The Missouri Tigers are having a bit of a rough transition to the Southeastern Conference, and they have not even gotten through spring practice yet.
Quarterback James Franklin was injured in practice last Tuesday, and will be out for the rest of camp after having surgery scheduled for Friday to repair his right shoulder. Franklin was injured by a defender diving onto his right arm as Franklin was diving to recover a fumble.
The injury, called a sprained glenohumeral joint, initially was not going to require surgery. According to a statement from the Tigers athletic department, however, it was decided that surgery would be the best long-term option. Franklin won the job last spring after former starter Blaine Gabbert decided to declare for the NFL draft.
As a first year starter, he threw for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns while running for 981 yards and 15 more scores on the ground. It will be a challenge for Missouri as they transition to the SEC to have their star quarterback missing time during spring practice.
The main concern would be with the installation of any new formations and looks, as the Tigers tend to tweak the offense to suit the quarterback. Opportunities for
reps with the first team not being able to happen will require a bit a catch-up in the summer and fall. A timetable for Franklin’s return will be determined after surgery, but ideally for Missouri, Franklin would be on track to throw by June or July when the new enrollees show up on campus—including one Dorial Green-Beckham.
On the bright side of things, however, this gives Missouri a chance to work on developing their backup quarterbacks. By allowing redshirt freshman Corbin Berkstresser an opportunity to work with the first team, Missouri can have an insurance policy at the quarterback position in case an injury were to befall Franklin during the season—always a risk with a mobile quarterback in the SEC.
Tiger fans only have to look back to the 2009 season, when then sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert was forced to play for several weeks on an ankle that was wrecked during a tackle by Ndamukong Suh on a rainy Thursday night. Gabbert labored through three and a half games on a gimpy leg, and that can only be attributed to a lack of confidence in the backup quarterback position at the time.
If the Tigers can get Berkstresser or redshirt junior Ashton Glaser in a position where they can command the offense in a pinch, then that added insurance may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Missouri.
