Franklin says Todd has "simply been better"

[Defense(clap clap) 4]

http://blog.al.com/trackingtigers/2008/03/...ndguess_qu.html

Franklin on Chris Todd: 'He's simply been better'

Posted by Phillip Marshall, The Huntsville Times March 28, 2008 3:24 PM

Categories: Football

Todd Van Emst, Auburn University

Chris Todd has been most accurate in the passing game.Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said Friday he is convinced the decision, difficult as it was, was the right one. He also says he understand why it has raised questions.

When Auburn returned to practice from spring break Tuesday, Franklin narrowed the race to be the starting quarterback to sophomore Kodi Burns and junior college transfer Chris Todd, basically eliminating sophomore Neil Caudle and freshman DeRon Furr. Todd got the nod despite missing much of spring with a sore shoulder.

"It's a good question," Franklin said. "You look in the paper and see a guy's arm is really hurt and he's not doing very much and all that. Then two days later you see where another guy has been eliminated. All I can say is, in the six practices he's been out there, he's simply been better. He's at about 78 percent completion. What we include in that is skelly and team and blitz pickup. The other two are way, way behind that. He has a great feel in the pocket. It's something that is natural for him. He's been dynamic as a leader, even when he hasn't played. He's been very good verbally.

"It's just a matter of saying 'Is there any chance it's going the other way?' I don't see it being that way. You have to make decisions. That position is the hardest one to make. It's impossible to get more than two the reps for anybody to be good. You have to make a call. I felt very comfortable making it. I don't second-guess it at all."

It won't change going into preseason practice, Franklin said, regardless of what happens in Saturday's A-Day game or in next Wednesday's scrimmage that will mark the end of spring practice.

"Those two will be 1 and 1," Franklin said. "We'll look at (incoming freshman) Barrett Trotter and see what he does. The only way that changes is if somebody is injured. I'm assuming in the three-month period Chris' arm is going to be a lot better.

"Kodi is going to be in the mix, no matter what. I don't care if he never completes a pass, he's in it because he's so dynamic with the ball in his hand. Basically, it comes down to the throwing part, the leadership part and all the other stuff, who best fits with Kodi, who can best fit in there in the things he's struggling with. Right now, it's Chris. When Trotter gets here, he'll have a shot. If he's incredibly good or incredibly dynamic, he'll get in the mix. But it will have to happen fast. You have about a week. We'll see how it goes and go from there."

[WAR-GIGEM-EAGLE 4]

go chris todd, i wish he wasnt number 12 though.....but i guess thats good for him since 70% of the auburn jerseys out there are no. 12. he'll have a lot of fans

[aubiescottie 1]

go chris todd, i wish he wasnt number 12 though.....but i guess thats good for him since 70% of the auburn jerseys out there are no. 12. he'll have a lot of fans

HAHA, I was thinking the same thing.

[GoAU 1,690]

I thought Burns looked much better than Todd today. Not only did he throw better, there were numerous times Todd seemed to stand flat footed in the pocket and let it collapse around him.