TopHat
05-20-2007, 10:33 AM
Simply, we need a TE playmaker. Who will be the Pack starting TE? The poll has several options allowing fans to choose one or to explain their view.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) BACKGROUND NEWS INFO:
http://www.railbirdcentral.blogspot.com/
Is Bubba's job in jeopardy?
In perhaps some of the biggest news coming out of the Green Bay Packers minicamp, tight end Bubba Franks has been relegated to a backup role. Being a former Pro Bowler and a starter his entire career, this comes as quite a surprise. "Donald Lee took the first snap of each drill with the No. 1 offense, and Tory Humphrey appeared to work ahead of Franks at times also. Lee, Humphrey and Zac Alcorn all have been taking part in the Packers' offseason workout program beginning March 19," reports Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also reports, "For the second straight day, tight end Donald Lee took most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense. Where exactly that leaves Bubba Franks is unclear. He who signed a seven-year, $28 million contract two summers ago but has been a major disappointment since."
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________
http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/
The Trouble With Bubba
TE Bubba Franks would like you to know that last season was a bump in the road and he is on a mission. "I was just up and down, a little inconsistent here and there, and that's not me," Franks said. "But this year, I'm not going to have a problem with that at all." The problem wasn't that he was inconsistent in 2006. He was very consistent every week, dropping passes and generally not producing in the passing game. Actually Franks has been a model of consistency throughout his career. Look at his career stats. Except for 2002, he has always caught between 25 and 35 passes for 200 to 300 yards per season. He always averages between 8 and 10 yards per catch and every year there are coaches talking about his great hands in practice while we watch him routinely drop a few wide open passes each season.
He has only been valuable as a blocker and to catch redzone touchdowns. His notable seasons are 2001, 2002, and 2004 when he has caught 7 TDs or more. For whatever reason, he has only caught 1 TD in the past two seasons and it is apparent he can't get open on his own in the redzone anymore, if he ever could do it. If he isn't catching TD passes then he is a below average player who is a drain on the passing game. Franks wants to return to form, but he can aim higher than that. He should try and become the deep middle threat former GM Ron Wolf thought he was drafting in the 1st round back in 2000. Work on his route running so that he can develop a move that is sure to shake the linebacker covering him in single coverage and then he can be a redzone threat. However it isn't realistic to expect him to become someone he isn't. At least he will remain a consistent and quality blocking tight end and maybe if someone like rookie TE Clark Harris does develop into a good receiving tight end, then he might be able to score a few more redzone TDs in his career as teams start ignoring him in pass coverage.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2007/05/19/1/
Franks Leaving Last Year In The Past
Bubba Franks will be the first to admit he didn't perform at his usual level in 2006. But the eighth-year veteran will be the last to say that he's on the downside of his career. In visiting with reporters during minicamp this weekend, Franks said he's "on a mission" to be the tight end Packers fans enjoyed watching his first six years in the NFL. The former first-round draft pick didn't make any bold predictions, like he's heading back to the Pro Bowl or going to catch so many touchdowns, but that's not Franks' style. A straightforward, no-nonsense guy, he simply stated that he's putting last year behind him and doing nothing but looking forward.
"It was just one of those years," said Franks, whose 25 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns last season were career-lows for a full slate of games played. "You go six years of being as good as you can, and hey, it's just a bump in the road, something that happened. You get it out of your system and you keep moving." Last year was supposed to be Franks' rebound year after injuries forced him to miss the first six games of his entire career in 2005. But it didn't work out that way.
With a young offensive line, the Packers needed their tight ends to stay in and block more often on pass plays. Opportunities for downfield receptions were more limited for Franks, and when he did get his chances, he dropped far more passes than he ever had. "One thing about Bubba is he was always sure-handed," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who was Franks' tight ends coach in 2004 and 2005. "Last year he seemed to have a lapse in that area." And a bad year only got worse in the home finale Dec. 21 against Minnesota. While Franks had a season-high five catches for 43 yards, he also fumbled twice. They were the first fumbles since his rookie season in 2000, and one of them came on the goal line, costing the Packers a potential touchdown.
He also was flagged for a critical holding call late in the fourth quarter that wiped out a big gain on a screen pass. It was his first holding call in four years. "I was just up and down, a little inconsistent here and there, and that's not me," Franks said. "But this year, I'm not going to have a problem with that at all." Franks was one of a handful of veterans who didn't participate in the offseason strength and conditioning program that began here March 19. He did that last year, but in an effort to return to his old self, the three-time Pro Bowler went back to his old routine of training at his alma mater, the University of Miami.
