The Green Bay Packers are concerned they have a fumbling issue on their hands. In each of the past two games, rookie running back Johnathan Franklin has lost the ball and wound up getting benched as a result. After injuries have plagued the position group, the Packers cannot afford to have one running back coughing up the ball. However, the issue has Franklin cemented in the No. 2 spot as Eddie Lacy will become the workhorse.
Running back coach Alex Van Pelt is attempting to downplay the issue with Franklin, hoping his fumble problems do not become a trend for the remainder of the season. The rookie has seen very limited action because of his mistakes. Instead he is insisting Franklin's decreased play time is because Lacy is improving each game.
"I didn't say, 'Hey, you're done for the rest of the game because you put the ball on the ground,' because I don't think he's that guy," Van Pelt said, via ESPN.com. "If he's carrying it loosely and swinging it around and it's out all the time, then that's a different story, and you're not going to be out on the field, but I think he does take care of the ball."
Both times Franklin lost the ball was because a defender placed their helmet on it. The first came against Cincinnati on a crucial fourth-and- 1. Van Pelt is not ready to give up on the rookie because his work in practice does not mirror game-time situations. The coach says that during practice Franklin does a standup job protecting the ball, he just needs to bring that on Sundays.
"Coach will call on me whenever he's ready, but until then, it's all about what I do in practice. I have to keep it high and tight and place an emphasis on it," Franklin said.
Until then, Lacy continues to get all of the praise from coaches. The Packers expect the rookie to start on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Lacy has done an excellent job of carving out a spot for himself on the Packers offense that rarely turns to the ground game for yards. After missing a game with a concussion after being on the wrong end of a helmet-to-helmet hit, Lacy has added another element to the Green Bay offense.
"I proved to myself that I'm able to play a complete game with this offense," Lacy said. "Of course you're going to get out here and there, but first and foremost, I proved to myself that I can do it."