Packers haven’t forgotten about Johnathan Franklin
By Mike Dyce
The Green Bay Packers have too many running backs and not enough carries. Running back Johnathan Franklin has gotten six carries in the last seven games. This is after impressing with 103 yards on 13 carries against the Cincinnati Bengals. His lack of carries isn’t about his talent or abilities however.
“You watch him on the practice field and every time he touches it, you say, ‘Man, we need to get him some carries in the game,'” running backs coach Alex Van Pelt said, via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “So he’s impressing us on the field, we just have got to get those chances. Whether we put him in on certain runs or however that happens, but at some point this year, he’ll carry the ball for us. And we’re excited to see that.”
Van Pelt said in an ideal world, Eddie Lacy would get 20 carries while James Starks and Franklin got five apiece. Situations and scenarios have prevented from distributing the carries like they’d prefer to. Van pelt also added that if the game is on the line, Lacy “will be the one carrying the ball.”
Franklin for his part is being positive and has a tremendous attitude.
“Look, I’m blessed to be here,” Franklin said. “I come from a neighborhood where people don’t make it out. I’m in Green Bay. I made it to the National Football League. Now, I just need to take my steps and get better. And when they need me, be prepared. But I’m enjoying this. There’s no need for me to have my head down and stress out. Not at all. I’m blessed, man, to be here.”