He arrived at this weekend's minicamp in good shape and ready to fight for a starting job he has to prove he still deserves. Fellow tight ends Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey were taking as many snaps with the No. 1 offense as Franks in the first few practices, an indication the position is as wide open as it's been during Franks' seven-year run as the starter. If the open competition was giving Franks any added motivation, he wasn't letting on, at least not verbally. He indicated seeing the Super Bowl come to his hometown of Miami got him a little fired up, and seeing NFC North rival Chicago playing in that game in some ways jumpstarted his offseason. "He's been working hard," tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said after the first two minicamp practices. "You can tell by the way he's moving out there, he's doing some things well. I'm excited and feel he's going to have another breakout year."
The fact that it would have to be called "another" breakout year certainly doesn't sit well with Franks, because no player ever wants to see his career take the turn his has. But he's also aware of how important that has made 2007 for him. "This is a critical juncture probably in his career," Philbin said. "I'm sure he'll respond well. "He's serious about getting back to the level of performance he's accustomed to."
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/PKR01/705190492/1058/PKRFeatures
Open job?
Bubba Franks has been the Packers' starting tight end since his rookie year of 2000, but the coaching staff sent him a signal at minicamp Friday that he'll have to win back that job this year after his disappointing 2006 performance. Donald Lee took the first snap of each drill with the No. 1 offense, and Tory Humphrey appeared to work ahead of Franks at times also. Lee, Humphrey and Zac Alcorn all have been taking part in the Packers' offseason workout program beginning March 19. "They've been working all offseason; I don't have any problems with them in there right now," Franks said. "It's not a problem." Franks, who caught only 25 passes and had no touchdowns last season, said he went back to the offseason workout program of his first six NFL seasons after staying in Green Bay and taking part in the Packers' offseason workout program last year. Franks is one of about 20 players who attended the University of Miami and return there in the spring and summer to work out in a competitive atmosphere with their college strength coach. "You go back to doing something that works when things go wrong," Franks said. "… This year, I'm on a mission. There's nothing that's going to get in my way."
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=608006
Changing of the guard?
For the second straight day, tight end Donald Lee took most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense. Where exactly that leaves Bubba Franks is unclear. He who signed a seven-year, $28 million contract two summers ago but has been a major disappointment since. "The money, as coaches, I don't really look at the budget," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "I really don't have any idea what Bubba's salary is to be quite honest with you. I'm just looking for a guy that can perform and produce and be consistent at that position. "If you ask Bubba, he would probably say he wasn't quite the player (last year) he was the last couple of years. So, hey, we'll see how everybody responds to the situation. From what I see from the two practices we've had, it looks like he's working hard. I'm sure he's going to be battling for the job." "You go back to doing something that works when things go wrong," Franks said. "… This year, I'm on a mission. There's nothing that's going to get in my way."
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) BACKGROUND NEWS INFO:
http://www.railbirdcentral.blogspot.com/
Is Bubba's job in jeopardy?
In perhaps some of the biggest news coming out of the Green Bay Packers minicamp, tight end Bubba Franks has been relegated to a backup role. Being a former Pro Bowler and a starter his entire career, this comes as quite a surprise. "Donald Lee took the first snap of each drill with the No. 1 offense, and Tory Humphrey appeared to work ahead of Franks at times also. Lee, Humphrey and Zac Alcorn all have been taking part in the Packers' offseason workout program beginning March 19," reports Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel also reports, "For the second straight day, tight end Donald Lee took most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense. Where exactly that leaves Bubba Franks is unclear. He who signed a seven-year, $28 million contract two summers ago but has been a major disappointment since."
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________
http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/
The Trouble With Bubba
TE Bubba Franks would like you to know that last season was a bump in the road and he is on a mission. "I was just up and down, a little inconsistent here and there, and that's not me," Franks said. "But this year, I'm not going to have a problem with that at all." The problem wasn't that he was inconsistent in 2006. He was very consistent every week, dropping passes and generally not producing in the passing game. Actually Franks has been a model of consistency throughout his career. Look at his career stats. Except for 2002, he has always caught between 25 and 35 passes for 200 to 300 yards per season. He always averages between 8 and 10 yards per catch and every year there are coaches talking about his great hands in practice while we watch him routinely drop a few wide open passes each season.
He has only been valuable as a blocker and to catch redzone touchdowns. His notable seasons are 2001, 2002, and 2004 when he has caught 7 TDs or more. For whatever reason, he has only caught 1 TD in the past two seasons and it is apparent he can't get open on his own in the redzone anymore, if he ever could do it. If he isn't catching TD passes then he is a below average player who is a drain on the passing game. Franks wants to return to form, but he can aim higher than that. He should try and become the deep middle threat former GM Ron Wolf thought he was drafting in the 1st round back in 2000. Work on his route running so that he can develop a move that is sure to shake the linebacker covering him in single coverage and then he can be a redzone threat. However it isn't realistic to expect him to become someone he isn't. At least he will remain a consistent and quality blocking tight end and maybe if someone like rookie TE Clark Harris does develop into a good receiving tight end, then he might be able to score a few more redzone TDs in his career as teams start ignoring him in pass coverage.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________
http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2007/05/19/1/
Franks Leaving Last Year In The Past
Bubba Franks will be the first to admit he didn't perform at his usual level in 2006. But the eighth-year veteran will be the last to say that he's on the downside of his career. In visiting with reporters during minicamp this weekend, Franks said he's "on a mission" to be the tight end Packers fans enjoyed watching his first six years in the NFL. The former first-round draft pick didn't make any bold predictions, like he's heading back to the Pro Bowl or going to catch so many touchdowns, but that's not Franks' style. A straightforward, no-nonsense guy, he simply stated that he's putting last year behind him and doing nothing but looking forward.
