Quarterback Feleipe Franks celebrates with receiver Freddie Swain after his 18-yard touchdown throw to Swain in the second quarter. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)
Franks Overcomes Slow Start, Not on a Short Leash
Saturday, September 15, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Writing about the Gators' starting quarterback since No. 15 departed is sort of like telling someone you prefer the Red Hot Chili Peppers over the Beatles. Or that you voted for a political candidate they want to see in jail.
That often leads to a spirited debate. And you can't win.
Here is what Feleipe Franks did not do on Saturday in Florida's 48-10 victory over Colorado State: He did not throw eight touchdown passes. He did not run for 200 yards. He did not propose to a cheerleader on the video board at halftime.
What he did do is start 0-for-6 with an interception. He eventually found a rhythm and threw two touchdowns, matching his season total (nine) from a season ago. He extended his streak of throwing multiple touchdown passes to five consecutive games, the longest streak for a UF quarterback since Tim Tebow did it 10 games in a row in 2008.
However, by the end of the first quarter and Florida up by just a pair of field goals, the tone on social media concerning Franks bordered on ghost pepper spicy. Such is life for a player Dan Mullen gave another endorsement at his postgame press conference.
"I know people get on him with this narrative of, 'OK, he's started all these games.' Not in our system he hasn't,'' Mullen said. "We have his back. He doesn't have a short leash. We're going to play him."
Franks appeared in his 14th career game Saturday and made his 11th start, eight of those coming a season ago. But as Mullen points out, only his third in this offense. Franks found a groove in the second quarter when he completed his first pass on a screen to running back Jordan Scarlett. Two plays later, he tossed a strike to Van Jefferson for a 24-yard gain into Colorado State territory. Scarlett did the rest, breaking off a 30-yard touchdown run.
On the Gators' next drive, Franks capped a six-play, 44-yard drive by throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Swain that gave Florida a 20-0 lead. Overall, Franks finished 8 of 15 for 119 yards, two touchdowns and a first-quarter interception when he threw late to an open receiver down the middle. He hit Jefferson for a 38-yard score in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown pass.
Heisman numbers? No. A serviceable performance in a game dominated by UF's special teams? Sure.
The head coach certainly thought so.
Gators head coach Dan Mullen shares a word with quarterback Feleipe Franks in Saturday's win. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)
"In three games he's match last year's [touchdown] total, so that's a big step forward," Mullen said. "That's his third game in our system right there, and the fact I don't see him make poor decisions. I see him maybe needing to make them a little bit quicker. And I see him sometimes missing one. The misses are the ones that happen really fast."
The week started ominously for Franks when he raised eyebrows Monday by being short with the media at his weekly press conference, less than 48 hours after Florida's 31-game win streak against Kentucky came to an end. That sparked more critics to voice more opinions on social media.
While Franks and his teammates seem on the same page, winning over fans is another story.
Mullen gets that part and spoke in the spring about wanting to see Franks have more fun. Others have talked to him about ignoring the critics.
"They do a lot of criticism, but those are just fans,'' Scarlett said. "They say what they want to say. They'll be praising him when he scores five touchdowns and bashing him when he throws interceptions. It just comes with the game."
This isn't Mullen's first rodeo in orange and blue. When he was the team's offensive coordinator in 2006 and Chris Leak was the starter, others yelled for Tebow the freshman to take over.
It's part of the experience in the Swamp.
"People can get on him because that's part of the position,'' Mullen said. "If you're going to be a quarterback at Florida, if you don't like public scrutiny, don't be a quarterback at Florida. You have potential to get a lot of praise, too."
Franks faced the cameras once again early Saturday night, more relaxed and with a smile. If not a 180 from five days earlier, at least headed in that direction.
He was quick to share the spotlight with teammates whenever questions centered on his performance. When asked about Mullen's comment about him having a long leash, Franks essentially passed.
"I don't think about that during a game,'' he said.
The biggest issue Mullen had with Franks Saturday was his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a second-and-10 play from Colorado State's 11-yard line on the Gators' second drive of the game.
Franks and Rams linebacker Josh Watson exchanged pleasantries after a Franks' 4-yard run. The penalties offset but Mullen gave Franks an earful on the sideline later. Franks received an unsportsmanlike penalty in the Kentucky game for excessive celebration.
"That shouldn't happen as a quarterback," Franks said. "I've got to do a better job of that."
Next up for Franks is a trip to Tennessee and his fourth start in Mullen's offense. There won't be a short leash. Only if Mullen sees Franks moping around or whining after a bad play.
Remember that video of Mullen dancing a jig on the sideline in the season opener and Franks refusing to join in? Mullen danced again Saturday in the locker room.
What he wants Franks to do – and the Gators, for that matter – is to learn how to enjoy wins instead of treating them more as relief from not losing.
Sounds like good advice. Even after a shaky first quarter by the quarterback.
