 3 years to learn the damn playbook. He is just now in year 4 beginning to think at game speed. The only thing Franks has over his backups is the big arm, matched with his equally big head. If his mommy or the fan base has to make excuses for his stupid behavior on the side lines, or shushing his own fans, or lack of attention to his QB responsibility for in-game team leadership on the sidelines then he falls far short of your ridiculous statement.

I don’t think Mullen used the previous coach’s playbook last year.

 

[Theologator]

Franks was a very raw but gifted athlete playing QB when he came to UF. We all agree Mac’s leadership was a mess from S&C to recruiting to scheme to player development, and that Nuss compounded the suckfest. Then the credit card mess imploded things, and Franks was supposed to do...what?

Mullen arrived and by the end of 2018 Franks started playing pretty well. scUM’s front 7 hurried Franks, Perine and Davis into sloppy turnovers. But Franks made plays, too. Miles’ point that the numbers - traditional and his new ones - indicate continued improvement is encouraging. Franks didn’t make many turnovers last year so hopefully that won’t continue. The OL has a lot to do with that.

I don’t like the antics because thin skin is a weakness.

 

[Tunaboat]

With Franks we know what we have, and so does everybody else in the country. It's two steps forward and one step back. He's going to miss wide open guys all day long, but he'll make a beautiful bomb throw that may save a game that shouldn't be in question (Miami). Mullen loves him to the point of not letting EJ or Trask on the field unless Franks totally tanks (Missouri). I wonder what our attack would look like with either of those guys having taken a significant number of snaps. We can win with Franks but it would be easier if he would focus on improving his football skills (find the open man), knock off the childish behavior and stop pissing everybody off.

 

[YLGator]

Franks is the best QB we've had in over a decade. People could try supporting the guy. Or not I guess...

Jacoby Brissett and Will Grier beg to differ. Look, you could put Franks in the same room as Brantley, Driskel, Murphy, Del Rio and Appleby and nobody would stand out. Sadly, Driskel is probably the best of that bunch. As bad as he was, at least he could run.

 

[EuroGator]

Franks seems to have a need for attention. Unfortunately he looks to employ any means he can to get it. His position, at the University of Florida no less, will bring plenty of it his way without the silliness. Solid and consistent play and leadership should be the goal. I think he'd be better served to work on managing that attention in the order of what a team leader should do. He's the face of the team in many regards. Too often he's been the ass of it.

I think you're very close with this idea. I would make one slight change. Franks seems to have a need for approval / affirmation. If it was just attention, he would be happy whether it was praise or criticism. Franks is so sensitive to criticism. The rest is spot on. He's seeking approval and, like too many, especially young people, believe they deserve approval regardless of their actions - the untenable side of tolerance and acceptance of everything.

I agree that he needs to be aiming to be a more mature person, who harnesses his emotions to serve him instead of allowing them to lead him. He should aim to be a leader who thinks of himself less and thinks of others more, but that may be a tall order for him. Regardless, of how difficult this kind of real self-confidence is for him to live in, not the superficial bluster and bravado often called swag, poor behavior and leadership will always attract criticism.

The best thing I've seen in the way of coaching from Mullen is the effort to get Franks' attention focused on the right sources of approval. He should be listening to the coaches, not the keyboard and twitter warriors (like myself). If Franks will care about what the coaches say and eliminate or nearly eliminate listening to the opinion of others it would help him immensely.

 

[EuroGator]

In response to Will Miles' article - he makes great points. I'm hopeful that Franks hasn't regressed and is making the right kind of progress.

I love that he called out the media personalities who criticized him, but I disagree that his behavior is okay. It is third tier problem, unlike others who were defended - like Winston - who created repeated and significant issues - tier one problems. The inconsistency of Herbie and the gang doesn't justify Franks' behavior. Others were worse (and their behavior was defended or dismissed), but Franks having lesser problems and the inconsistency of the media doesn't mean he's acting the way you want your starting QB to act.

We're with you Franks. Rise to the challenge. Be a man. Go Gators!