"It was just one of those years," said Franks, whose 25 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns last season were career-lows for a full slate of games played. "You go six years of being as good as you can, and hey, it's just a bump in the road, something that happened. You get it out of your system and you keep moving." Last year was supposed to be Franks' rebound year after injuries forced him to miss the first six games of his entire career in 2005. But it didn't work out that way.
With a young offensive line, the Packers needed their tight ends to stay in and block more often on pass plays. Opportunities for downfield receptions were more limited for Franks, and when he did get his chances, he dropped far more passes than he ever had. "One thing about Bubba is he was always sure-handed," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who was Franks' tight ends coach in 2004 and 2005. "Last year he seemed to have a lapse in that area." And a bad year only got worse in the home finale Dec. 21 against Minnesota. While Franks had a season-high five catches for 43 yards, he also fumbled twice. They were the first fumbles since his rookie season in 2000, and one of them came on the goal line, costing the Packers a potential touchdown.
He also was flagged for a critical holding call late in the fourth quarter that wiped out a big gain on a screen pass. It was his first holding call in four years. "I was just up and down, a little inconsistent here and there, and that's not me," Franks said. "But this year, I'm not going to have a problem with that at all." Franks was one of a handful of veterans who didn't participate in the offseason strength and conditioning program that began here March 19. He did that last year, but in an effort to return to his old self, the three-time Pro Bowler went back to his old routine of training at his alma mater, the University of Miami.
He arrived at this weekend's minicamp in good shape and ready to fight for a starting job he has to prove he still deserves. Fellow tight ends Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey were taking as many snaps with the No. 1 offense as Franks in the first few practices, an indication the position is as wide open as it's been during Franks' seven-year run as the starter. If the open competition was giving Franks any added motivation, he wasn't letting on, at least not verbally. He indicated seeing the Super Bowl come to his hometown of Miami got him a little fired up, and seeing NFC North rival Chicago playing in that game in some ways jumpstarted his offseason. "He's been working hard," tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said after the first two minicamp practices. "You can tell by the way he's moving out there, he's doing some things well. I'm excited and feel he's going to have another breakout year."
The fact that it would have to be called "another" breakout year certainly doesn't sit well with Franks, because no player ever wants to see his career take the turn his has. But he's also aware of how important that has made 2007 for him. "This is a critical juncture probably in his career," Philbin said. "I'm sure he'll respond well. "He's serious about getting back to the level of performance he's accustomed to."
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/PKR01/705190492/1058/PKRFeatures
Open job?
Bubba Franks has been the Packers' starting tight end since his rookie year of 2000, but the coaching staff sent him a signal at minicamp Friday that he'll have to win back that job this year after his disappointing 2006 performance. Donald Lee took the first snap of each drill with the No. 1 offense, and Tory Humphrey appeared to work ahead of Franks at times also. Lee, Humphrey and Zac Alcorn all have been taking part in the Packers' offseason workout program beginning March 19. "They've been working all offseason; I don't have any problems with them in there right now," Franks said. "It's not a problem." Franks, who caught only 25 passes and had no touchdowns last season, said he went back to the offseason workout program of his first six NFL seasons after staying in Green Bay and taking part in the Packers' offseason workout program last year. Franks is one of about 20 players who attended the University of Miami and return there in the spring and summer to work out in a competitive atmosphere with their college strength coach. "You go back to doing something that works when things go wrong," Franks said. "… This year, I'm on a mission. There's nothing that's going to get in my way."
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=608006
Changing of the guard?
For the second straight day, tight end Donald Lee took most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense. Where exactly that leaves Bubba Franks is unclear. He who signed a seven-year, $28 million contract two summers ago but has been a major disappointment since. "The money, as coaches, I don't really look at the budget," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "I really don't have any idea what Bubba's salary is to be quite honest with you. I'm just looking for a guy that can perform and produce and be consistent at that position. "If you ask Bubba, he would probably say he wasn't quite the player (last year) he was the last couple of years. So, hey, we'll see how everybody responds to the situation. From what I see from the two practices we've had, it looks like he's working hard. I'm sure he's going to be battling for the job." "You go back to doing something that works when things go wrong," Franks said. "… This year, I'm on a mission. There's nothing that's going to get in my way."