Catching Up, And Making A Case For JF3

Monday marked the first day of classes for my sophomore year at the University of Missouri. Last year’s events on campus still loom large not only for the students, but for the administration as well. Mizzou’s incoming freshman class is down more than 1,600 students compared to last year’s numbers — about a 23% percent decrease. Four dorms closed down following the end of the school 2015-16 school year, and budget cuts dropped quite a few professors across many departments. However, the good news is that Mizzou’s journalism school, often regarded to be one of the best in the country each year, came out of the wreckage relatively unscathed. Slowly but surely, my school is getting back on track. 

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on the site, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do. 

Last week, I finished all of Last Chance U, a Netflix documentary series that captures East Mississippi Community College’s 2015 football season. And if you haven’t heard, John Franklin III is featured on the show. Franklin receives a pretty significant amount of air time on the show, especially for playing backup to starting QB Wyatt Roberts for the majority of the season. Granted, John Franklin III was the highest rated athlete on the show, so it seemed only natural for him to be in the spotlight. But it might not have been the type of exposure the JUCO transfer was looking for. On the show, he was portrayed to be selfish, egotistical, and somewhat disrespectful to authority figures (coaches, academic advisors, etc.), on and off the field. I understand that editing can be a very powerful tool in these types of shows, but there are still some serious question marks with the kid. Not to mention his passing ability raises one serious red flag. 

However, with all that said, there were still flashes of brilliance shown from some of the show’s footage of John Franklin III. This is one very talented athlete that could prove to be a very useful tool when utilized in the appropriate system. And I believe that Auburn’s offense is as good of a fit as any for the kid. What Auburn needs right now is a mobile quarterback. Every successful campaign this program has had under this offensive system has involved a mobile quarterback. Nick Marshall wasn’t the greatest passer in the country in 2013, but he didn’t need to be, and was still able to get the job done in a very effective manner. So if Malzahn can convert a defensive back from UGA to quarterback, why wouldn’t he be able to find success with John Franklin III?

Sure, Sean White is a durable, steady quarterback. I’m not trying to take that away from him. But I’m not so certain that’s what Auburn needs right now. White is a minimal threat for any sort of zone read. Sure, he’s shown to be fairly agile in the pocket, but realistically, not many defensive ends will sit and wait for White to keep the ball and run on read options. That eliminates a huge aspect of Gus Malzahn’s offense. As we saw many times last year, if the quarterback isn’t too much of a threat to keep it and run on those first and second downs of offensive series, that sets our offense up for predictable play patterns leading to quite a few third-and-long situations. 

So maybe what Auburn needs now is the very thing that John Franklin III appears to be. Confident and very outspoken with just enough of that “it” factor to light a fire under this team. And with a shortage at the running back position following the transfer of Roc Thomas and dismissal of Jovon Robinson, this offense will need as many rushing options as possible this season. So while giving John Franklin III the starting quarterback position might be one of Malzahn’s riskiest decisions during his time at Auburn, if successful, it could potentially be his absolute best, because I believe that Franklin gives Auburn the greatest opportunity for success in 2016. 

I think that Auburn fans will know pretty early on against Clemson just how strong this team will perform this season, and I look forward to making the trip to the Plains for the first time in two years. I’ll be coming with a few of my friends that have never witnessed a “true” (looking at you, Mizzou) SEC football gameday experience, so I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to show them one. It doesn’t get much better than Jordan-Hare at night under the lights, as it gives me chills just thinking about it. I can’t wait to get back.

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