Falcons rookie quarterback Feleipe Franks has shown the ability to be versatile and make plays.
In exhibition games, he showed his ability to scramble and extend plays when the pocket breaks down. On Sunday against the Giants, he lined up as tight end on an offensive series. Although he was not targeted for a reception, it gave the Falcons offense a different look and provided the possibility of him playing multiple positions.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith wants to give Franks the opportunity to do different things in the offense.
”There’s things that we think that he may be able to add,” Smith said. “He’s a good football player, and there’s things that we (can do) – maybe there’s something this week or maybe in the future. It’s good to get his feet wet. Feleipe continues to improve, like where he’s going at quarterback, but we think athletically, there may be something he can give us at other positions, and we’re always going to look into it. If there’s somebody on the roster that can help us, we’ll try it.”
With Franks’ versatility, the opportunities for him playing another position on offense is a huge possibility. Smith remains optimistic about Franks being able to evolve into a Taysom Hill type of player.
“Yeah, I think certainly it’s worth trying,” Smith said. “He played a couple snaps in different spots, and we’ll see if it grows and we have to evaluate that.”
Although Franks sees his versatility as an asset.
“I think it’s good to always be versatile,” Franks said. “It’s just a learning process. It’s different variations, different positions and stuff. It’s cool, like I feel like the game is always evolving and always a learning process, so I’m never satisfied or complacent.”
Franks is listed as a backup quarterback. Although he never envisioned lining up at tight end, he does not think his time at quarterback is coming to an end.
“I don’t wonder if that’s my future,” said Franks about if he will play more at tight end than quarterback. “I mean it’s whatever they tell me to do and (knowing) my role.”
When the Falcons signed Franks as an undrafted free agent, Smith did not see a role where Franks would use his athletic ability outside of playing quarterback. Franks said playing quarterback has been helpful in preparing him for any position and knowing the offense.
“I think it helps,” Franks said. “You look at guys like (Ryan) Tannehill who played receiver before, and it helps them out at quarterback in the NFL.” While playing football at Texas A&M, Tannehill played at wide receiver until midseason of his junior year.
“I feel like it helps me widen my perspective and have a bigger view of the field and my overall perspective of the game from an offensive standpoint.”
Being able to get playing time in an NFL game is important for Franks.
“It was cool,” Franks said of his first game. “It was fun to get out there, to get my feet wet. It was exciting to keep on grinding for upcoming games and be able to help the team out.”
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