FRANKLIN’S EXPEDITION
Argonauts quarterback James Franklin closes in on rushing touchdown records with Manziel’s Alouettes in town,
James Franklin is not a big fan of running the football, yet the Toronto Argonauts quarterback is chasing two notable rushing records.
Franklin has scored a team record-tying 12 rushing touchdowns this season, which is two short of the CFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback Doug Flutie set in 1991 with the B.C. Lions.
Both marks will certainly be within striking distance Saturday when Franklin and the Argos (3-12) host the Montreal Alouettes (3-12) at BMO Field.
“It would be pretty cool,” Franklin said Friday.“I definitely never thought I’d be this close to a rushing record but it’s exciting.
“If I can do that it says a lot that coach Trestman (Toronto head coach Marc Trestman) is still calling quarterback sneaks and also the guys on the line really blocking and giving me the opportunity. It’s a big credit to them, they’re doing all the work and I’m just kind of riding the wave.”
Franklin also showed a nose for the end zone in college. In 2011 as a sophomore at Missouri, Franklin rushed for 981yards and 15 TDs on 217 carries (4.5yard average) in 13 games.
“Fun fact,” Franklin said.
“That year, the average carries for a running back in college football was 172 while as a quarterback I had 217 so I was a little banged up.
The six-foot-two, 225-pound Franklin is Toronto’s secondleading rusher this season with 247 yards on 62 carries (4.0yard average), and his 12 rushing TDs are also a season high along with Edmonton quarterback Mike Rielly. However those numbers are deceptive because whether he’s starting or backing up, Franklin runs the Argos’ short-yardage offence and most his touchdowns have come from in close.
But Franklin has gone two games without a rushing TD. He came off the bench to throw two fourth-quarter TD strikes in Toronto’s 26-23 road loss to B.C. on Oct 6 before completing 22-of-37 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns as the starter in last Friday night’s 3420 home loss to Hamilton.
Franklin will make his second straight start Saturday and sixth of the season for Toronto, which has dropped seven straight and been eliminated from post-season contention. Franklin is the only Argos quarterback under contract for 2019.
Montreal has also been eliminated from post-season contention. But Toronto will get its first look at Alouettes starter Johnny Manziel.
It’s been a roller-coaster first CFL season for the former Heisman Trophy winner, who made headlines across North American on May 19 when he signed a two-year deal with Hamilton.
But the six-foot, 210-pound Manziel didn’t play a regularseason down with the Ticats and was dealt to Montreal on July 22.
Manziel, 25, will make his sixth start with the Als having completed 72-of-116 passes (62.1 per cent) for 872 yards. He has more interceptions (six) than TDs and remains winless as a CFL starter but Trestman has been impressed by the former Cleveland Browns firstround pick.
“What I think that’s underestimated is his arm talent,” Trestman said.
“He’s taken some hits and completed some really good passes with pressure in his face and has stood in there courageously.