In just his second season, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano is going to have linemen far better equipped to play his 3-4 front.
A team that already added the versatile Ricky Jean Francois, who can play all three spots, has now signed Aubrayo Franklin. Not too many years ago he was a hot, hot property. Now he’s changed teams four times in four years, from San Francisco to New Orleans to San Diego to Indianapolis.
Here’s what Scouts Inc. has to say about him.
Franklin has a wide body with above-average initial quickness, agility and short-area agility. He plays with good knee bend and natural leverage as he keeps his pad level down to get under opponents' pads and leverage the play. He does a good job of recognizing blocking schemes and will feel and fight back through pressure. He is a good technician who knows how to use his hands to control and shed blockers and keeps his feet active as he works his way to the ball. He lacks top lateral range and makes most of his plays in the guard-tackle box. He is not going to give anyone a top pass-rushing threat from the inside.
So he’s an early-down run-stopping option for a team that now has swingman Jean Francois, ends Cory Redding, Fili Moala and Drake Nevis, nose tackle Martin Tevaseu and two other nose tackles coming off injury, Brandon McKinney and Josh Chapman.
The addition of Franklin would seem to end any hopes Antonio “Mookie” Johnson, who transitioned from 4-3 tackle to 3-4 nose last season, may still have of being re-signed.
Franklin played four years with Baltimore and four with the 49ers before the one-year terms with the Saints and Chargers. This will be his 11th year.
